One generation will declare Your works to the next and will proclaim Your mighty acts. Psalm 145:4 HCSB
Can you list the people who declared the works of God to you that brought you to faith? I can. I can tell you about my wonderful parents and grandparents, their prayers and the stories of how God moved in their lives that became legendary to me. I can tell you about Miss Lois, the Sunday school teacher who invited my sister and me into her home and expanded on the love of Jesus over root beer floats. I remember Eva Jean who played in the sandbox with me and other toddlers. We pictured Jesus walking in the sand with His disciples and believed He was with us too. I can tell you about Clayton Baird who served in many ways in our church, coming to pick up my sister and me one evening when my parents had experienced something very painful. He volunteered to bring us home. He said Dad and Mom had a hard day, but Jesus had hard days too and He always helped people on those days. Then he prayed with us in his car.
I could tell you about neighbors, friends, teachers, and missionaries, well-known people and ordinary people, all who told me about God and His mighty works in their lives. But the most important thing is, I thank God they did! They gave me a big picture of a great and good God who loved me and would do powerful things in my life through Jesus who died and rose again and is alive right now! Oh, thank God they did!
Some people get it another way. Years ago, Tracey soloed at a high school concert. The pastor of a little bitty community church took a risk after the concert. He asked if she would consider doing some community service with her voice. Amazingly, she agreed to lead the “congregational singing” for his tiny congregation for a few months, a cappella, though she only knew three Christian songs (“How Great Thou Art,” “In the Garden,” “Amazing Grace”), she agreed. Before long, elder Anna offered to play piano and teach her more. The little church with no young people loved Tracey and shared Jesus with her. Soon she took her own step of faith.
Fast forward a few years. The church had stabilized at about 50-60 people. Charlie and I were sent there to pastor. Just about exactly the same age as Tracey, we became fast friends. It’s a wonderful and miraculous story. Tracey asked Charlie to share Jesus with her mother. He did, and she jumped in with both feet. Shirley was the first of 27 family members over the next couple of years whose lives were forever changed by Tracey’s sharing. Her mother Shirley became one of the most influential persons in the church over several decades, teaching children the mighty works of God. Her fingerprints are all over our children and many more. She raised up so many to love, trust, and serve God. Tracy and Shirley are in heaven now, along with many who were led there by the faith they declared. One generation will tell another.
- There are people ahead of you and behind you in the generational pass. What’s your next move? Do it. You’ll be so glad you did.