Passing the Baton of Spiritual Instruction – Psalms 78 – Part Two

Why God Wants Us to Teach the Next Generation (Pick Up the Baton) – Psalms 78:4-7.

“We will not hide them from their children, telling to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and His strength and His wonderful works that He has done. For He established a testimony to Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children; that the generation to come might know them, the children who would be born, that they may arise and declare them to their children, that they may set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments.”

In Part One, we learned that it was God, Himself, who set the standard (created the baton) for spiritual instruction. We learn what that standard is through hearing and listening to His Words. Through His words, we receive His teachings and instructions throughout this race of life. It is those very words that God desires us to pass on to the next generation.

I believe that there are three things that God wants us to do first, before we “pick up the Baton” and run with it. If we do these three things, then we will have a successful experience of passing on the spiritual instruction that we have been given:

• We need to purpose in our hearts that we will not hide what we already know about God. We may feel like we know so little at times. Yet, what we do know, is well worth sharing with our children and their children.
• We need to make the determination that we WILL tell the next generation. Each one of us are to have a part in that, not leaving the job to others to do for us. Each believer in God, needs to make a firm commitment to passing the baton of God’s teachings and instructions on to the next generation.
• We need to realize that we are commanded by God to teach our children. May we take seriously God’s words, “He commanded our fathers that they should make them known to their children.” When we realize that God has spoken, our response should be, “we will not hide them from our children.”

Are you inspired yet to “pick up the baton” of spiritual instruction?

Perhaps, this will help encourage you a little more.

Why should we do this? Why should I “pick up the baton”? Why should I teach my kids and grand kids? Why should I be interested in passing on God’s Word to the next generation? Why??

Verses 6 and 7 gives us five reasons:

• So that the next generation will KNOW the laws and decrees of God. My friend, they will never know unless someone is willing to tell them.
• So that they also will rise up one day and tell their own children. Parents and teachers, get your children ready to be the church’s future leaders, to be great parents themselves, to teach the next generation and the next.
• So that our children will put their trust (their hope) in God. That should be the goal of every Christian parent in our homes or every teacher within the church; that we lead our children to put their trust, their faith in the Lord our God. Without the accomplishment of that goal, then our children will not be in heaven and that is (or it certainly should be) a rather grim thought.
• So that our children will not forget what God has done for them. As parents and teachers we should be constantly reminding them of the wondrous things that God has done in the past. And what He is doing right now. This will help keep them focused on God and hopefully, when they are older, they will not stray from what they have been taught.
• So that they will determine in their own hearts to keep God’s commands as they grow up. Can I say that a parent’s or a teacher’s example is so very important here. When children observe you keeping God’s commands, then, they are more likely to do the same.

We can’t really argue with those five things, can we? Hey, I didn’t say it. God did! I read that list of five things – five wonderful reasons why I should be actively involved in “picking up the baton” and passing it on. They are great reasons for why I should be sharing God’s words, His teachings, His instructions, His commands with the next generation.

Forty plus years ago, when I first began my Christian teaching career, I purposed in my heart, I would “pick up the baton” and run! I determined I would tell the next generation! I know I am commanded by God to do that! But more than that, I WANT TO!

I am in this race for the rest of my life. Are there any other runners with me? Have I inspired others to join me? Anyone else willing to “pick up the baton” and run with me?

The next generation is waiting to hear, wanting to listen!