With a million things seemingly competing for our time, you might wonder why you should prioritize writing down God’s work in your life. This was my first thought, if I’m being honest, and I knew the only answers that would convince me it should be a priority would be found in God’s Word.
The first section of 1000 Generations explores seven, Bible-based reasons for why we should be recording our faith. Below is a brief overview of each of these seven reasons.
1. Petition for His Promise
EXODUS 20:5-6
“I, the LORD your God…showing faithful love to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commands.”
Reason 1 looks at the Exodus 20:5-6 and explores how we can pray specifically for our ourselves, our children, and our future generations.
2. See and Praise His Work
PSALM 78:4-5
“We must…tell a future generation the praises of the LORD. He commanded our fathers to teach to their children so that a future generation-children yet to be born- might know.”
In reason 2, I highlight several scriptures that instruct us to teach the next generation and also to praise the Lord for His work. The application in this scenario is that our praise and our requirements to teach are not limited to the events captured in the Bible, though certainly those take priority.
3. Build a Stone Memorial
JOSHUA 4:6
“In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’, you should tell them, ‘The waters of the Jordan were cut off in front of the ark of the Lord’s covenant. When it crossed the Jordan, the Jordan’s waters were cut off.” Therefore these stones will always be a memorial for the Israelites.”
This record book can serve as a physical reminder of God’s work in our lives in the same way that the memorial stones served to remind the Israelites of God’s miraculous work when He halted the waters of the Jordan River. It’s for this reason that I chose the highest quality and visually appealing format for this book, so that it can remain out in your home to be seen.
4. Remain Faithful to His Call
MATTHEW 28:19
“…make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you.”
Similar to reason 3, seeing this book reminds us that our ultimate purpose is to share the good news of Jesus Christ.
5. See God’s Grace
Matthew 1:5-6
“Salmon fathered Boaz by Rahab, Boaz fathered Obed by Ruth, Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered King David.”
Reason 5 examines Jesus’s genealogy and how it highlights God’s grace and how that grace is extended to our own families.
6. Speak Beyond the Grave
Hebrews 11:4
“Abel… even though he is dead, he still speaks through his faith.”
By recording God’s work in our lives, we too can influence and speak after we’re gone.
7. Trust in the Lord
PSALM 78:6-7
“They were to rise and tell their children so that they might put their confidence in God and not forget about God’s works…”
Reason 7 focuses on how our record of God’s work can bolster and strengthen the faith of our children, grand-children, and so on.