In the Old Testament we see some individuals who worship God but more often than not, these individuals do not successfully pass on their faith to the next generation. Over time the Nation of Israel needs a revival, they need an instance of faith becoming popular or important again. If you read the Old Testament you can see this rhythm of revival but this was not God’s design. God wanted His people to worship Him forever; for their faith to never not be popular; for their faith to never not be important.
This is why He told Moses and the Israelites in Deuteronomy 6:1-9 to follow His commands and to teach them to your children and to their children and to their children. His people were supposed to transmit their faith in God forevermore to the next generation but they didn’t do this. They failed to do so over and over.
So in the New Testament instead of solely relying on family units God institutes a new way of transmitting faith to the next generation. This new way is discipleship. Jesus invites us to believe in him and then to learn to obey everything that he has commanded which includes discipling people of all nations. All nations includes our families but it also includes everyone around us who also need to receive Jesus Christ as their savior. If you believe in Jesus Christ you are called to disciple others in some way shape or form.
For some of us it's really clear who we can disciple. For instance parents are called to disciple their children. Grandparents are supposed to disciple their grandchildren. Aunts and uncles are called to disciple their nieces and nephews. But outside of family we all are called to disciple anyone who we can, both younger and older than us. We are supposed to disciple all Nations and that includes Wauseon and Delta and everywhere else but more often than not if we are honest with ourselves the church doesn’t do this.
Throughout the world we don't often see people who make up the church making disciples outside of Sunday morning. The church doesn’t generally disciple the next generation or non-believers well and because of that the rhythm of needing a cultural revival comes about again and again.
We should not desire a revival because if we need a cultural Revival then the church has failed to transmit the importance of faith. Instead of this being the rhythm again, what can you do to make it so that those around you do not need a revival but rather that faith never lost its importance or popularity in the lives of those around you? Reaching others for Christ, be it our families or those around us should be the burden on all of our hearts.
The Lord has given us gifts and talents and abilities and he has given us all a mission to reach those that we can for him and to disciple them so that we don't need a cultural Revival because if faith never loses its importance then a revival is not needed.
Across America I generally do believe we need a revival, but what about in your homes and in your family? Do you need a revival there?
What can you do to halt the rhythm of the need for a cultural revival? Who can you reach? Who can you care for? Who can you personally disciple and help to follow Christ? God has allowed us to become parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, teachers and elders. Let us disciple those around us and lead them to follow Christ as we do.
Have a blessed week and may you become more like our Lord Jesus Christ as you help others to become more like Christ.
