Barb Totterdell July 8th 2018 ~ Passing The Baton

A few weeks ago in the 9.30 service each of the testimonies had the theme of passing the baton. If I remember correctly, the people who prayed together before the service also had a similar word for us. As well, Kieran and I have been thinking about this concept strongly as we’ve planned and prayed about introducing the New City Catechism. It’s at the heart of why we are doing it. It’s so important for us to pass on the baton of our faith to others, including and especially our children.I’m currently reading through Deuteronomy. Many of us will know Deuteronomy 6:4-9: Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.It’s definitely a passage about living out our faith with our children and passing it on to them.One of the things that has struck me on this occasion, as I’ve been re-reading Deuteronomy, is the number of other times similar statementsare made. The Israelites were told time and time again that it was important for them to pass on their faith to their children in this way. I wonder how we are at passing on our faith . . . to our children but also to others in our lives. These passages speak about this as a natural and integral part of our lives. How might you makes some small changes and step into that more this week, whatever your life situation is?I’ve also been struck by the call to obedience that is present throughout Deuteronomy. I read a quote by Kathy Keller during the week: “All joyless obedience commits the sin of questioning God’s love”! Are we being obedient to the things that we know God would have us do? And are we being joyful in that obedience? It’s as we are growing in faithful obedience and continuing to deepen our own relationship with Jesus that we will experience greater life ourselves. It’s also then we’ll have a baton to pass on to others.So are you growing in your knowledge and love of God? Are you continuing in your trust in Jesus? Are you walking in step with the Spirit in joyful obedience? And how are you passing on the baton of faith to others from that place? Blessings,Barb