Lent Day 10

“So commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these words of mine. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, so that as long as the sky remains above the earth, you and your children may flourish in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors.”  Deuteronomy 11:18-21 (NLT)

I recently went to see the movie “Jesus Revolution”. This movie covers the Jesus movement of the late 1960a and early 70s. Thousands, perhaps tens-of-thousands, of young people came to know Jesus during the movement. The movie raised the question, ‘what was the lasting impact of the Jesus movement?’  The movement did effect the Christian music industry and Christian media. However, we are barely one generation removed and I do not see any lasting impact on our families or society.

Those who were influenced by the movement are now in the midst of raising families. “The presence of families had a domesticating effect on Jesus Movement groups. Mobility had to be curtailed, making groups more sedentary. This led to a lessening of missionary activities” (encyclopedia.com). Life got in the way and the ‘revolution’ was not effectively passed on and passed down to the next generation.

In our scripture, we are promised that we and our children will flourish if we teach and keep the words of God continually in front of us. Many of the Jesus movement did not pass along their passion for Jesus to the next generation. If they had, I believe, our society would be in a much better place than it is today. 

During this season of Lent, let us make it a priority to teach and talk about the words of Jesus.

Dear God, help me to keep Your words continually before me and my household. Let me be passionate about passing on my legacy of faith to the next generation. In Jesus name, Amen.

Written by Reenie Peppers