“When Samuel became old, he made his sons judges over Israel. The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judges in Beersheba. Yet his sons did not walk in his ways but turned aside after gain. They took bribes and perverted justice. Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah and said to him, “Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations.” ” (1 Samuel 8:1–5, ESV)
Don’t expect your children to have your passion for God or spiritual things. Samuel learned this too late. It’s a lesson almost every leader discovers at some time in their lives. Why does this happen?
Passion is the result of many different components, among them …
- Your gift mix – God has placed certain things inside your heart that cause you to flare up with excitement when they pass your way. Your children, if they walk with God are wired with different spiritual passions. The same is true about your spiritual gifts, your personal abilities, your personality, and your experiences. Our children are wired differently by God.
- Your calling – When God called you, He had a specific mission for you to accomplish. In that very personal calling, He spoke into you the words and directions that would guide you for a lifetime. While the venues may have changed from time-to-time throughout your life, God called you to accomplish a specific purpose for the Kingdom. If God calls your children, He will take them through the same process for their specific mission – and it probably won’t be the same mission as yours.
- Your times – God calls us to accomplish something specific in the times we live in, as He did for King David. “After David had done the will of God in his own generation, he died.” (Acts 13:36, NLT) Since the times you were called in decades ago are not the same as the times today, (Remember our cutting technology: 8-track tapes?), your passion will most likely have been forged through those life situations. The same will be true of your children.
As painful as these truths are, they also can fill us with great hope. Like the passions that drive us, when and if God calls your children to specific mission, they, too, will chase after the will of God with their own passions and zeal.
Our task today is to pray for God’s purity and presence in their lives so that, on the day He calls them, they are not only willing, but have the history to answer with a whole heart!
That’s my thoughts. I’d love to hear yours!
Do You Have Your Copy of Growing Missional Leaders?
Growing Missional Leaders is a practical, passionate, Biblical mentoring journey for individuals, small groups, leadership teams and congregations who desire to win their world for Christ. Readers will appreciate the enthusiastic and Spirit-filled hope God provides as Matthew …
- Tells stories – of lost opportunities and successes with friends – that give powerful, encouragement of personal and corporate outreach
- Opens Bible passages – again and again – showing God’s heart is to bring his lost children home
- Provides stimulating discussion questions – at the end of each chapter –providing the stepping stones to launching fresh ministry into your community
Believers hungering to reach their world for Christ will be energized by this passionate call to fulfill Christ’s Gospel and the invigorating manner in which their thought processes will be stretched to God-sized proportions.
