I just finished up some work on next Sunday’s sermon, Father, but I felt that I needed to at least get my mind and heart headed in the right direction for tomorrow’s blog. May I be receptive of Your word. Amen.
Luke 2:8-20 (<<click to read the passage)
For quite a while now, we have lived close to Amish families. A couple of years ago they were probably 20 minutes or so away and now there are several families that are probably closer than 10 minutes away. We pass an Amish homestead on our way to our first service and every other Sunday (when they worship together at different homes) it is not unusual to pass a half a dozen horse-drawn buggies with family members of all ages filling the seats.
They are unique in our culture but one thing many admire them for is the craftsmanship that has been handed down from generation to generation. It is not at all unusual to see several Amish men working on major construction projects of homes, pole barns, etc. on my bus route. We are blessed to have several Amish hand-crafted pieces of furniture in our home. They do absolutely beautiful work. It is a norm in their culture to pass on to your children the knowhow on these, in some cases, trades of the past.
As I read the story of the news of Jesus’ birth being proclaimed to the shepherds in the fields, I am amazed – and grateful – that their parents and their parents before them chose to “hand down” their hope in a redeemer…the Messiah! The Amish set themselves apart about 300 years ago but the Israelites homeland was dismantled – actually leveled to the ground – almost 600 years before Jesus Christ (the Messiah) was born! And they never lost the hope! The retained it and passed it on from generation to generation.
And basically, everybody clung to that hope of the Messianic savior. Shepherds were just your run-of-the-mill blue-collar workers with just a basic education as was found in their culture but they knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, what the angel’s message was all about. They didn’t have to run to the scholars…they knew.
I have heard it said that the church is just one generation from death. If our children do not experience a relationship with Jesus as we have…then that branch of the body of Christ withers. It can be grafted in once more bringing it life but…only if individuals choose to do so.
It is of the utmost importance that we pass along our love for Christ to those who follow behind us. Of course, ultimately it is their choice to accept Him…or reject Him. But we must sew the seed of faith in their hearts.
Proverbs 22:6 (AMP) declares,
Train up a child in the way he should go [teaching him to seek God’s wisdom and will for his abilities and talents], Even when he is old he will not depart from it.
Pass it on!
Oct 28th, 2019, Mon, 1:05 pm
