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Empowering Future Generations

LentEnergy, Sustainability and Fuel JusticeWeek 16 · Day 7

Scripture References

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Old Testament

Deuteronomy 6:4-9

4 Hear, Israel: The LORD is our God. The LORD is one.

5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might.

6 These words, which I command you today, shall be on your heart;

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7 and you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up.

8 You shall bind them for a sign on your hand, and they shall be for frontlets between your eyes.

9 You shall write them on the door posts of your house and on your gates.

New Testament

2 Timothy 2:2

2 The things which you have heard from me amongst many witnesses, commit the same things to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

Thought for the Day

Deuteronomy 6 begins with the great command: love the Lord your God with all your heart. Then it turns to the ordinary: these words shall be on your heart; teach them diligently to your children; speak of them at home and on the way, when you lie down and when you rise. Faith is meant to be handed on by repetition, not by novelty.

Paul says something similar to Timothy. What you have heard, entrust to faithful people who will be able to teach others also. The future of the Church is not secured by charisma. It is secured by quiet transmission.

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If we are to empower future generations in matters of energy and sustainability, we cannot begin with panic. We begin with love: love of God, love of neighbour, love of the created world as gift. We teach the habits that make a life possible.

Lord, make us faithful teachers. Give parents, churches, schools, and mentors patience for the long road. Teach us to pass on wisdom that is practical and hopeful: how to live with restraint, how to share, how to repair, how to pray. And let those who come after us inherit not only our technologies, but our mercy.

Prayer Points

Respond
  • Lord, write your words on our hearts; make faith steady and speakable across generations
  • Give wisdom to parents, teachers, and mentors; patience to teach and humility to learn
  • Form young people in hope rather than panic; courage to serve and wisdom to steward
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  • Teach communities habits of restraint and repair; so that the vulnerable are protected and the earth honoured
  • Raise up faithful leaders who can teach others; and keep the Church rooted in love of God and neighbour
  • Let future generations inherit mercy as well as innovation; and keep our common life just
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