This week, my daughter had to prepare a presentation about her family tree. I could only help out a little bit so we reached out to Grandpa and for the first time, I learnt about the names of my grandfather and great-grandparents. You wouldn’t blame me, they had all crossed to the other side before I showed up. As part of the project, she had to define a list of words, the words generation and tradition stood out.
Generation – refers to all of the people born and living at about the same time, regarded collectively.
Tradition – the transmission of customs or beliefs from generation to generation
An example of a tradition that I shared with my daughter was the custom of deference to the eldest child in the family. She immediately spotted why she got to get privileges like getting more meat and the accompanying responsibility for watching out for her siblings. This tradition has been handed down from one generation to another. This is one of the things that my parents and perhaps their ancestors before them did, that I still do.
Tell your children about it in the years to come, and let your children tell their children. Pass the story down from generation to generation.
Joel 1:3 NLT
When my parents decided to give their lives to Christ, our family adopted a new culture, you can call it the Christ Culture. The people who follow this culture are called Christians, Believers or Followers of the Way. Many of you reading this post today may identify as just that.
The Christ culture is not different, it has to be passed down from generation to generation.
The question is how – I followed my parents by watching what they did and hearing what they said. To hand down our Christian faith to the generation after us, we too will need to tell it to them, show them how to live it out, live our lives out in a way that is worthy of following, surround them with like-minds who are on the same journey as us, give them the best manual for the walk – the Bible.
And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 NLT
When do we do this? From day 1, speak it to their little ear, explain it when they begin to have understanding, as you walk on the street, at home, right before bedtime, when a situation arises – All the time!
Why do we do this? Because that is the only way there will know who they are and spot the difference between right and wrong.
What do we tell them? That Jesus died for the salvation of their sins, he was resurrected on the third day and is now in heaven. Before He left, He told us how to live our lives. If we live our lives to please Him, we will reunite with Him in heaven. If we chose the way of evil, then we will go to hell. The wise choice is heaven and while you live out your life for Him, share the good news about His love with those around you.
Our Christian faith is at the core of who we are, we must be intentional about living out our light, making disciples of our children who will then go on to light up their world. This generation needs the light of God’s love, it is the best gift we can hand down to our children. I dare say, it is the only gift that lasts and keeps on giving. Give your children the gift of Jesus and watch this generation shine so brightly.
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