Afterwords -- week 36
"So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come." (Psalm 71:18)
August 27, 2022
Dear friends,
As I wrote this, various ministries (Gideons, Cru, and many others) were reaching out to new students on the first day of classes at Virginia Tech. Also, we're preparing for a road trip to see our newest grandchild (#6) this week. We so look forward to our time with family. I think there is nothing more wonderful than reading a Bible storybook with a child!
PASS IT ON (Ps 71:18-19). I'm still on a slow read through the Psalms. In Psalm 71 there's an emphasis on each generation passing on the wonderful knowledge of God to the next generation (See also Ps 78:4-6; 79:13; 102:18; 145:4)(Elsewhere in Scripture: Deut 6:6-9; Matt 28:19; Acts 2:39; Eph 6:4; 1 Tim 1:2; 2 Tim 1:5; 2:2; 3:14) It is the Lord's will not only that we multiply, but mainly, that we multiply others in the knowledge of God. That is, we are called pass truth on to the younger generation. For many of us that includes biological and adopted children. But also, it includes those younger believers we may nurture as disciples along the way. In Psalm 71 we are called to speak to them of the righteousness and power of God: "Your righteousness, O God, reaches the high heavens. You who have done great things, O God, who is like you?" (v 19) It is written in Hebrews,
"I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise." And again, "I will put my trust in him." And again, "Behold, I and the children God has given me." (Heb 2:12-13)
AGAIN AND AGAIN (Ps 71:20-21). What's remarkable about the Christian life is not that we don't have trials and losses and failures, for we do (v 20a), but that in grace the Lord keeps picking us up again and again (v 20b-21). Three times the psalmist uses that little word "again": "revive me again... bring me up again... comfort me again." It is not our own righteousness and strength that we are pointing the next generation to, it is God's righteousness and strength. It's his greatness, not ours, in view. I think the big thing about meeting with younger people is being able to point them to the sufficiency of Christ for all of life.
THE NEXT GENERATION. I recently came across two notes from college students whom I met with over the years. One student, who is now a pastor, wrote, "Today I preached a message from Psalm 145 and used you as an example of somebody who reached out to the next generation when you met with me weekly for the last two years of my time at college." Another, now serving as a missionary, wrote, "You were a significant mentor to me at some critical junctures in life and I'm deeply grateful to be able to call you a friend." Lest you think I am good at discipling others (I am not), I found it rewarding just to get younger people into the Word of God and to point out to them what the road ahead is like. Often, I would tell them what potholes to avoid, namely, the mistakes I made and how to avoid doing the same. I'm not sure that always worked for them, but they seemed to appreciate the heads-up on the pilgrim way. And I would pray with them and for them. As long as we have breath, we should be telling others of the faithfulness of God.
WHY "SYSTEMATIC" THEOLOGY? We will begin a new semester this fall with the Biblical Studies Institute of Blacksburg. One of the classes will be Systematic Theology I. That may sound heady, but it's really very practical, and it helps us put biblical doctrines together into one consistent picture of who God is and what he is doing.
RECENT LINKS.
-- "We’re saved to do good works in the context and under the accountability of a church." Thom Rainer on the church-shaped life.
-- "On a bipartisan basis, the church has formed its members to be adamant about policies that are difficult and contingent and flexible about virtues that are clear and mandatory." (David French, "Christian Political Ethics Are Upside Down")
-- "And all our days are held within Your hands / Your perfect love and favor have no end / We rest within the wisdom of Your plan / Everlasting God." I'm enjoying this song: "From Everlasting (Psalm 90)" by Sovereign Grace Music.
-- If web advertisers promoted the Old Testament...
A FINAL QUOTE. "Don't be thinking that for me in Heaven, the big deal after I get to see Jesus, is to get my new body, no, no, no, I want a glorified heart that no longer twists the truth, resists God, looks for an escape, gets defeated by pain, becomes anxious or worrisome, manipulates my husband with precisely time phrases." (Joni Eareckson Tada, quoted last Sunday in Chris Faith's sermon)
That's it for week 36!
Sandy
Cartoon above by John Atkinson. Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.