We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the LORD, about his power and his mighty wonders.
so the next generation might know them — even the children not yet born — and they in turn will teach their own children.
So each generation should set its hope anew on God, not forgetting his glorious miracles and obeying his commands. Psalms 78:4, 6 and 7 NLT
For Christians, the greatest reward we can have is to see the ones we love following in our footsteps and walking with God. As you reach out to your younger relatives today, here are six ways to encourage them to live in faith.
The first step to inspiring faith in others is to have faith yourself. Though this seems obvious, a casual faith won't empower your words with the weight you need to capture the attention of those around you.
By enriching your own walk with God and falling deeper in love with Him, you will have the passion and sincerity you need to share your experiences and express the values others stand to gain by listening.
Spend time with your family and be genuinely interested in their conversations. If they live far from your apartment in ViewPointe, reach out to them through phone calls, emails or traditional letters.
Becoming someone they can trust, who they know loves them, helps them want to know you and what matters to you.
Learning what makes them tick and what kinds of things excite them helps you know how to better share your faith with them. By personalizing conversations to match the way they think and understand things, you can help them see more clearly what you are trying to express.
When you know the things that interest them, you are better equipped to show them God in a way that helps them to want to learn more.
If science fascinates them, visit resource sites like Answers in Genesis and explore the ways Creation points to its Creator. If stories excite them, read them the sections of the Bible that aren't commonly mentioned in sermons or lessons, such as the second half of Jonah's story involving the vine and God's mercy.
Teach them or learn together the evidence there is for the Bible and its authenticity. Historians and archaeologists have been discovering proof that backs up the Bible's written accounts for years.
Investigate this knowledge and the evidence that surrounds the life, death and resurrection of Christ so that they can have confidence that what they are taught is true and trustworthy.
Encourage them to share their wonderings. Though it can be intimidating to face blunt questions for which you may or may not have an answer, let them know it isn't shameful to doubt or to question.
Jesus offered evidence not condemnation to John the Baptist (Matthew 11: 2-6) and to Thomas (John 20: 24-28) when they voiced their questions.
Be honest when you don't know, ask for time to study and invite them to search with you. By looking for the answers together, you can live out the lesson found in Proverbs 27:17:
As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.
