Generation to Generation

August 20, 2010 Devotion

I find it exciting that the Lord says to us that His promises are for generation to generation.  It is enjoyable seeing the next generations moving up.  Every generation will probably be wiser, more knowledgeable and hopefully more powerful in the Spirit because the Word says things like, "Knowledge increases in end times."  "The gates of hell will not prevail against the church."  That means the church will continue to grow, thrive and be in good shape until the Lord returns for us.  The Lord also said greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world.  So if He is greater than the world and the enemy, then we need to be excited and not downcast about the church.  In another place, the Word says, "Where sin abounds, grace so much more abounds."  So as things seem to get more and more evil and sinful in the world, the Lord's grace abounds all the more.  This is very encouraging for us who look forward to each new generation rising up for the Lord and spreading His Word to the ends of the earth.  It gives up hope and not dread or fear for upcoming generations.

I have children and grandchildren and my prayer is that the Lord will raise them up in the new generations as leaders like Abraham, Moses, Joseph, Joshua, Ruth, David, Asaph, Esther, Mary, Paul, Timothy, Barnabas, Luke, and the disciples. 

There is a really good quote by an unknown author that you might appreciate.  It says,  "Someone asked, 'Where can I plant a seed to get the greatest crop?'  The Lord said, 'Go plant it for Me in the heart of a child.'"  This quote was passed down to my husband and me when we were working with Children's Church years and years ago and we continue to pass this quote on to children's workers as an encouragement in ministry.

The Lord is unchanging and His work has always been and will always be until the end of time on the earth.  Every work that is done for the Lord is built upon past works done generation after generation.  We are always building on someone else's work.  His work is continuous.  The book of Ecclesiastes says there is no new thing under the sun.  The Lord continues to equip, call, appoint, anoint and send those into His service.  We are all called in some way to God's kingdom work for the Lord has a plan for all our lives; therefore, the work is new for us and stirs our hearts and minds and we hear Him speak and answer His call and continue the building and planting process over the generations.  Sometimes the works expand because of society and the evil that abounds but the Lord always raises up the leaders He needs to accomplish His work.


What a wonderful promise and thought that the Lord will always be at work in us and in our world. We need to just be determined to join Him in it.  I am refreshed at the thought that the Lord can use us for the younger generations.  The Word encourages the older to teach  the younger.  Who knows?  One of us may be winning the soul of OR discipling the next Billy Graham, Mother Theresa, Pastor of a passionate church for Christ, Director of International Missions, Sunday School teacher, Children's Church leader, Prayer Ministry Leader, Education Minister, faithful lay person or ....

If you have not already, please focus your attention at times on the future generations.  They need our prayers, our help, our teaching, our examples of godliness, passionate hearts for the Lord Jesus, teaching of the Word.  We need to ask ourselves if we are willing to be an instrument in the Lord's hands for future generations as well as participating in the work for the here and now in our own generation.  The Lord spoke to me that prayer can go to the ends of the earth and down a thousand generations unhindered, so we are without excuse for not praying.  We can pray any where and any time if we are willing.

What a joy it is to see little ones love the Lord, learning things about the Lord and knowing their "little hearts" are under construction FOR THE GREATEST WORK IN THE WORLD.  What kind of time, money, love and heart are you willing to invest for the generations to come?  It's something to give great consideration to.  Please consider it, if you have not already.  If you have, please continue to increase your thoughts, prayers and investment into these lives.

Until He comes,
Awkie Lilly

Source: http://tracksforthebelieverinjesuschrist.blogspot.com/2010/08/generation-to-generation.html