God sees further than we ever can, He knows where we are going. He knows the big picture. He always invites us to participate in His plans and goals and to set the table for others. The alignment of our values will make us more effective and help us move in the same direction.
The house of God is the special thing we have on earth.
When we take personal responsibility to make the values of the church our own, it will transform from a place we visit or attend to a place we belong to; a place that helps more people and where God’s people can receive solutions they can bring into the world they are in.
“Committed to the Generations” is not just about our personal lineage, but also about us as believers living and breathing on earth at the same time. The question is: Do we value not only the generations that affect us, but also the generation we belong to, and what God wants to do with us right now?
God is a God of generations! He promised Noah and his descendants that He would never break the covenant He made with them (Genesis 9). He said it would stand for all future generations.
God’s reign and dominion have found no end and are eternal. Especially in this uncertain time, we can be encouraged that God is faithful across every generation.
Psalm 145: 13-21
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures from generation to generation. The LORD is faithful in all his words and gracious in all his works.[1] 14 The LORD upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down. 15 The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. 16 You open your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing. 17 The LORD is righteous in all his ways and gracious in all his works. 18 The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. 19 He does what the God-fearing desire, and hears their cry and helps them. 20 The LORD protects all who love him, and will destroy all the wicked. 21 My mouth shall proclaim the praise of the LORD, and let all flesh praise his holy name forever and ever.
We can be sure that God will not destroy what he has created. He even made it better by giving us Jesus! Through his Son, he fulfilled his eternal covenant. We are no longer strangers to God and are made into a chosen generation, called out of darkness into his marvelous light. As a chosen generation, we have a purpose on earth right now, just as Peter speaks to the Gentile Christians in this passage:
1 PETER 2:9-10
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light; 10 once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
God declares his faithfulness to every coming generation and refers to those who have been saved through Jesus as a chosen generation with the intention of leading a different life that speaks of him.
HOW CAN WE LIVE THE VALUE OF COMMITMENT TO THE GENERATIONS?
1 – COMMITTED TO THE GENERATIONS – VALUE THE PAST, JUST DON’T GET STUCK IN IT
It is good to value the past, but God is doing something new now. He wants the solutions of heaven to reach the earth for today’s problems. We can learn from the past and give God the glory for the good things, but he has new graces, new revelations, and new solutions for today.
2 – COMMITTED TO THE GENERATIONS – BE COMMITTED TO THE PRESENT
Acts 13:36
For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption.
It is amazing that God values us so much that he wants to use us. The question is: Do we want to serve Him in our generation? Do we recognize the value of this generation and the significance of the role we play?
It can be as simple as stepping up to be a kingdom builder this year; or we take what we hear on Sunday and share it with someone; or think about solving a problem we are facing in the church, in your family, at work, or in the world; or make the decision to get to know someone new on Sundays.
Just ask yourself: “How can I make it better for us?”
3 - COMMITTED TO THE GENERATIONS – FAITHFUL TO THE FUTURE
If we want to see a way forward, we must align our present with the future.
Everyone must create a table of hospitality and generosity so that the next generation can grow up in the house of God, know their identity in Christ, live the values of the kingdom, and know the word of God. The next generation must be consistent from us, continue to pray, continue to worship, and continue to proclaim God’s word. We can create a great environment where our children and youth become stronger and not weaker.
What a privilege to be able to contribute to this.
Psalm 145
God’s eternal goodness
1 A psalm of David. I will exalt you, my God, the King; I will praise your name forever and ever. 2 I will praise you every day; I will honor your name forever and ever. 3 The LORD is great and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. 4 One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts. 5 They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works. 6 They tell of the power of your awesome works, and I will proclaim your great deeds; 7 they celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness. 8 The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. 9 The LORD is good to all and has compassion on all his works. 10 All your works shall give thanks to you, O LORD, and all your saints shall bless you. 11 They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom and tell of your power, 12 to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
Let us be a community that is committed to the generations. We value the generation to which we belong and point the next generation to this generous God.
PERSONAL REFLECTION
- Write down the “one” thing that stood out to you in today’s message. How can you see this in your daily life and apply it this week?
- Do you value the generation to which you belong? Ask yourself if there is something you can personally take responsibility for to make it better for us as a church community.
- What are you doing today that will impact future generations? How can you help create an environment where the next generation can thrive?
Father, thank you for the generosity you have shown me by sending Jesus to save me. Thank you for including me in a chosen generation to make a difference in this world. I want to value and be a part of what you are doing, and commit to building up the next generation.
Amen
