~ "Will the NEXT generation be prepared???"

We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done. (Ps 78:4)

At the Awana Conference yesterday, a question was asked: What is the one thing your can do to commit to passing your faith in Jesus Christ on to the next generation? Will you leave a living legacy to those who follow?

Jonathan Falwell, one of the speakers (and son to Jerry Falwell) encouraged us to pass on something of value; something to draw children closer to God. The single most important thing we can pass on is the word of God. We should not be afraid or ashamed to share it! We have the obligation to show them that we have a real relationship with Christ. We serve a LIVING God! We need to teach them how to live out their faith and not go through the motions. We need to be passionate about our faith!

How do we get a real relationship with Christ? It comes from absolute commitment to the word of God! There aren't any mistakes in it - it IS the word of God! The Bible is alive - it is not just a book that sits on the shelf! We need to teach them to study the word of God on their own! It needs to become a part of their daily routine, just as it should be in ours! We want them to believe that God has a plan for them and that through prayer and study, they, too, can come to know him as we do! If we fail to educate them in this, we are not doing our job! They are the future leaders of this world. They are the parents of tomorrow, the next CEO's, the next political leaders, the next preachers! Their future and the future of this world falls on us - it is our responsibility to prepare them!

Make a commitment to yourself and to God, not to mention to the children of today, that you will do something to pass on your faith in God. Give them the opportunity to know the true, living God who sent his son to shed his blood for us! Don't let them give themselves over to the enemy ~ provide them with the "armor of God" so that they can do battle against the devil! Let them be able to lift their hands in praise and share the word of God with their next generation!

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AWANA is an acronym for "Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed". It is an organization whose mission is to develop spiritually strong children and youth who faithfully follow Jesus Christ. The name "AWANA" is based in 2 Tim 3:16-17.