July 6, 2007
Generation of Faith
By Lydia Rule, RTF Staff Writer
We were all gathered around in a little camper out in the middle of a state park. Between my grandparents, parents, and two sisters, we were all pretty squished. As is our tradition, we took out the Bible and began to read. Then, we each took turns praying.
I didn’t think anything of it. After all, this is something that my family does every night.
But then it hit me. Three generations of my family were gathered together in worship, and here I was, just thinking that this was an ordinary event. I had been taking for granted what had taken years to build.
My grandparents had chosen to serve God, and in turn, their faith affected my parents, which resulted in me being able to grow up in a family that showed God’s love to me. This is what I want someday for my children, I thought, feeling guilty that I had taken this all for granted.
Some families don’t pray together. Most homes across America are broken. As a pastor’s daughter, I have seen homes split apart, and families that could care less if their child went to church or not.
What it all comes down to is a choice. Each generation has to choose who or what they will serve. Joshua put this choice most eloquently, “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD (Joshua 24:15).
It doesn’t matter if you were brought up in a Christian family– you still have the same choice to make. And, your choice doesn’t just affect you, but it will influence generations to come.
Psalms 89:1
I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.
Psalm 24:6
This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.
Deuteronomy 7:9
Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations. . .
Bio: Lydia Rule has been published in several international magazines. She is currently working on her fifth novel. Go to http://www.freewebs.com/aroundthebloc/ to read Lydia’s newsletter for young writers.
Debbie says:
It’s neat to think how your grandparent’s choices impacted another generation. So often, I feel as though what I do, say, and think isn’t going to affect anyone else. Yet that’s not true. No one is an island. All of our choices (good or bad) affect others.
Anywho, it’s late. I better go.
your friend,
Debbie