O God, You have taught me from my youth; and to this day I declare Your wondrous works. Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, do not forsake me, until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to everyone who is to come.
--Psalm 71:17-18 (NKJV)
From the daily Bible reading on April 9, 2013 of Psalm 71:14-24; Romans 8:1-17; Deuteronomy 23-24.
David takes a step through his life, from his youth of yesterday to his old age of tomorrow, acknowledging God's presence all the way. He prays that the Lord not leave his side just yet, not until he has completed his song. Some of us can emphasize.
Most of us have been blessed by being taught by God from our youth, from our earliest days, even if some of us resisted or ignored those lessons. Our heavenly Father teaches us through our earthly father or mother, through our brothers and sisters who walk alongside us every day. He teaches us by the words others share with us, and the examples they set for us. Each generation teaches the one that comes after it, whether it means to or not. If we are fortunate, the generation before us will teach us the way to righteousness rather than to ruin.
Charles Barkley, the famous NBA basketball player, once stated that he was not a role model. Sadly, he was mistaken, for simply being in the national spotlight, for excelling in and being widely known for what he did made him a role model to a younger generation whether he wanted to be or not. His only choice in the matter was whether to be a model of a good role to follow or a bad one.
Each of us have that same choice today. Whether we intend it or not, whether we wish it or not, whether we even realize it or not, there will be young people watching us, seeing the things we do, mentally noting how we interact with other folk, comparing us to others of our generation. Even if we are not actively working with the youth of today, we still serve as role models to them by the example we set for them. God has given us free will in all things, and this is one area where we must choose very carefully, for not just the next generation will be impacted by what we show them, but also those that follow and learn from the ones we taught!
Many of us may now be reaching that gray-headed stage David refers to. We may be looking back on our life, thinking about what we have learned and the mistakes we may have made, remembering those who made the most lasting impression on us by the examples they set. We need to also pause for a moment and reflect on what we leave behind us. What will our contribution to tomorrow be? Amen.
O God, please do not forsake us, for we still have work to do. There are youth we need to teach about Your glory, that we need to explain how to share in Your great strength, that we need to show the path to righteousness. Help us choose wisely, Father, to be a model for good. Amen.
Most of us have been blessed by being taught by God from our youth, from our earliest days, even if some of us resisted or ignored those lessons. Our heavenly Father teaches us through our earthly father or mother, through our brothers and sisters who walk alongside us every day. He teaches us by the words others share with us, and the examples they set for us. Each generation teaches the one that comes after it, whether it means to or not. If we are fortunate, the generation before us will teach us the way to righteousness rather than to ruin.
Charles Barkley, the famous NBA basketball player, once stated that he was not a role model. Sadly, he was mistaken, for simply being in the national spotlight, for excelling in and being widely known for what he did made him a role model to a younger generation whether he wanted to be or not. His only choice in the matter was whether to be a model of a good role to follow or a bad one.
Each of us have that same choice today. Whether we intend it or not, whether we wish it or not, whether we even realize it or not, there will be young people watching us, seeing the things we do, mentally noting how we interact with other folk, comparing us to others of our generation. Even if we are not actively working with the youth of today, we still serve as role models to them by the example we set for them. God has given us free will in all things, and this is one area where we must choose very carefully, for not just the next generation will be impacted by what we show them, but also those that follow and learn from the ones we taught!
Many of us may now be reaching that gray-headed stage David refers to. We may be looking back on our life, thinking about what we have learned and the mistakes we may have made, remembering those who made the most lasting impression on us by the examples they set. We need to also pause for a moment and reflect on what we leave behind us. What will our contribution to tomorrow be? Amen.
O God, please do not forsake us, for we still have work to do. There are youth we need to teach about Your glory, that we need to explain how to share in Your great strength, that we need to show the path to righteousness. Help us choose wisely, Father, to be a model for good. Amen.
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