Grandparents, Your Spiritual Legacy Starts with Remembering

By Mark Holmen, adapted from Faith Begins @ Home Grandparents.

When you read the first 13 verses of Joshua’s farewell address in chapter 24, you see that Joshua begins by recalling all the things that God has done for the people of Israel. It is clear that Joshua does not want them to forget who their God is and what their God has done for them.

One of my favorite passages, that comes from the book just before Joshua, is another instruction from Moses to the people of Israel where he states, 

When the Lord your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you—a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant—then when you eat and are satisfied, be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. (Deut 6:10–12, emphasis added) 

One of the dangers for families today is that they get so busy “doing life” that they forget the One who has given them the life that they have. Moses was warning the people that they will be inheriting a land of plenty, which is great, but it can also lead them to forget God if they are not careful. Joshua, in his farewell address, picks up on this theme and begins by reminding the people, again, of who their God is and all the things God has done for them which I would paraphrase as follows:

• Remember how God led you.
• Remember how God provided for you.
• Remember how God sent people into your life.
• Remember how God delivered you.
• Remember how God destroyed those who tried to destroy you.
• Remember that God gave you “land on which you did not toil and cities you did not build; and you live in them and eat from vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant” (Josh 24:13)

As grandparents, the first thing you can do is to make sure that the generations that are behind you do not forget who God is and what God has done for us. As grandparents, you need to tell the God story again and again, whether you think they know it or not, so that they won’t forget God. And as you do, be sure to personalize it as well. 

You have a story of how God has led you, provided for you, sent people into your life, delivered you, and even destroyed those who have tried to hurt you. Make sure your children know that story because remembering who God is and what God has done for us makes us fall in love with him all over again.

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This post is adapted from Faith Begins @ Home Grandparents by Mark Holmen. 

The headings and title of this post are the additions of the editor. The author’s views do not necessarily represent those of Faithlife.