Generations

​Michael Savage, whose radio talk show grows in popularity, angrily decries the state of America.  He bemoans the ascent of evil while he rudely blasts a caller he disdains. Psychiatrists in San Francisco recently met to propose that pedophilia should not be a crime and should become accepted as homosexuality was in the ‘70’s.  The Voice of the Martyrs reports horrendous attacks against Christians across the planet.  God’s children are horrifically tortured in China, Indonesia, Egypt, Somalia, Pakistan, North Korea . . . In Canada, a debate rages to outlaw portions of the Bible that contain “hate speech.”  

So what should we who still live in relative freedom do?  Do we hide our heads in the sand of uncertainty hoping the tide will change? Do we focus on keeping our jobs and collecting a paycheck, not daring to speak lest we offend someone?  We might learn something from Asaph.  This man watched the moral decay of his countrymen. He saw the cost of God-rejection.  But rather than despair he challenged his listeners with the best antidote possible.
 
Meditation
Psa.78:3,4,7--things we have heard and known and that our fathers have passed down to us. We must not hide them from their children, but must tell a future generation the praises of the Lord, His might, and the wonderful works He has performed . . . so that they might put their confidence in God and not forget God’s works, but keep His commands.
 
In every evil age the battle for the souls of the next generation is won or lost according to where we set our hearts.  Perhaps you once floundered in sin and knew inside there had to be more to life than what you were experiencing.  You heard the stirring truth that God loves you and sent His Son to die for your sin and to save you.  With humility you received His grace and your life was dramatically changed. But will the joy that bubbled up when God took you across your Red Sea vanish when the Living Water seems out of reach?  What will your children see modeled as you grow older?   

The world is not interested in what God did in your life yesterday.  Your children will lose interest in faith if it has no relevancy today. Certainly, the Lord becomes an icon if all the second generation possesses is second-hand faith.  If we “must tell a future generation the praises of the Lord, His might, and the wonderful works He has performed,”then we must be in love with Him now!   Do we seek His power or do we run in our own strength?  Do we proclaim His worthiness or are we self-consumed?  If we have wonders to share it is because we are still praying “The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not set his mind on what is false, and who has not sworn deceitfully. He will receive blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation” (Psa. 25:4,5).  Something to think about . . . in reveration!
 
Inspiration
A Native American grandfather was talking to his grandson about how he felt about the current state of the world.  He said, "I feel as if I have two wolves fighting in my heart. One wolf is the vengeful, angry, violent one. The other wolf is the loving, compassionate one."  The grandson asked him, "Which wolf will win the fight in your heart?" The grandfather answered, "The one I feed."—Author Unknown
 
©2003 Daniel York  ARR. Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)