As generations come and go, one here and there finds God through Christ, then marries someone who knows Him and brings up their family to know Him. Often the fervor of the first converts wanes with the generations and there can be long periods of time when Christless generations come and go. Then the prayers of the ancestors begin to be answered for their children and their children’s children and the cycle begins again. Even in this greed-oriented, self-seeking world, our faith and our prayers can make it possible for all generations to become believers and experience true joy.
The Teacher says, “One generation goes its way, the next one arrives, but nothing changes” (Eccl. 1:4, MSG). However, things can change. We can break the cycle of unbelief by responding to the Holy Spirit and beginning to fear God. We can change things for the future generations through our prayers. We can fortify the generations so they, like us, can stand against the materialistic and greed-obsessed society.
Years after my uncle’s death I obtained his Bible. In the front he had written, “There is someone in every generation whose calling is to pray for the generations to come.” My uncle prayed for me and I came to faith. His prayers were a gift!
So as you consider this whole idea of rejecting the self-saturated, must-have culture in favor of a relationship with the Living God, don’t only do it for yourself. Do it for your family and all the generations to come!
In Christ,
Jill Briscoe
Are you especially challenged when you want to talk about matters of faith with your parents, siblings, children, or extended family? Do you want them to have the assurance of abundant life and salvation, but you find resistance, anger or even ear-piercing silence? There is something you can do for them regardless of the circumstances - you can stand in the gap for them and pray! Your prayers are a gift!, for them and the generations to come. We pray these devotions on family help you reflect on God’s heart and the true treasure of family.