Today you should read: Judges 2:10-23
My dad really enjoyed hunting and fishing. I learned a lot about the woods, animals, guns, fishing reels, and boats from him. I quickly learned to love hunting and fishing also. My dad passed away three years ago, and the first memory that comes to mind when I think of our time together is when I killed my first tasty tree-rat (squirrel). I’m going to do my best to teach my little boy, Sawyer, to hunt and fish as well. At three-years old he’s already really good at playing Temple Run on my iPad and on Becky’s phone, so hopefully I’ll be able to tear him away from video games long enough to get him out in the woods when the time comes.
I really want to be intentional about passing along what I’ve learned about Christ and the Great Commission to Sawyer as well. That’s something that Joshua’s generation apparently didn’t do very well according to our passage today. Look at verses 10. This is a sad verse.
All that generation also were gathered to their fathers; and there arose another generation after them who did not know the LORD, nor yet the work which He had done for Israel.—Judges 2:10
The next generation didn’t know the Lord or the works that He had done?!?! How is that possible? Apparently, the previous generation didn’t do well at passing on what they had learned. What had they learned? Well, look back at verse 7:
The people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who survived Joshua, who had seen all the great work of the LORD which He had done for Israel.—Judges 2:7
They had seen all the great works of the Lord and didn’t do a great job of passing on what they’d seen and learned. The result? Look at verses 11-12:
Then the sons of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD and served the Baals, and they forsook the LORD, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods from among the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed themselves down to them; thus they provoked the LORD to anger.—Judges 2:11-12
Things went south from there. The Lord eventually appointed judges to deliver them from the hands of their enemies, but when the judge died, they’d go straight back to their wicked ways.
I’m reminded by this passage of the importance of discipleship and leaving a spiritual legacy. In order to leave a legacy, I must be intentional. Regardless of how much I have seen, heard, learned, and experienced, if I am not intentionally investing into Sawyer and other people then I will be the last link on my chain of discipleship.
Who do you need to intentionally pursue to disciple? How can you grow in your discipleship skills? If you died today, would you be the last link on your chain of discipleship?
Posted by: Rich Duffield
JumpstartCPC.com 
Very inspiring Rich! My children are nearly 22 and 18 years old and I made many mistakes along the way in the area of intentional discipleship. God has been gracious and allowed me to make up for lost time. If you find yourself in the same spot and think you have missed the window of opportunity, I encourage you to first pray for Godly wisdom and then talk with your children about a plan for discipleship. God will bless your efforts and spark a depth of relationship with your children that you may have never dreamed possible before. I am so blessed to be at CPC where evangelism and discipleship are the norm.
Thanks Rich. Very true
As I read this passage today, I could not help but consider the state of our nation. It is as if we are living out the chapter in living color. Losing God’s blessing because of disobedience is a grave state in which to be. Oh that we can be beacons of truth to a lost and dying world. May God in His mercy turn the hearts of the people and bring us to our knees so that He may be glorified and lifted up as never before.