INVESTING IN THE NEXT GENERATION: THE PRECIOUS NEXT GEN RISING
(12-2023) by Carol Scheitlin
Are you making wise investments these days? Most think of investments in terms of money - making wise financial investments. But what about souls? How about investing in precious lives, and souls more valuable than the highest dollar amount
This is Carol Scheitlin of New Life Expressions. This month we will take a look at just a few points as you consider your role in your years ahead. Are you making WISE INVESTMENTS in the lives of those who will rise up in years to come?
As we think of the future of this topsy turvy, slanted, seemingly upside down world, who are the Millennials and Gen Z’ers in your life today who may be future leaders, business managers, teachers, pastors? Are you willing to prep them and to take the time needed - to help them succeed in life – in the things that matter most?
This time, we will take a look at:
- The Next Gen Rising (their value, their goals, and a few thoughts to consider).
- Ideas & Ways You Can Invest, from Scripture
- Words of Praise from King David to glean from, as you pray about your role in the lives of the precious younger ones.
ABOUT THE PRECIOUS NEXT GEN RISING:
Their lives are precious.
Millennials (or Gen Y) are currently about 27 - 42 years old. Gen Z fall into the 11 to 26 year-old range. They are part of a social-media-driven culture, facing a world of increasing challenges. They are also valuable and precious souls. Pray for the Holy Spirit to draw them. Show them the VALUE of their life to GOD. Perhaps you can be someone in their life who shows GOD’s CARE for them. Be the one who lovingly communicates with them the truth from GOD’s WORD. Share with them all that Messiah paid, because of His great love for them. Their lives are precious, and the Gospel proves that. The Savior of the world died for them. (John 3:16)
They want to succeed.
Encourage the next generation to be successful in the things that matter most. Things like choosing INTEGRITY above popularity, TRUTH above fabrication, LIFE above death, ENDURANCE instead of quitting, STANDING strong in God’s strength instead of compromising, and choosing LOVE and compassion over hate and anger.
Galatians 5 speaks of the fruit and the good character qualities that the Holy Spirit provides.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23a)
The younger ones don’t yet have the wisdom of many years of experience to deal with life’s many twists and turns.
Remember the road you took as a youth growing up, and the many lessons of life that you have learned over the years. Maybe you had to learn the hard way. Even so, God can use that for good. Perhaps your life experiences can help guide those younger, as you relay times of how you overcame difficulties. Share about lessons you’ve learned along the way. INSTRUCT THEM using the wisdom of God’s Word. PRAY for them daily. And BE PATIENT with them, as God has also been patient and gracious with you through the years.
They may be open to hearing different perspectives.
The generations rising are in the process of exploring and trying to make sense of many different, and sometimes confusing, world views. Don’t be afraid to engage teens and millennials in simple non-threatening conversations. If they leave a conversation, let them always leave having felt your sincere love and care for them. Ask them about their thoughts and their views. Respectfully LISTEN, and lovingly ENCOURAGE them to make the best choices according to the Word of God, so that things will work out well for them in their future. INSPIRE them. Encourage them with your testimony of how God has saved you, blessed you, brought you through all kinds of trials, and how God is always faithful to His Word.
“Your word, O LORD, is everlasting; it is firmly fixed in the heavens. Your faithfulness continues through all generations; You established the earth, and it endures. Your ordinances stand to this day, for all things are servants to You.” (Psalm 119:89-91)
Your important role: WAYS YOU CAN INVEST, from Scripture:
GOD CAN USE YOU TO DECLARE HIS POWER
“O God, You have taught me from my youth; And to this day I declare Your wondrous works.
18 Now also when I am old and grayheaded,
O God, do not forsake me,
Until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to everyone who is to come.” (Psalm 71:17-18)
YOU CAN SHARE GOD’S MERCY
“And His mercy is on those who fear Him
From generation to generation.” (Luke 1:50)
YOU CAN ENCOURAGE THE YOUTH IN GOD’S LOVE & FAITHFULNESS
“For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.” (Psalm 100:5)
YOU CAN SHARE GOD’S WISDOM, TRAIN & INSTRUCT
“Hear, my son, and receive my sayings,
And the years of your life will be many.
11 I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in right paths.
12 When you walk, your steps will not be hindered, And when you run, you will not stumble.
13 Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go; Keep her, for she is your life.
14 Do not enter the path of the wicked,
And do not walk in the way of evil.” (Proverbs 4:10-14)
GIVE CAUTIONS WHERE NEEEDED
“But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.” (2 Timothy 3:1-5)
YOU CAN PROCLAIM HIM WHO BROUGHT YOU OUT OF DARKNESS. SHARE HOPE FOR THEIR FUTURE
“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9)
SPEAK THE LIFE-GIVING GOSPEL TRUTH
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17)
Words of PRAISE, PACKED WITH POWERFUL KEYS:
I encourage you to read slowly the following Psalm. Reflect on its truths. May these words of praise from King David in the Bible speak to you now as you pray about taking steps to INVEST IN THE NEXT GENERATION:
A FEW IDEAS & THINGS YOU CAN DISCUSS WITH THE PRECIOUS YOUNGER ONES IN YOUR LIFE (from Psalm 145):
“I will extol You, my God, O King;
And I will bless Your name forever and ever.
2 Every day I will bless You, And I will praise Your name forever and ever.
3 Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; And His greatness is unsearchable.
4 One generation shall praise Your works to another, And shall declare Your mighty acts.
5 I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty, And on Your wondrous works. 6 Men shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts, And I will declare Your greatness.
7 They shall utter the memory of Your great goodness, And shall sing of Your righteousness. 8 The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, Slow to anger and great in mercy. 9 The Lord is good to all, And His tender mercies are over all His works. 10 All Your works shall praise You, O Lord, And Your saints shall bless You.
11 They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom, And talk of Your power, 12 To make known to the sons of men His mighty acts, And the glorious majesty of His kingdom. 13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And Your dominion endures throughout all generations.
14 The Lord upholds all who fall,
And raises up all who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all look expectantly to You,
And You give them their food in due season.
16 You open Your hand And satisfy the desire of every living thing.
17 The Lord is righteous in all His ways,
Gracious in all His works.
18 The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth.
19 He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them.
20 The Lord preserves all who love Him, But all the wicked He will destroy. 21 My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord, And all flesh shall bless His holy name Forever and ever.” (Psalm 145)
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND GIVE YOU HIS WISDOM as you allow Him to use your life to invest in the precious souls of the generations to come.
Thanks for visiting! Visit this website next time for a message entitled: "ALERT TO OPPORTUNITIES”
Want to know more about a relationship with God? If your identity is not found in God - If you don’t know Jesus, you can know Him! A few quick things to help you get started:
- Pick up the Holy Bible and start reading! (The Gospel of John in the New Testament is a great place to start!).
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- Get connected to a solid church where the Bible is taught. Book by book, verse by verse teaching, is a great way to gain rich understanding!
- Turn from darkness and the bondage of sin, and trust Messiah Jesus to give you life and make you NEW in Him!
Carol Scheitlin is director of New Life Expressions, writer, author, and blogger. She has served short term on various missions around the world, long term in engineering and manufacturing businesses, and for many years directed a worldwide outreach. She loves encouraging people to see Messiah Jesus throughout the Scriptures – and to know God’s awesome, perfect and sacrificial love. Only through HIM can we know this deep love, and have real hope, victory - and New Life!
Carol has written 12 books, being published over time. The first two books, "Let the House of Aaron Say", and "I Will Bless Those Who Bless You" are currently available on Amazon. Book #3 will, Lord-willing, be available in 2024.
For more info, quick links to order books, check news, the latest resources and updates, click HERE for News & Updates.
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