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Topic: Inter-Generational Faith Transfer
[DCLM Daily Manna 2 October 2019 Daily Devotional by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi]
Text: Psalm 78:1-8 (KJV)
1 (Maschil of Asaph.) Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
2I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:
3 Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.
4 We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.
5 For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children:
6 That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children:
7 That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:
8 And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.
Key Verse: “That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children”(Psalm 78:6).
MESSAGE:
The report in Thomas Cahill on how the Irish Saved Civilisation was circulated in 1995. It describes how at the turn of the 5th century, a 16 year-old boy named Patrick was taken in one of the raids of the British coasts following the crumbling of the Roman powers. Stripped from the comforts of his home life and a future which would have included a classical education and career, Patrick was made the slave of an Irish chieftain and assigned the role of shepherd. These harsh conditions however, drove the young man to God. His grandfather had been a Christian priest and Patrick turned to his family’s faith. He spent his bitter days in constant prayers. As he did, a deep love of God and a profound sense of God’s Spirit at work grew within him. He emerged some time later an ordained priest and bishop, and became the first known missionary to Ireland.
Passing our faith to our children and other generations must be through a deliberate effort. This will involve constant teachings, practical examples and demonstrations, involvement of the children, provision of enabling environment and materials among others. We must realise that except we consciously and intentionally make effort to pass on our faith to oncoming generations, they may completely become lost.
Exposing children early to the Christian faith will produce an inter-generational faith transfer. Although, we may not immediately see the excepted results in children, we must continue to sow in hope (Psalm 126:5,6). A responsive guidance of children in godliness will result in the preservation of a godly future generation which will halt the rise of a godless generation.
Thought For The Day: Raising up godly generations is like planting a seed to preserve posterity.
The Bible In One Year: Hebrews 1–4
