The way America does church is very different than the way they did church 40 years ago. In fact the way we do everything is pretty much different from the way we did things 40 years ago. Think about it in just one generation the way we drive, cook, clean, educate, recreate, etc. etc. has changed. Even the way we do marriage and life has changed. We have stay at home dads and families with two mommies or two daddies. Life has drastically changed in just one generation. What will the changes be in the next forty years? What will the next generation look like?
When I read my Bible I see a trend. If one generation served God, things got better; then the next generation did not serve God, and things got bad again. It is a rare thing that consecutive generations follow God and serve Him. It has been my observation that when things are bad people turn to God. When things are good people turn their attention away from God. Maybe it’s just me but I notice a pattern even in marriages, that when a young couple get married and they have very little; they get along fairly well and work towards a common goal. Years go by and as they accumulate wealth and have more spare time, they begin to grow apart and fight over things—things they did not have just 20 years earlier. Then something occurs like a death or a sickness or a loss and it drives them towards one another again. What is it that we as humans seemingly function higher when under pressure or attack? The church has always grown more when persecuted than in more favorable times.
Things are going to change, this we can be sure of. Our beliefs and values will be passed onto the next generation. Children will grow up doing what they see their parents doing, not what their parents tell them to do. Culture will change and what is popular will also change with the times. What will not change is what God‘s word tells us. Wrong will never be right. We can rehearse something over and over again but rehearsing it will not make it true. Truth will continue to be truth whether man accepts as truth or not. We are responsible for what we do with this life we live. We will have to give an account for our time on this earth. What will be said of us is yet to be determined. Every day we have a new opportunity to make a difference. If you feel unnecessary, unwanted, unimportant, insignificant, let me remind you—one person can make a huge difference. I know you think I am referring to Jesus, and yes that is true He made a huge difference, but so did many other individuals. Paul, Moses, Elijah, Mary, Rahab, Ruth, John and many others all individuals that did amazing things that changed the lives of others and are still affecting lives today.
Today I challenge you to read Hebrews chapter eleven, “the Hall of Fame” or as some call it “the Hall of Faith”.
Hebrews 11”39 (NLT) “39 All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised. 40 For God had something better in mind for us, so that they would not reach perfection without us.”
You matter. Do not lose hope or grow weary in well doing.
When I read my Bible I see a trend. If one generation served God, things got better; then the next generation did not serve God, and things got bad again. It is a rare thing that consecutive generations follow God and serve Him. It has been my observation that when things are bad people turn to God. When things are good people turn their attention away from God. Maybe it’s just me but I notice a pattern even in marriages, that when a young couple get married and they have very little; they get along fairly well and work towards a common goal. Years go by and as they accumulate wealth and have more spare time, they begin to grow apart and fight over things—things they did not have just 20 years earlier. Then something occurs like a death or a sickness or a loss and it drives them towards one another again. What is it that we as humans seemingly function higher when under pressure or attack? The church has always grown more when persecuted than in more favorable times.
Things are going to change, this we can be sure of. Our beliefs and values will be passed onto the next generation. Children will grow up doing what they see their parents doing, not what their parents tell them to do. Culture will change and what is popular will also change with the times. What will not change is what God‘s word tells us. Wrong will never be right. We can rehearse something over and over again but rehearsing it will not make it true. Truth will continue to be truth whether man accepts as truth or not. We are responsible for what we do with this life we live. We will have to give an account for our time on this earth. What will be said of us is yet to be determined. Every day we have a new opportunity to make a difference. If you feel unnecessary, unwanted, unimportant, insignificant, let me remind you—one person can make a huge difference. I know you think I am referring to Jesus, and yes that is true He made a huge difference, but so did many other individuals. Paul, Moses, Elijah, Mary, Rahab, Ruth, John and many others all individuals that did amazing things that changed the lives of others and are still affecting lives today.
Today I challenge you to read Hebrews chapter eleven, “the Hall of Fame” or as some call it “the Hall of Faith”.
Hebrews 11”39 (NLT) “39 All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised. 40 For God had something better in mind for us, so that they would not reach perfection without us.”
You matter. Do not lose hope or grow weary in well doing.
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