What we do this day greatly affects the next generation one way or another.
The initial covenant to Israel was in Exodus 24:7-8 and now in Deuteronomy 29. Notice who the Lord is making a covenant with. “You are standing today, all of you, before the Lord your God: the heads of your tribes, your elders, and your officers, all the men of Israel, your little ones, your wives, and the sojourner who is in your camp, from the one who chops your wood to the one who draws your water,” (Deuteronomy 29:10-11). Also we read, “It is not with you alone that I am making this sworn covenant, but with whoever is standing here with us today before the Lord our God, and with whoever is not here with us today.” (Deuteronomy 29:14-15)
The Lord made this covenant with more than just the Hebrew people but all those standing before Him. This covenant also impacted generations to come. So they are warned, “Beware lest there be among you a man or woman or clan or tribe whose heart is turning away today from the Lord our God to go and serve the gods of those nations. Beware lest there be among you a root bearing poisonous and bitter fruit, one who, when he hears the words of this sworn covenant, blesses himself in his heart, saying, ‘I shall be safe, though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart.’ This will lead to the sweeping away of moist and dry alike.” (Deuteronomy 29:18-19)
This truth is still true today. Our choices greatly affect those in our presence today and those who come after us. We need to be aware where our hearts are turned, if there is a root of bitterness in our hearts, or if we’re walking with stubborn hearts.
Let’s choose this day, tomorrow, and moving forward to keep our hearts, thoughts, and actions turned towards the Lord and His Kingdom. You may not notice each day, but our decisions are impactful to those in our presence and will affect the generation to come. Let’s be a heavenly impact.
-To Know Jesus. To Live on Mission.