“Yet they did not listen to their judges, for they whored after other gods and bowed down to them. They soon turned aside from the way in which their fathers had walked, who had obeyed the commandments of the Lord, and they did not do so.” – Judges 2:17
It’s an unfortunate reality that faith simply isn’t inherited automatically by the next generation. Every person in every generation must choose the Lord for themselves. Or not. They must choose between obedience to God’s ways or walking in the world’s ways. That choice won’t be made just because their parents follow God, though that can certainly be a positive influence. Children won’t believe just because their parents believe, though they may choose unbelief because of their parents’ failure to live by what they believe.
Each generation must be intentionally evangelized. They must be taught about God and His ways, Jesus and His salvation, the Holy Spirit and His power. They must be taught it and they must be shown it through lives of humble obedience to King Jesus. They must also be taught that obedience to God is the most important priority in life, not merely one good thing among many. They must be invited into the faith and prayed for with diligence. And yet, still, it’s up to them to choose their path. Many will choose the wrong path before choosing the right path. Others may never get off the wrong path.
Followers of Christ must do everything possible to help the rising generations choose the right path, but the choice is still theirs. Be faithful in teaching the young. Be faithful in praying for them and talking to them about God, Jesus, and their need for a Savior. Demonstrate what a life of faith looks like, not merely words of faith. Make following Jesus the top priority in your life. Then pray some more and keep praying. #FollowJesus