Impacting Generations 影响子子孙 孙
Dexu Xia
Teach them to your children and to their children after them. Deuteronomy 4:9
Today's Scripture Deuteronomy 4:1-10
Today's Insights The Israelites were to pass on God’s truth to the next generation (Deuteronomy 4:9). In the New Testament, the apostle Paul writes to Timothy, who’d been impacted by women of faith from two different generations: “I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also” (2 Timothy 1:5). The apostle also noted how God’s truth had contributed to Timothy’s development: “From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” (3:15). Today, we can ask God to help us nurture the spiritual lives of future generations
Today's Devotion During basketball practice, Enrique’s dad asked him and his friend to show the team how to pass the ball correctly. Enrique had practiced for weeks but feared messing up. He prayed, completed the drill, and said, “Thank You, God!” Later his dad said, “I’m proud of you for working hard, son. But I’m prouder that you prayed and praised God.” Enrique shrugged and said, “I just did what you do.”
Throughout history, God has worked through healthy, cross-generational relationships. Sharing His decrees and laws with the Israelites, He said not to add to them nor subtract from them (Deuteronomy 4:1-2). “Observe them carefully,” God said, “for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations” (v. 6). But God wasn’t only interested in how others perceived His people. He said, “Teach them to your children and to their children after them” (v. 9). Why? So that they “may learn to revere” God and teach “their children” about Him (v. 10).
We don’t have to be parents or serve in children’s ministry to share our Spirit-empowered faith with younger people. Whether we’re praying for a younger person or a young family, providing resources to nurture spiritual growth, or offering encouragement, God uses our healthy, cross-generational relationships to impact generations to come.
Reflect & Pray
How has God used older people to nurture you spiritually? How can you invest in the spiritual lives of a younger person or a young family?
Father God, please help me value, serve, and share You with people from all generations.
By Xochilt Dixon
要将这一切传给你的子子孙孙。（申命记 4:9）
今日经文：申命记 4:1-10
今日洞见：以色列人有责任将神的真理传给下一代（申命记 4:9）。在新约中，使徒保罗写信给提摩太，提到他曾深受两代敬虔女性的影响：“想到你心里无伪的信，这信是先在你外祖母罗以和你母亲友尼基心里的，我深信也在你心里”（提摩太后书 1:5）。使徒也指出，提摩太是如何在神的真理上得造就的：“并且知道你是从小明白圣经，这圣经能使你因信基督耶稣有得救的智慧”（3:15）。今天，我们可以求神帮助我们培育下一代的属灵生命。
今日灵修：在篮球训练中，恩里克的父亲请他和他的朋友向全队示范正确的传球动作。恩里克虽然练习了好几周，却还是担心会出错。于是他先作了祷告，随后他顺利完成了动作，然后说：“谢谢上帝！”事后，父亲对他说：“儿子，我为你付出的努力感到骄傲。但我更为你懂得祷告并赞美上帝而感到自豪。”恩里克耸耸肩说：“我只是照着你的样子做罢了。”
纵观历史，神总是借着健康的跨代关系来成就祂的旨意。当神向以色列人颁布祂的律例典章时，祂告诫不可增添也不可删减（申命记 4:1-2）。神说：“你们要谨守遵行，这就是你们在万民眼前的智慧和聪明”（6节）。然而，神关心的不仅仅是外人如何看待祂的子民。祂说：“要将这一切传给你的子子孙孙”（9节）。为什么呢？为了让他们“学习敬畏”神，并将上帝的事教导给“他们的子孙”（10节）。 我们不必非得是父母，也不必在儿童事工中服事，才能与年轻人分享那由圣灵赋予力量的信仰。无论我们是为年轻人或年轻家庭祷告，提供滋养灵命成长的资源，还是给予鼓励，上帝都会借着我们健康的代际关系，去影响未来的世代。
反思与祷告 神曾如何借着年长者在灵性上培育你？你可以如何投入心力，去造就年轻人或年轻家庭的灵命？ 天父，求祢帮助我珍视每个世代的人，服侍他们，并与他们分享祢自己。
作者：索切尔特 迪克逊