Breaking with the Past
Deuteronomy 5:8-10 You must not make any idols. Don’t make any statues or pictures of anything up in the sky or of anything on the earth or of anything down in the water. Don’t worship or serve idols of any kind, because I am the LORD your God. I hate for my people to worship other gods. People who sin against me become my enemies. And I will punish them, and their children, their grandchildren, and even their great-grandchildren. But I will be very kind to people who love me and obey my commands. I will be kind to their families for thousands of generations!
It’s tragic when sin is passed down from generation to generation. An alcoholic’s son is at far greater risk of becoming one too. A child who’s been abused is much more likely to grow up to be an abuser. Generational sin is very real.
I had a great dad who, unbeknown to me, had a gambling addiction. It’s something from which he shielded me – which I thank him for, because it wasn’t passed down to me.
But that’s not always the case. As we’ve seen, sin is often passed down from generation to generation. I wonder what your heritage may have dropped on your life; what struggles you may be having.
As you contemplate that, here’s a powerful Word from God:
Deuteronomy 5:8-10 You must not make any idols. Don’t make any statues or pictures of anything up in the sky or of anything on the earth or of anything down in the water. Don’t worship or serve idols of any kind, because I am the LORD your God. I hate for my people to worship other gods. People who sin against me become my enemies. And I will punish them, and their children, their grandchildren, and even their great-grandchildren. But I will be very kind to people who love me and obey my commands. I will be kind to their families for thousands of generations!
Right here, God is giving us the choice either to continue in generational sin or to break the chain; to continue to visit the pain and misery of this sin on generations to come, or by our repentance, to become the point from which His kindness and blessing will flow. Which will it be?
That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.
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