The next generation
A posterity shall serve Him. It will be recounted of the Lord to the next generation. – Psalms 22:30
I remember a day when I was very young that my mom sat down with me and read to me the scriptures that told me I needed a Savior and then the passages that told me how to receive Him into my life. I didn’t understand it all on that day and I know even today there is still much I will learn about the great and everlasting love of God. I also remember the days that I got to share the message of salvation with my own children and even with my grandchildren. At the time, I didn’t consider that I was passing down a legacy of faith that we are all called to continue sharing from generation to generation. We are here in this world to ensure that the message of God’s love and salvation will not stop with us but will continue to be shared and received by those who come after us.
As I am getting older now, it can be tempting to step back and take on the mind set that it is time for the next generation to step up and pass the message along. While it is true that we all need to be sharing the love of God everywhere we go, the scripture does not give any indication that when we get to a certain age that we can go sit on the sidelines and step out of the race. If anything, those who wrote the books of the bible shared the gospel message until the day the died even more fervently than when they first started.
As I consider further my calling and responsibility at this point in my life and beyond, I realize that my role in sharing the gospel doesn’t lessen with age—it actually deepens and grows. The wisdom and experience I have gained over the years will be a vital tool in guiding and encouraging the next generation. My stories, testimonies, and the lessons I have learned through my walk with God are treasures that can be the very words that will strengthen those God has entrusted to my life.
Today’s key verse tells us that our children and their children will serve Him as we tell them about God’s great love and salvation. This isn’t just a passing thought; it’s a call to action. We are the link between the past and the future, carrying the message of faith and salvation, lighting the way for others to follow.
As we continue to walk with God, we have the privilege of leading others to the love of God and discipling the younger generations. Our prayers, our encouragement, and our example can help shape their understanding of who God is and what it means to live a life following His plan. It’s not just about passing down knowledge; it’s about passing down eternal life, a relationship with the God of the universe, a love for His Word, and a commitment to the Kingdom of heaven.
Even as we grow older, our influence can grow to the greatest level. Now more than ever, the world around us needs to hear the truth of God’s faithfulness, the accounts of His miracles that we’ve seen, and the wisdom we’ve gained through years of walking with Him. These are the things that will help anchor the next generation in their faith and give them the confidence to face the challenges ahead.
Don’t grow weary in this mission. The baton of faith is in your hands, and we all have the responsibility to pass it on with intentionality and love. Whether through our words, our actions, our prayers or simply our presence, we have the power to impact lives for eternity. The next generation should be picking up where we left on, not starting from ground zero.
Today I want to encourage you to invest in the next generation. Start by praying for them, cheering them, and walking alongside them as they answer the call of God on their lives. Let’s make sure that the message of God’s love and salvation continues to echo through the ages, bringing hope and light to every corner of the world. If you are part of the older generation, stop looking at the things that you don’t like about the up and coming and begin to pour out the wisdom you have gained because you love them not because you think they are doing it wrong. If you are of the younger generation, begin to turn your heart to those older than you that have been through the struggles of life, trusting God all the way. We need each other and we can be so much more effective in this messed up world if we begin to help one another instead of picking out each other’s faults. Then as we remain faithful, God will partner with our efforts to fulfill His purposes in ways that we could not have done on our own. The legacy of faith we leave behind is not just for our children or grandchildren—it’s for the world. It’s for every person who will come to know the Lord because of the seeds we have sown. As we faithfully recount the works of the Lord to the next generation, we can be confident that God will continue to work with us, to advance His Kingdom here on earth.
Today’s scripture reading: Psalms 22
1 My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, and from the words of My groaning?
2 O My God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not hear; And in the night season, and am not silent.
3 But You are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel.
4 Our fathers trusted in You; They trusted, and You delivered them.
5 They cried to You, and were delivered; They trusted in You, and were not ashamed.
6 But I am a worm, and no man; A reproach of men, and despised by the people.
7 All those who see Me ridicule Me; They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,
8 “He trusted in the Lord, let Him rescue Him; Let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him!”
9 But You are He who took Me out of the womb; You made Me trust while on My mother’s breasts.
10 I was cast upon You from birth. From My mother’s womb You have been My God.
11 Be not far from Me, for trouble is near; For there is none to help.
12 Many bulls have surrounded Me; Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled Me.
13 They gape at Me with their mouths, like a raging and roaring lion.
14 I am poured out like water, and all My bones are out of joint; My heart is like wax; It has melted within Me.
15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and My tongue clings to My jaws; You have brought Me to the dust of death.
16 For dogs have surrounded Me; The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. they pierced My hands and My feet;
17 I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me.
18 They divide My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots.
19 But You, O Lord, do not be far from Me; O My Strength, hasten to help Me!
20 Deliver Me from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dog.
21 Save Me from the lion’s mouth and from the horns of the wild oxen! You have answered Me.
22 I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will praise You.
23 You who fear the Lord, praise Him! All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him, and fear Him, all you offspring of Israel!
24 For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; Nor has He hidden His face from Him; But when He cried to Him, He heard.
25 My praise shall be of You in the great assembly; I will pay My vows before those who fear Him.
26 The poor shall eat and be satisfied; Those who seek Him will praise the Lord. Let your heart live forever!
27 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before You.
28 For the kingdom is the Lord’s, and He rules over the nations.
29 All the prosperous of the earth shall eat and worship; All those who go down to the dust shall bow before Him, even he who cannot keep himself alive.
30 A posterity shall serve Him. It will be recounted of the Lord to the next generation,
31 They will come and declare His righteousness to a people who will be born, that He has done this.
The Daily Dose 