Psalm 78:4 We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation
the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and wonders that he has done.
Every summer our two grandsons come for a week-long visit. They live over 300 miles away, so we take these yearly trips seriously. After our daughter recently dropped them off, we started packing in as much as a five- and seven-year-old could handle. Well, more like what two seventy-somethings could handle.
We went swimming, played mini golf, hiked, and visited playgrounds. They helped cut down a tree, carve their initials in a stump, and rode the tractor with Grandpa. We played countless rounds of Uno, some of us cried (me) at the end of Charlotte’s Web, and we laughed ourselves silly watching Ramona and Beezus. And did I say we ate lots of ice cream?
But one of the most meaningful times happened when we tucked them in bed each night. We read a devotional from Veggie Tales for Boys followed by discussion of scripture and prayers. It’s hard to not be moved when you hear your grandsons thanking God for different things that happened during the day. There’s nothing we desire to impart to them more than God’s love and truth.
The psalmist talks about the vital importance of telling the next generation about the wonderful works and deeds of the Lord. In fact, he says the reason Israel developed stubborn, rebellious hearts was precisely because they forgot what God had done. When it came time for battle, they shrunk back in fear because they didn’t remember their history (v.9). The miraculous parting of the Red Sea, God’s unfailing sustenance in the desert, the many victories against their enemies. Perhaps even more consequential, they forgot the cost of their forefathers’ sins and ended up repeating them.
We all have the opportunity to “tell the coming generation” about Jesus. You don’t have to be a parent, a grandparent or Sunday School teacher to relay stories about God’s love and power. Let those coming after you—whomever they might be—know the reason for your hope (1 Peter 3:15). Tell them about answered prayers. About the history of miracles and glorious deeds of the Lord.
Lest they forget, tell them. My fellow believer, just tell ‘em.