Psalm 71:17-18 Since my youth, O God, you have taught me,
and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.
Even when I am old and gray,
do not forsake me, O God,
till I declare your power to the next generation,
your might to all who are to come.

We don’t know who wrote this Psalm, but he certainly seems to have been raised in a home that loved God. In these two verses he expresses the principle of generational transfer of faith in and knowledge of God. He himself obviously benefited from it, and he is aware of his own responsibility in this area. Any believing parent certainly wants their children to grow up loving and serving God, but so many have very little idea how to encourage that. Perhaps the majority of Christians leave religious instruction to their church, just as they leave academic instruction to the public schools. That attitude presents major problems. It’s not that those institutions are bad, (though quality varies widely) it’s that they are inadequate. Instruction of all sorts begins at home, and parents provide the foundation. Attitudes transfer! If the parents love God and are active in serving Him, as well as in expressing love to their children, then the probability that the children will desire to love God and serve Him is very high. Likewise, if the parents love learning and value it, whatever their own level of academic achievement, then it is likewise probable that their children will do well in school. The parents are also responsible for what their children are taught, either at church or at school. If the parents lay a firm foundation at home, then occasional poor teachers, either at church or at school, won’t do so much damage. However, if the parents fail to lay that foundation, there’s no telling what nonsense, or worse, might be planted in their children’s hearts and minds. This Psalmist recognized his own responsibility to communicate the right stuff the right way, and we would do well to learn from him.

This is very much the story of my life. My parents weren’t perfect, of course, but they loved God and they loved learning and they loved their children, and we benefited. With their example, I don’t think I’ve done too badly, but I made some of the same mistakes they did. Now that my children are grown and gone, I don’t have much direct input into them, or even into my grandchildren, because of physical distance. However, I have daily opportunities for input into the next spiritual generations right around me, and I am not to take those lightly. I am to testify of God’s marvelous works indeed, and of His character that inspires and underlies those works. I am to share what He has spoken to me, never in pride but in profound gratitude, so that others too may “taste and see that the Lord is good.” (Psalm 34:8)

Father, thank You for the incredible privilege of sharing knowledge of You. Help me be more and more effective at it, both to those who don’t know You yet and to those who already know You, so that Your house may be filled with disciples, (not pew warmers) for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!