Read: Numbers 28-29; Psalm 91
Verse chosen for meditation: Numbers 28:2 2 "Command the people of Israel and say to them, 'My offering, my food for my food offerings, my pleasing aroma, you shall be careful to offer to me at its appointed time.'
Reflect:
As we read these two chapters (Numbers 28-29), we might find them to be familiar. Indeed, some of these rituals are repeated from the book of Exodus as well as Leviticus. So why did God give some of these rituals all over again?
The repetition here is not just to trigger our memory. The repetition here symbolises a new beginning for Israel. The first generation of Israelites had failed to obey God in many ways and was prevented to enter the Promised Land. Most of them had also passed away either in age or under the Judgement of God. Therefore, the second generation needed to hear on what was required to worship and commune with the same God who brought them out of Egypt.
The underlying message was that the second generation can be different in terms of their faith in God. They did not have to follow the footsteps of their fathers and grandfathers; who were known to be a complaining lot.
Here, even as Yahweh initiated communion with the second generation in terms of the various types of offerings to be presented; He was telling them to obey and be different. He was not going to assume that the unfaithful first generation had properly discipled the second generation. Here, God took into His own hands to ensure that the younger people understood and "own" the faith.
Relate
Many youths and young adults in the Methodist Churches grow up in Christian homes. If you ask them, some will tell you that this can be a “good or bad” thing. Growing up in a Christian home mostly mean that you “go to church” often. This can be a good thing because they get to learn about the faith at a very young age. Yet, it can also be a “bad” thing especially when along the way, they felt that this “faith” belongs to their parents.
Unfortunately, many of the younger people that I have discipled and worked with felt the latter. They lamented that they don’t really “own” the Christian faith and mostly just “go along”.
I am not entirely certain if any one single factor can be the cause of such a lament or attitude. It seemed to be multi-factorial and mostly because the parents themselves are not serious about the faith. "Serious in the faith" as in not only about how we serve in Church; but more so, on how often we show by example on our private meditations on God's word.
While the youths themselves have a part to play in responding to the faith; the Church needs to know that the family and community which our younger grows up in plays a very big part as well.
We cannot assume that just because our younger come to Church, they will automatically grow to be mature Christians. I mean, this does not really work for adults either. A lot more need to happen. A lot more need to happen in relevance to the context of which they are now living.
This is why I believe the Church needs to take a leaf from God Himself. God did not rely on the older generation of Israelites to impart godly instructions to their children. After all, the older generation had proven to be disobedient.
Instead, God spoke out on His own to the younger generation of Israel. Educating them on how to worship, how to have communion with Him, how to destroy evil and how to build faith even as they enter into the Promised Land.
Similar for the Church and Christian family. We cannot leave to chance on the discipleship and mentorship of our young. We cannot just assume that if they come to church, all is well.
Yes, by all means, allow them to go for services; but as parents, let us process with them on what they have learned. Let us be intentional about discipling them in the ways of Jesus Christ by setting good examples. Read our Bible on a daily basis and apply what we learned in our own lives. Better still, read with our children, explore the faith together. Be courageous and do it!
As for the church, let us learn how to relate to our younger without any pre-conceive notions. Let us understand how they are educated in the schools these days and what they are truly interested in. Show good examples in the way we worship God and how we respond to the word of God. Be intentional and authentic in the way we disciple and mentor them. Love them and nurture them; for they are our “second generation” whom I believe, can definitely do much better than us.
Rest
Lord my God, help us as a Church, to learn how to bridge between generations. Give us the humility, no matter if we are the first, second or third generations, to converse in a godly way with one another. Give us the wisdom and grace to walk with the younger and allow them the grace as well to receive help as required. Give us the vision which You had given to Israel; and that is to glorify you as a community and be a shining light to all around. This I pray in Jesus Name. Amen.
Jason
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