The Next Generation

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates” (Deuteronomy 6:4-8).

Never underestimate tiny hearts and minds—they’re like little sponges, soaking up all the Truth we share about the Lord.

My niece attends a weekly Bible club at church. She enjoys learning Bible stories, singing catchy Scripture songs, and has practiced hiding God’s Word in her heart. We’re amazed by all she has taken in and her ability to articulate that with others at such a young age.

I don’t know about you, but sometimes, I underestimate just how much littles can learn. Though varying developmental stages require us to get on their level, literally, speaking eye-to-eye and in very simple terms, we shouldn’t underestimate the fact that young minds can grasp the same glorious Truths of God’s Word.

God calls us to be faithful stewards of His Word and of our own testimonies to this next generation, teaching them all we have learned about the Lord. Believing children are not just the future Church, but they are members of the Church today. We must treat them with such dignity and take our role even more seriously as faith nurturers.

May we make the most of every opportunity to share God’s love and Truth, from snack time, craft time, lesson time, to game time.

This reminds me of Deuteronomy 6, known as “The Shema,” in which God called the Israelites to faithfully disciple their children so they would know God and His commandments. In their coming and going, the Israelites were called to speak about God and His Truth.

Though we are not Israelites, this same principle applies to us as believing adults—whether we have children of our own or not.

How can we intentionally invest in the next generation? With permission from parents/guardians, could you treat a group of kids to ice cream and share a passage of Scripture we’ve been reading? Could you volunteer our time in a GEMS Club or youth group, showing up for those who could use a faithful friend? Could you be more intentional on our drives to and from school, doctor’s appointments, or sports practices, listening to worship music, talking about Scripture, or praying together?

Friends, one conversation at a time, one day at a time, let’s intentionally instill God’s Truth into this next generation, in hopes that they may choose to repent and believe in Jesus Christ, and then go and make disciples as well. Remember, children can take in more than we think. May this next generation love and follow Jesus Christ! For the sake of this next generation as well as our own, may we be wise stewards of our time, resources, and the greatest message of all: the gospel of Jesus Christ!

Let’s pray:

Dear God, thank You for the unique hearts and minds You have given to children, for their beautiful curiosity and imaginations. Thank You for entrusting such children to us. Please help us to be faithful in sharing Your Word with them in hopes they may choose to follow Your Son, Jesus Christ. Please help us to make the most of every opportunity we have to invest in this next generation.
In Jesus’s name, amen.