Read Psalm 70-71
At the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, both the men and woman's 4 x 100 relay teams had all the talent in the world, but instead of winning gold, they came home with nothing because they had been disqualified. Why? Because each relay team dropped the baton during the race. It did not matter how talented they were, if the baton gets dropped, the team loses.
It's been said that the Christian faith is just one generation away from distinction. It is the responsibility of one generation to share with the next generation who God is. The people in Joshua's day saw God do amazing things. They were the generation that entered into the Promised Land. But they dropped the baton. And the result was a generation that struggled to walk with God.
Judges 2:10 put it this way: "And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the LORD or the work that he had done for Israel."
David was a man who saw God do so many amazing things in his life. In Psalm 71:17 he praised God by singing: "O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds." David knew that it wasn't just enough to praise God for His mighty works. He had a responsibility to pass the baton by sharing all God had done to the next generation.
How do we know this? The next verse says so in v. 18: "So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come." This doesn't mean you have to work with a youth group and go to all-nighters. But it does mean that we need to be intentional to look for opportunities to mentor the next generation.
Who is someone younger God has placed in your life?
What would it look like for you to proclaim God's might to another generation, His power to all those who are to come?
Prayer for the day: "God, thank you for all you have done in my lifetime. You have shown your might and power in so many ways. Help me share it with the next generation. Bring someone in my life that I can spiritually encourage. In Jesus’ name, amen."