Week of Monday, April 22 – April 28
And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of 110 years. And they buried him within the boundaries of his inheritance in Timnath-heres, in the hill country of Ephraim, north of the mountain of Gaash. And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord or the work that he had done for Israel. And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals. And they abandoned the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt. They went after other gods, from among the gods of the peoples who were around them and bowed down to them. And they provoked the Lord to anger. They abandoned the Lord and served the Baals and the Ashtaroth. So, the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he gave them over to plunderers, who plundered them. And he sold them into the hand of their surrounding enemies, so that they could no longer withstand their enemies. - Judges 2:8-14 ESV
In 2016, pastor and author Ray Ortlund, Jr., wrote:
Fifty years ago today … my dad and mom gave me a new Bible … the inscription is significant:
“Bud,
Nothing could be greater than to have a son—a son who loves the Lord and walks with Him.
Your mother and I have found this Book our dearest treasure. We give it to you and doing so can give nothing greater. Be a student of the Bible and your life will be full of blessing. We love you.
Dad
9/7/66
Phil. 1:6″
Apparently, the grandfathers and fathers in Israel did not do what Ray Ortlund’s dad did for him. The result was disastrous. A new generation of Israelites replaced the older generations who sadly “knew not the Lord”! Then, as night follows day, the new generation went after other gods. They experienced defeat after embarrassing defeat because the Lord was displeased and no longer fought their battles. Unbelievable, you say? How could that happen in light of all the blessings of God in the past, you ask? Tragically, it did happen then, and it can happen again to us if we allow it.
What is at risk in our moment of stewardship is the spiritual legacy we must impress on the precious hearts and minds of our dear, sweet children and grandchildren. This account in Scripture shouts the importance of passing along our faith in God effectively to those who follow us in life’s journey. Failure to make an all-out investment in this pursuit will lead to disaster. So, take a warning from the pages of Judges and take encouragement from Ray Ortlund’s dad. Share your faith with your kids and grandkids, but also live it. Be intentional about leaving a strong spiritual legacy that they will want to follow. Fifty years from now, they will thank the Lord that you did.
- Is there any difference between what you would write to your child or grandchild about the faith you wish for them and the faith they see in you right now? What life adjustments and course corrections do you need to make?
- Are there some practices and habits that you need to put into place now in your or your family’s life that would better shape the faith of those you love?
- Ask the Lord to help you be more intentional in this all-important pursuit of impressing your faith on the next generation and creating a strong spiritual legacy that will outlive you but live on in the lives of your kids and grandkids.
And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of 110 years. And they buried him within the boundaries of his inheritance in Timnath-heres, in the hill country of Ephraim, north of the mountain of Gaash. And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord or the work that he had done for Israel. And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals. And they abandoned the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt. They went after other gods, from among the gods of the peoples who were around them and bowed down to them. And they provoked the Lord to anger. They abandoned the Lord and served the Baals and the Ashtaroth. So, the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he gave them over to plunderers, who plundered them. And he sold them into the hand of their surrounding enemies, so that they could no longer withstand their enemies. - Judges 2:8-14 ESV
In 2016, pastor and author Ray Ortlund, Jr., wrote:
Fifty years ago today … my dad and mom gave me a new Bible … the inscription is significant:
“Bud,
Nothing could be greater than to have a son—a son who loves the Lord and walks with Him.
Your mother and I have found this Book our dearest treasure. We give it to you and doing so can give nothing greater. Be a student of the Bible and your life will be full of blessing. We love you.
Dad
9/7/66
Phil. 1:6″
Apparently, the grandfathers and fathers in Israel did not do what Ray Ortlund’s dad did for him. The result was disastrous. A new generation of Israelites replaced the older generations who sadly “knew not the Lord”! Then, as night follows day, the new generation went after other gods. They experienced defeat after embarrassing defeat because the Lord was displeased and no longer fought their battles. Unbelievable, you say? How could that happen in light of all the blessings of God in the past, you ask? Tragically, it did happen then, and it can happen again to us if we allow it.
What is at risk in our moment of stewardship is the spiritual legacy we must impress on the precious hearts and minds of our dear, sweet children and grandchildren. This account in Scripture shouts the importance of passing along our faith in God effectively to those who follow us in life’s journey. Failure to make an all-out investment in this pursuit will lead to disaster. So, take a warning from the pages of Judges and take encouragement from Ray Ortlund’s dad. Share your faith with your kids and grandkids, but also live it. Be intentional about leaving a strong spiritual legacy that they will want to follow. Fifty years from now, they will thank the Lord that you did.
- Is there any difference between what you would write to your child or grandchild about the faith you wish for them and the faith they see in you right now? What life adjustments and course corrections do you need to make?
- Are there some practices and habits that you need to put into place now in your or your family’s life that would better shape the faith of those you love?
- Ask the Lord to help you be more intentional in this all-important pursuit of impressing your faith on the next generation and creating a strong spiritual legacy that will outlive you but live on in the lives of your kids and grandkids.