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Pass It On

The people served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him and who had seen all the great things the Lord had done for Israel…Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord and served the Baals. They forsook the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of Egypt. They followed and worshiped various gods of the peoples around them.” – Judges 2:7, 11-12

How important is it that we raise our children in the faith and see to it that they experience that faith for themselves?

(Before anyone puts this devotion down thinking, “I don’t have kids. This isn’t for me.” When I say it’s important to raise our kids in the faith, I mean all the kids of the church, not just your own. The whole church is involved!)

They Experienced God
When the people of Israel entered the Promised Land, they experienced the work of the Lord first hand. They had been sustained in the wilderness and they saw the walls of Jericho fall by the mighty hand of God. They experience first-hand God’s provision and protection and they had leaders, like Joshua, who led faithfully. That generation remained faithful.

They Did Not Experience God
The next generation was a very different story. They didn’t have those experiences and they fell away from God. They started ignoring God’s law and even worshiping false gods.

What About Our Younger Generation, Today?
We see that same type of thing over and over in the church today. Parents, who have experienced the work of God in their lives, being strong of faith and then, sadly, their children falling away. There are many reasons that can happen, but one can be experiencing (or not experiencing) God’s work in their lives.

This past week in our worship service we talked about committing our households to being households of faith. This has a huge affect on the next generation as they grow up in that faith. Over the next several weeks, we will continue this conversation in our services.

How can we be sure they experience God’s work in their lives?

  • Teaching: It is important to teach children about the faith. This should be done in church, in our households, and in life’s various teachable moments. Allow for open conversation even about difficult topics.
  • Live out that faith with them: Actions speak louder than words. Praying together, reading the Bible together, serving together, and worshiping together, even from a young age, has a huge affect as kids not only see faith being lived out but experience it themselves. This includes difficult times as well. Be age-appropriate, but let your kids experience some of the more difficult aspects of living in faith.
  • Giving Responsibility: Giving our youth responsibility to participate in worship, go on service projects, lead family devotions, etc. shows them they are important in the church and that the life of faith is theirs as well.

By hearing the Word and experiencing the faith, our children are given a strong foundation.

This is why “Pass It On” is one of the 5 primary Values at Faith Lutheran Church. We believe that if we, as a church, aren’t committed to passing on the faith to the next generation, many of our youth will lose their way.

Heavenly Father,

You have blessed us with children, whether in our own family or the greater family of believers. Help us raise our children in the faith, teaching them Your Word and helping them to experience the faith first-hand. We also know that faith only comes from You. So, we pray that you will graciously give our children faith and keep them in that faith all their days.

Amen.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Kurt