Generation to Generation!

This past Monday he arrived! Our first grandchild/son came into the world at 10:18 am, weighing in at 8 lbs. 4 oz., 20.75 inches long! After months and months of waiting (which I wrote about in last week’s devotion), Jesse Gabriel Harris has arrived! And, now the next chapter begins, for his parents, for us as a family, and for Jesse himself.

On both Kim’s and my side of the family, Jesse is the first of the next generation. His arrival marks not only the birth of a baby into the family, but the start of another generation within our family line. Jesse Gabriel will in fact be the eldest among his cousins on our side of the family as well as among his cousins within Danielle’s family. Thus, his arrival marks a very special occasion within each of our families.  He is truly the start of a whole new generation.

 

The concept of generations is an important one throughout the Bible. Although most of us dislike reading them, the Bible is filled with genealogies that tell us of the births of key individuals within important biblical family lines. The most important of these are found in Genesis 6 (Adam to Noah), Matthew’s Gospel (Abraham to Jesus), and Luke’s Gospel (Adam to Jesus through Joseph, his earthly father). These are important because they give to us a historical perspective on the connection between the generations and the work of God from one generation to the next in order that his plans and purposes for our world would be fulfilled. The biblical story is of generation after generation of God’s people waiting for their messiah and savior to arrive and, whether they realized it or not, how they themselves were being used by God to bring about his arrival.

 

It’s no wonder then that throughout the Old Testament and Jewish history there has been such an emphasis on passing on the faith and the stories of how God has worked among his people from generation to generation.  The psalmist put it this way, 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 – NIV) The psalmist wrote of passing on “things of old” that had been passed down to them from their ancestors.  By doing so, one generation after another stayed connected to God.

My hope and prayer is that we as a family will be faithful to pass on the faith to this next generation that has now begun to make its way into our family line. With Jesse’s arrival, I’m reminded of my own responsibility as a grandfather to help his parents pass on to him and to his generation the stories of God’s faithfulness to his people, both in the Scriptures and to us as a family, and to teach him how it is God works through the generations. I trust you will pick up the challenge as well.

 

“Since my youth, God, you have taught me,  and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds. Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation,  your mighty acts to all who are to come.” (Psalm 71:17-18 – NIV)

 

Have a great day!

 

Pastor Tim Harris