Lessons from the Heart
Make the choice
By Pastor Tim Pohlman

I saw a quote today that really made me think: "There is nothing more sad or glorious than g e n e r a t i o n s c h a n g i n g hands."

In Judges 2:10- 13 we get a glimpse of this happening

to the children of Israel: "After that generation died, another generation grew up who did not acknowledge the LORD or remember the mighty things he had done for Israel. 11Then the Israelites did what was evil in the LORD'S sight and worshiped the images of Baal. 12They abandoned the LORD, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of Egypt. They chased after other gods, worshiping the gods of the people around them. And they angered the LORD. 13They abandoned the LORD to serve Baal and the images of Ashtoreth."

The children of Israel had been chosen by God. There was so much potential within them, but they chose to not acknowledge the Lord or remember all he had done for them. The names may be different, but these verses should spark within us the urgency and necessity of teaching our children about the Lord. I've heard all kinds of excuses from people: "there just isn't anything interesting at church for my kids" or "they should be free to make their own choice regarding church."

Christian, church is as exciting as we make it! Do you "drag" yourself to church each Sunday morning and then watch the clock expectantly, hoping for it all to end quickly? Do you sit your Bible next to you on the pew instead of opening God'sWord to follow along with the message being presented? Do you contribute to the worship? If we as adults don't show any enthusiasm for our relationship with God, neither will our children - and they will grow up into a generation that will abandon the Lord.

If we leave the "choice" of knowing God up to our children, they'll probably never pursue him. It is our responsibility to teach our children what we know to be true and right. As long as they are in our care, WE must decide what is best for them until they are old enough to make that choice for themselves. Do you let your children decide if they should obey the law? Do you let your children indulge in alcohol and drugs simply because it's their choice? If you do, it will hurt them - possibly even destroy their lives in the process. To give them a choice about God that they are not prepared to make, or that they don't see demonstrated positively in you, will hurt them - possibly even destroy their souls in the process.

Judges 21:25 says, "In those days Israel had no king, so the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes." In these days, if we have no King (Jesus Christ), we - and our children - will do whatever seems right in our own eyes. Look at the world around you to see proof of this.

Choose the King. Guide your children and show them the joy of living for Christ. Make the generation "changing hands" a glorious thing.

Tim Pohlman is pastor at Burlington Church of Christ.

Pray for our nation to seek God

So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, and paralytics, and he healed them. Matthew 4:24 Pd. Adv.