Deuternonomy 34:5-9
The subtitle today is “Keep Preparing and Encouraging New Leaders.” Eventually, we will all be gathered into
eternity and leave this world we have made in the hands of our younger loved ones. This subtitle makes two assumptions:
that we understand and are preparing for it and that encouragement is the most
important tool for the task. How
does this underscore the lesson's theme of “Being Positive”? If we train up our younger generation in
the love and admonition of the Lord, then we can leave this world knowing it’s in
good hands.
My late father rarely talked to me personally about the great issues of
life, but I had the great privilege of listening to him preach every Sunday for
years. I always felt as if he were
talking to me personally and always felt as if he was talking for God. That was such a wonderful way to grow
up. What did I learn? My relationship with God through Christ
trumps all!!! Always actively love
and serve the least among you.
Never grow fond of this world's material offerings.
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| The "younger generation" Sarah with her nephew, our grandson, "Rudolph" Knox Lee Benson |
Let me share one more story that I believe is relevant. My wife, youngest daughter, Sarah and I were
recently visiting my mother’s church and found ourselves in her Sunday School
class of 70 and 80 something’s.
The teacher and members had bemoaned the current younger generation all
through the lesson. As the class
came to a close our daughter, just 17, shyly raised her delicate young
hand. The teacher recognized her
and all the aged, sun-spotted, bent and arthritic turned toward her. She said softly, as only a 17 year old
girl can, “I don’t mean to be rude, but you all sure have left this world in a
mess for us to clean up.” You could have heard a pin drop. I truly don’t believe I had anything to do with that, but I
can remember proudly thinking she’s certainly up to the task.
Beautiful!
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