Update #136 - Generations

"Jehovah God! Merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and great in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and not leaving entirely unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on sons, and on sons of sons, to the third and to the fourth generation. "Exodus 34:6b-7

San Francisco Trees in the fog

I heard a story related about a speaker at a Christian conference. He was young, he was Asian, and he was known to spend hours and hours and hours in prayer. At dinner one evening another of the young speakers, American in decent, chatted with him; the Asian man asked how he had spent his day and the American responded “Golfing with three of the other speakers. You?”

“Preparing”

“But you aren’t on the docket for three more days – you should have been out golfing with us.”

The Asian man smiled, put his hand on the American’s shoulder and said “Your forefathers did your preparation for you; you are walking in the grace and peace they secured for you and your family. I am a first generation believer and have much more work to do than you before I reach the podium.”

The American nodded, not fully comprehending the meaning behind the Asian mans words and both returned to their meals.

When I was in Cape Town I had a similar dinner. I was seated between two Asian beauties – one a first generation believer, the other the daughter of a pastor and granddaughter of a missionary. Both are known for their radical walks with Christ, for their humor in tense situations, and their faithfulness to their families. The first generation believer is also known for her radical commitment to prayer.

I’ll call her Esther. Esther is from a large family steeped in Asian beliefs and religion. She has a few siblings calling Christ savior, but her parents and extended family still don’t understand, grasp, or realize the gift she and her siblings seized hold of. She prays for them and is cursed in response. She serves them and is criticized in reaction.

The Bible talks about how sin runs through families – usually to the third and fourth generation unless it is repented of and turned away from. Each new age bracket that continues in the sin – whether it be lust, pornography, idolatry, adultery, pride, lying, greed – punishes not only themselves but their children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren.

The aforementioned pastor’s daughter had the sin sequence stop way before she was born. Yes, her family occasionally offends God (who doesn’t), but it is repented of and never repeated. Esther’s family, on the other hand, hasn’t repented, hasn’t reconciled with God and the consequence of sin continues. She is one light in a dark place and at times the darkness seems to encroach, engulf, and almost consume her. So she prays – prays for more lights to join her family, prays that the sin encompassing her family to break, prays that the darkness will recede and the light and love of Christ will dominate. She is paving the way for her descendants to live in the peace, in the grace, and in the light and love of the one true God.

What are you doing to ensure your descendants know the light and love of Christ? What sin in your family needs to be reconciled to God? Lust? Pornography? Idolatry? Adultery? Pride? Lying? Greed? Manipulation? Control? Will you take the steps to stop it now so your actions won’t affect your children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren? What legacy are you leaving behind?

Updates:

Work – Prepping for next weekend’s retreat…50 or so people coming from all over the US for our bi-annual alumni and trainee gathering. My boss and his wife are currently experiencing God’s abundant favor in Nigeria (not near Abuja and all the ruckus there). We head to Indonesia on the 19th – then they are off to India and I come home!

Health – I have been ill since September 7th. I am feeling MUCH better than at first, but I still have a cough and nasal / chest congestion – I would really like it GONE before next weekend’s retreat. I have had abundant amounts of prayer, sleep and medicine…I don’t think I will EVER be ill again!

Requests:

Work – That the attendee’s hearts would be prepared to meet God at the upcoming weekend away and the speakers hear what God wants them to impart. Also, please pray for our time of preparation before we head out into the field again; we are heading to three cities this round – Bali, Kochi and Chennai.

Travel – For safe travel of my boss and his wife home from Nigeria and our team’s upcoming trips to Indonesia and India.