One of the richest things about our family here in Shiloh is the love and respect that exists between the generations. To me it is a deep reminder of God’s faithfulness to see young men and women growing up with a hunger for God equal to or greater than the hunger of their parents or even their grandparents.
The Word says about King David that he served the purposes of God in his generation (Acts 13:36). I believe that there is a distinct purpose in God for each generation. I also believe that it is up to the fathers and sons in each generation to find the way to minister to each other for the fulfillment of that purpose.
In 2 Timothy 1, Paul was pouring out his love for his spiritual son Timothy and while doing so recognizing that he himself came from a lineage of those who had served God in their day (2 Tim 1:3). Paul also made special mention of the lineage that had given rise to the sincere faith that was present in Timothy (2 Tim 1:5).
No generation stands alone.
As a pastor, a shepherd among a fellowship of believers, I have a tremendous viewpoint that allows me to look across many generations and see the fruit of the expanding waves of faith from each one. Even greater, I get to participate in the growth of faith that happens when two generations begin to recognize one another in the Lord.
Recently we began a remodeling project in the children’s wing of our church. Some of our young people are volunteering to labor in the same place and manner that their parents and relatives did 25 years ago. As they work, they come across mementoes that the earlier builders left for them; a signature high on wall here, an autographed tool there. Each time a souvenir is found the bond between the generation that first built Shiloh and the generation that is taking it further into the future grows tighter.
As I walk through the remodeling activities I see young people giving their hearts to serve God in their generation and gaining a new perspective on what their parents were doing at their same age. They are learning not just about the labor that builds a church, but about the faith, discipline, focus and enthusiasm which builds a living church.
I see that life now. I am watching people work hard like their parents did, but also stopping every so often to prophesy and pray for the generations who will yet come and be taught in the classrooms they are building. One of the young builders wrote to me,
I think that might sound a lot like his parents prayers too, years ago when they were serving the purposes of God in their generation.
May God’s people always increase; from generation to generation.
- Craig