I see a generation RISING UP TO TAKE THEIR PLACE

I keep pondering this blog. I keep chewing on what it means for my heart. yesterday I spent a LONG time talking to God about what it means that He is giving me a season in which I am, in the span of each week, shepherding 11 3 year olds, 15 8-10 year olds, and upwards of 15 17-18 year olds. Plus caring for a 9 year old son, 15 year old son, and at a distance and 18 year old. This morning I read these words from T.M. Moore. I am sharing them here because I am continuing to ponder the RICHES of this season that I am entrusted with. I want to write this down because I do believe it is a WEALTH entrusted to me. I want to be alert and faithful. I want to train the next generation as disciples of Jesus Christ. I want to WALK OUT Psalm 78. I want to believe that Jesus thinks being with children is so so valuable. I don't want to miss this.

Devotional written by T.M. Moore

Yours is the duty of instructing the young, that they fall not into sin and the devil not drag them away to his house reeking of death.

- The Rule of Carthage (Irish, 7th century)

Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled.

- Titus 2.6

All adults have a responsibility toward the rising generation, to teach them the way of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. We do this by signing up to serve in our churches - Sunday school, youth ministry, and so forth. We also do this with our own children, at home. And we do this by the zeal, boldness, and manifest joy with which we undertake the task of learning the things of Christ ourselves.

Oops. The old saw, "Children don't do what you say, but what they see you do," probably helps to explain why so many young people abandon their faith once they head off to college. They simply haven't seen anything worth living for in the adults they grew up with in church. Young people are looking for purpose, mission, something big to invest themselves in for the long haul. Is this what they see in your church? In you?

Make no mistake about it, we, the adults in our churches, are teaching the young people who will take our places (or not). We are teaching them by our words, deeds, priorities, practices, and everyday ways of life. If all they see in us is a paste-on faith over a life that looks pretty much like everyone else, they'll cast the paste-on aside and cling to the life as the thing that matters most.

Of course, that won't satisfy them - any more than it satisfies us. But until the adults in our churches begin demonstrating more vigor and earnestness about the life of faith, they will continue to teach the generation to come that Christianity is pretty much a take-it-or-leave-it deal - nice if you need it, but not necessary if you don't.

The education of the next generation begins with each one of us. Let's make better use of the opportunities we have, shall we?