Monday, January 16, 2006
Generation What? (Count: Psalm 145)
I'm starting to notice some great recurring themes after just six chapters.
For example...
- God deserves praise for His great works.
- God deserves prasie for His care and compassion.
- Those who trust in God will find that God is present and ready to help.
- God will destroy the wicked.
But here, in Psalm 145, something new jumps out that maybe I didn't see before.
Here it is:
"Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
his greatness no one can fathom.
One generation will commend your works to another;
they will tell of your mighty acts.
They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty,
and I will meditate on your wonderful works.
They will tell of the power of your awesome works,
and I will proclaim your great deeds.
They will celebrate your abundant goodness,
and joyfully sing of your righteousness." (Psalm 145:3-7)
Plain and simple, here's what jumps out at me....
All these common truths - the great things God has done - really must be shared with the next generation.
What is my generation doing to pass it on to the next?
Unfortunately, I see a lot of my generation complaining about the previous generation. Some are trying to create our own generation's type of church. Some have given up on Christianity altogether. Some find it too easy to blame the past. While much of my own thought processes resonate with the emerging or postmodern church movements, I think the best church movements or leaders take time to listen to what God has done. We should value previous generations for the good things God has done and has to say through them.
In reality, we all need to be looking NOW at what legacy we are going to leave.
Will yours be a legacy that points to the greatness of God?
Even if you don't have children, will you still make an effort to pass something on to the next?
Are we looking now at what God IS currently doing, and preparing to share that with others?
I have an 18-month old daughter who seems to enjoy holding hands and saying "Ayyy-mennnn!" when we are done praying. As much fun as that is, I am also committed to sharing with her and her month-old brother some of the terrific things God has done in our lives.
Psalm 145 is a reminder to listen to the previous generation, and pass something on to the next.
In the meantime... "I will meditate on your (God's) wonderful works!"
For example...
- God deserves praise for His great works.
- God deserves prasie for His care and compassion.
- Those who trust in God will find that God is present and ready to help.
- God will destroy the wicked.
But here, in Psalm 145, something new jumps out that maybe I didn't see before.
Here it is:
"Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
his greatness no one can fathom.
One generation will commend your works to another;
they will tell of your mighty acts.
They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty,
and I will meditate on your wonderful works.
They will tell of the power of your awesome works,
and I will proclaim your great deeds.
They will celebrate your abundant goodness,
and joyfully sing of your righteousness." (Psalm 145:3-7)
Plain and simple, here's what jumps out at me....
All these common truths - the great things God has done - really must be shared with the next generation.
What is my generation doing to pass it on to the next?
Unfortunately, I see a lot of my generation complaining about the previous generation. Some are trying to create our own generation's type of church. Some have given up on Christianity altogether. Some find it too easy to blame the past. While much of my own thought processes resonate with the emerging or postmodern church movements, I think the best church movements or leaders take time to listen to what God has done. We should value previous generations for the good things God has done and has to say through them.
In reality, we all need to be looking NOW at what legacy we are going to leave.
Will yours be a legacy that points to the greatness of God?
Even if you don't have children, will you still make an effort to pass something on to the next?
Are we looking now at what God IS currently doing, and preparing to share that with others?
I have an 18-month old daughter who seems to enjoy holding hands and saying "Ayyy-mennnn!" when we are done praying. As much fun as that is, I am also committed to sharing with her and her month-old brother some of the terrific things God has done in our lives.
Psalm 145 is a reminder to listen to the previous generation, and pass something on to the next.
In the meantime... "I will meditate on your (God's) wonderful works!"
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