DISCIPLE-MAKING OR LACK THEREOF IMPACTS THE NEXT GENERATION!

DISCIPLE-MAKING OR LACK THEREOF IMPACTS THE NEXT GENERATION!

And the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great work that the LORD had done for Israel. And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died at the age of 110 years. And they buried him within the boundaries of his inheritance in Timnath-heres, in the hill country of Ephraim, north of the mountain of Gaash. And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the LORD or the work that he had done for Israel. And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and served the Baals. —Judges 2:7-11

We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done. —Psalm 78:4

And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. —II Timothy 2:2

            How wonderful when people are united to serve our Lord God Almighty! This the people did… until… Joshua died… and the elders around Joshua died. They had seen all the great things our Lord had done. Marvelous and powerful works He accomplished. But then after all of Joshua’s generation’s leadership died there was a huge shift.

            We are told that “there arose another generation after them who did not know the LORD or the work that he had done for Israel.” What happened that this was so? The very next generation did not know the Lord. Nor did they know the great work He had done for Israel. How could this be? Apparently and sadly, the previous generation did not DISCIPLE the next generation. They did not take the time to tell the “Bible stories” to the next generation. In just one generation people became unknowledgeable about the Lord and His work among the people.

            The outcome of that failure led to “the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and served the Baals.” In one generation the nation went from following the Lord and being impacted by Him to following demonic influence and worldly practices. Does that sound at all like professing Christianity today in many places? Under the wide umbrella of all those who say they are Christians there is great worldliness by many. Many are not even distinguishable from the world.

            Let us remember that it is God who condemns, not us. We are to be judging, but in the sense of discerning. God alone is the Judge. It is He who justifies and it is He who condemns.   Nobody is getting away with anything.   We will all appear before Him in the future whether we believe that or not. It will happen. Let us live in such a way that we hear the words from Him, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Yes dear Father, may this be so in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son, Jesus. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_ERmtLFIhs