30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 23 26-43 THE CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS 06 Luke 23 27-31 Raising godly generations
📖 Luke 23:26-43
Thu 16 Dec 2021 – Raising godly generations - Luke 23:26-43 - THE CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS (06) - Bible reading: Luke 2:48-52
We need to raise our generations to seek God, to know His call and purpose in their lives.
We as elders are ashamed and we repent before God, for we have done several things that we ought not to have done in raising our generations.
Luke 23:27-31 And a great multitude of the people followed Him, and women who also mourned and lamented Him. (28) But Jesus, turning to them, said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. (29) For indeed the days are coming in which they will say, 'Blessed are the barren, wombs that never bore, and breasts which never nursed!' (30) Then they will begin 'TO SAY TO THE MOUNTAINS, "FALL ON US!" AND TO THE HILLS, "COVER US!" ' (31) For if they do these things in the green wood, what will be done in the dry?"
We have been seeing, the pain of God’s heart for the wellbeing of society. This was the message the Lord shared with the crowds as He was being led to be crucified.
The Lord also expressed that the women should weep for their children.
As we consider the matter of the well-being of culture, society and nation, one of the vital issues is the one of raising generations.
Consider the leadership that we elders have demonstrated to our children. What have they learnt from us?
II Corinthians 6:16-18 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM. I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE." (17) Therefore "COME OUT FROM AMONG THEM AND BE SEPARATE, SAYS THE LORD. DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN, AND I WILL RECEIVE YOU." (18) " I WILL BE A FATHER TO YOU, AND YOU SHALL BE MY SONS AND DAUGHTERS, SAYS THE LORD ALMIGHTY ."
It is important for us elders to communicate this message to our generations that God is our habitat and not the material things of life.
We do much to ensure that our children study and do well in life, which is good. Have we transferred to them this understanding that, ultimately, it is economics that determines their wellbeing in life? We may have brought them up to accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour but the life message that they learnt from us, largely, is that they need to ensure material success first and then, they can also serve God in different ways.
We all know that children learn from life example and not just by our words. When children see in us that though we are serving God, yet we are anxious, troubled, full of complaints, bitter, unforgiving, tightfisted and rancorous, then they learn from us that God is not our habitat.
We must also ensure that our children understand God’s call for their lives.
Here is Apostle Paul’s message to his spiritual son, Timothy.
II Timothy 1:8-11 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, (9) who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, (10) but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, (11) to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.
Timothy needed to get it clear that we are here in this world to fulfil God’s call , which was given before time began. This call is the Gospel of our Lord Jesus.
The Good News is that the Lord is reconciling man and creation back to Him through the cross so that man and creation could enjoy the Shalom of God. (Colossians 1:20)
The Lord demonstrated through His life the matter of raising godly generations.
Luke 2:48-52 So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, "Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously." (49) And He said to them, "Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business ?" (50) But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them. (51) Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them , but His mother kept all these things in her heart. (52) And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men .
Jesus was subject to His parents. He learnt from them, yet, He was committed to His call.
There is a necessity for the good upbringing of our children and a wonderful frame for raising children is provided in this passage (Luke 2:52). Nevertheless, raising children with a good upbringing is not an end in itself. We train our children so that they will fulfil God’s call for their life, which is the Gospel of Jesus.
Mark 8:35-38 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it. (36) For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? (37) Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? (38) For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels."
Our generations must grasp and internalise from us that we are here in this world for the Gospel of Jesus, for which we may have to suffer the loss of many things that the world terms as success.
Thought to ponder
What is your legacy to your generations?