Remember when ...
·
a computer was something from a science fiction show on TV?
·
an application was for employment and a program was a TV show?
·
a cursor used profanity and a keyboard was a musical instrument?
·
memory was something you lost with age and a CD was a bank account?
·
log on meant adding wood to the fire and a hard drive was a long trip
on the road?
·
you cut with a pocket knife and pasted with glue?
·
a web was a spider’s home and a virus was the flu?
What Happened When They
Were Teens
Builders (born 1901-1945)
·
Radio
·
Great Depression
·
World War II,
Baby Boomers (born
1946-1964)
·
Television
·
Cold War
·
Civil Rights Movement
·
Sexual Revolution
·
Vietnam War
·
Space Exploration
Generation X (Xers) (born
1965-1976)
·
Watergate
·
“Me Generation”
·
AIDS
·
MTV
·
Personal Computers
Net Generation (N-Geners)
(born 1977-1997) (Or Generation Y)
·
End of Cold War
·
Internet
·
Domestic Terrorism
·
Booming Economy
The preceding article was
copied from a Focus on the Family web page written by by
Rick and Kathy Hicks. You
can view the entire article at
http://www.family.org/fofmag/pf/a0026184.cfm
Which
generation are you a part? I
wonder what generation we have represented in the church today.
The truth is all the above. We
have a blend of generations. What
is more important is what does the Lord think about this generation? Which generation? I
am thinking about the generation that is here today. I am thinking about us.
What would He find if He examined us? What are we like in the USA in
July 3, 2005? What is the
right generation? What is the
proper way for us live our lives today in light of who He is and who He wants
us to be? Could it be that we may
be like the generation that lived during the days that Jesus walked the earth?
What were they like? How
did He view them? What were His
thoughts toward them?
Scripture
Text:
Matt 11:15 (NIV) He who has ears, let him hear. 16 "To what can I
compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces
and calling out to others: 17 "`We played the flute for you, and you did
not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.' 18 For John came neither
eating nor drinking, and they say, `He has a demon.' 19 The Son of Man came
eating and drinking, and they say, `Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend
of tax collectors and "sinners." ' But wisdom is proved right by
her actions…. 25 At that
time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because
you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to
little children. 26 Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure. 27 "All
things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the
Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son
chooses to reveal him. 28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and
burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from
me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your
souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
Christ’s Estimation of
that generation.
What is this generation? What
is it like? They were never happy or satisfied. Never understanding. They
were always critical particularly of their spiritual leaders.
Jesus reminds us of what they said about John the Baptist and what they
said about him. They were never
happy with either one of them. They were unbelieving as seen by his condemnation of the
cities in v. 20-24. They were
like the children playing games in v. 16-17.
They were never satisfied or happy with any of the games they were
playing.
Christ’s conclusion: Wisdom
is proved right by her actions. In
other words the life of John the Baptist and the life of Jesus prove who they
were. Also, wisdom is proved
wrong by it’s actions, as the lives of this generation proved whom they
were.
Christ’s Declaration of
Dependence. V. 25-27 Today
we remember our Declaration of Independence from England, but we also remember
that as believers we have a declaration of dependence on God. We need Him and want Him to reveal Himself to us.
People need the Lord and we need Him to help us to live for Him and
with Him.
Christ is the way the
truth and the life and no one could
know the Father unless He is revealed through Christ.
We must depend on the Lord to become the Next Generation.
Christ is the One who
gives peace, satisfaction, and fulfillment.
Are you ever burdened? How
can we have the load lightened? How
can find rest for our souls and meaning for our lives?
How can we become a rest with the Lord and with others? How can we have wisdom to understand who is the Lord?
Christ’s Invitation:
V. 28-29
- Come
to the Lord.
- Take
the Lord’s yoke
- Learn
of the Lord
- Find
rest for your souls
- His
yoke is easy and burden light.
- Will
you become the Next Generation to discover who the Lord really is?