Proverbs 17 (Karen)"Children’s children are the crown of old men, and the glory of children is their father." Proverbs 17:6 (AMP)
There is so much packed into this chapter, but I’m taking one that hits home to me. This verse informs us of the generational blessings God intends for both parents and children to enjoy. Children and grandchildren were meant to be great blessings from God. But Satan attempts to destroy this blessing by alienating the children from their parents/elders and vice versa. God meant for our children to be a great blessing and heritage.
"Don’t you see that children are God’s best gift? The fruit of the womb his generous legacy? Like a warrior’s fist full of arrows are the children of a vigorous youth. O, how blessed are you parents, with your quivers full of children! Your enemies don’t stand a chance against you; you will sweep them right off your door step." Psalm 127:3-5 (Message)
A father's children were meant to bless him by being a defense to him should any enemy speak against him. Godly children will not only defend their fathers, but honor him and their mother as the Bible tells them to. They will glory in having good parents and be thankful to God for their heritage. Many families today lack this generational blessing, as both parents and children have broken God’s laws and do not have Godly relationships with each other.
For children to receive this generational blessing they must begin by honoring their parents (whether they deserve it or not). This is one of the 10 commandments and it comes with a promise attached to it. If children obey their parents they are promised long life. One of the reasons for this, is when children respect their parents wisdom and experience and they obey them, they will be protected from the harm that comes to rebellious children.
"Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God will give you." Exodus 20:12 (NLT)
Throughout the Bible, the righteous declare their purpose is to declare the glory of God to the next generation.
"And even when I am old and gray, o God, do not forsake me, until I declare Your strength to this generation. Your power to all who are to come." Psalm 71:18 (NASB)
"We will not conceal them from their children, but will tell to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and His strength and His wonderous works that He has done." Psalm 78:4 (NASB)
"One generation shall praise Your works to another and shall declare Your mighty acts." Psalm 145:4
More references Joel 1:3, Esther 9:28, Psalm 22:30, Psalm 33:11, Psalm 48:13, Psalm 102:18
We can clearly see that each generation is called to build on the foundation left by the previous generation. Therefore, all generations are in great need of each other to complete the work that God has called us to fulfill. Fathers, mothers, extended aunts and uncles need to be those Godly examples to their children (and the children around them) so that Gods word will be passed from our generation to theirs and then the next generation to come.
I have 6 children that everyone in this church family has the ability to help me teach and mold in the ways of the Lord. I am grateful for those that realize it and step up to the call and I challenge those of you who sit and don’t really get involved to pass on God’s word from your generation to the next. There are also families, children, teenagers that we have the ability to be a part of every day. I feel blessed to have had the parents that I had and hope that I have been a blessing to them. I pray that my children will say the same about Kevin and me. But there are so many out there that can’t say the same. Let’s pour into this next generation in a mighty way and see what awesome works the Lord will do next.
Lord, thank you for all of our blessings. You have given us so many and we don’t thank you enough. Teach us to speak restoration and healing in relationships between generations. Give us wisdom to know what and how to say what needs to be said, love to minister to them in a way that will give them a glimps of your awesome love for us, and patience to stick with it no matter the cost, knowing that the outcome is in your hands alone, and what better hands to be in then yours. Help us to declare Your strength to this generation and Your power to all who are to come. In Jesus name, Amen.
