Week 34 “The next generation” Day 3
Pray:
Ask God to reorient you to Himself. Confess any known sin. Thank Him for His forgiveness. Be still and reflect on Jesus and His sacrifice for you. Ask the Holy Spirit to open your heart and mind to God’s Word. Pray for others in your life that they, too, would know and love God today.
Read:
2 Tim. 2:1-7 You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—he wants to please his commanding officer. Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor’s crown unless he competes according to the rules. The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.
Reflect:
You were made for multi-generational impact. It is not for a select few; it is for all who claim the name of Jesus. In this passage, Paul is telling Timothy to pass on what he has learned to men who will then teach other men. Of course, the same principle holds true for women teaching other women. The things that are to be passed on are specifically related to the gospel, but the gospel has implications for all of life. The truth of the message that is passed on is independent of the messenger. You do not have to live the message perfectly in order to pass it on faithfully. However, you can make the message more accessible to the next generation if you live it more faithfully. They are listening and they are watching. If what they are seeing does not match what they are hearing, it will be difficult for them to believe what they are hearing. The fact that you are made for multi-generational impact is both a privilege and a responsibility. It is a privilege in that God has included you in his activity in the world. You do not have to wonder if you have purpose or if your life can count. You do have purpose and your life must count. It is a privilege because the fact that you have a stewardship can and should be a built-in incentive for holy living. It is not a curse that others are watching your life; it is a blessing. To have accountability for living the best possible life is a good thing, so embrace it as such. It is a responsibility in that your life is not to be about you. It is to be about the glory of God and the good of others. This responsibility is also not merely a burden, but also a great opportunity. When you live for the glory of God and the good of others, you will in turn maximize your own joy in life. You were made for multi-generational impact and, when you live in line with your design, then clearly life is going to be much more fulfilling and meaningful. “This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3). Indeed, his commands are not a burden, rather they are an opportunity. His commands for our lives demonstrate his design for our lives. Live your design and invest in the next generation. Perhaps you do not feel up to the task. Maybe your life does not match the gospel message. Nevertheless, the task is on you. Because if not you, then who? Take up the challenge and close the gap on aligning your life with the gospel message. Then, in spite of your imperfections, give yourself to investing in others.
Pray:
(Personalize this prayer today; make it specific to the circumstances that face you.)
Ask God to lead you through His Spirit as you go through your day. Ask Him to bring to mind the truth of the gospel and its implications for what you will encounter today. Tell Him “Yes” to His will and ask Him for His power and protection to live this “yes.” Ask God to create and reveal opportunities to proclaim the good news today.