God Thinks in Generations; So Should You

Let me ask you a question: do you know your grandfather’s name? Most of us do. What about his father’s name? Or his grandfather’s?

The truth is, I know my grandfather’s name. Beyond that, my family history fades away.

That is how quickly generations are forgotten. Within three or four steps, names disappear. Stories disappear. Legacies disappear. Unless we do something about it.
And this is where Matthew 1 speaks powerfully. When we come to the genealogy of Jesus, we may be tempted to skip over it. Just names after names. But hidden in that list is a remarkable truth: God thinks in generations.

We humans think in days and weeks. Some of us think in years. A few think for our children. But God thinks across centuries. His blessings stretch for a thousand generations. That’s how patient He is. That’s how faithful He is.

And if God made us in His image, then we too should think like Him. Not just for today. Not just for ourselves. But for generations.

The book of Joshua shows us what this looks like.

# 1. Preparing Your Household

Joshua declared boldly, “As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15). That was not a casual line. It came from years of teaching, years of living, years of passing down the memory of God’s works.

Joshua had seen the Red Sea part. He had seen manna fall. He had seen God guide His people. He told those stories at home. He built memory stones. He kept the faith alive in his family. That is why he could say with confidence, “We will serve the Lord.”

But what about us? Do we tell our children what God has done in our lives? Do we share around the dinner table how God blessed us, or how He helped us through a hard day? Or do we only talk about TV shows, school, and work?

This is exactly why God commanded in Deuteronomy 6: “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, when you walk along the road, when you lie down, and when you get up.”

Faith is not passed on in one grand sermon, but in the ordinary rhythm of life. Sitting at home. Walking along the road. Lying down. Getting up. One simple conversation at a time. That is how a household is prepared to serve the Lord.

# 2. Helping Others Inherit

Joshua was not satisfied with his own blessing. He made sure all the tribes received their inheritance. He even told the two and a half tribes who had already settled, “You must fight alongside your brothers until they too enter into their promise.”

That is generational thinking. Not just me. Not just my blessing. But others as well.

Do we live like that? When God blesses us, do we help others? David said, “My cup overflows” (Psalm 23). When God blesses, it is meant to overflow. But too often, we grab a bigger cup to keep it all for ourselves.

The early church understood this. In Acts 2, they sold their possessions and shared with one another so that no one was in need. That is how the church grew. That is how faith spread across generations.

So let me ask: is your blessing overflowing to others? Are you helping someone else inherit their promise?

Do you take time to help someone read the Bible when they feel lost? Do you give a lift to church for someone who has no means to come? Do you sit quietly and listen as a brother or sister pours out their heart in pain?

These are small things, but they carry generational weight. When we help others step into God’s promises, we are living the way Joshua led — not satisfied with our own blessing, but making sure others also inherit theirs.

# 3. Finishing with Strength

Then there is Caleb. At 85 he said, “I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out” (Joshua 14:11). That is not only God’s grace. That is also stewardship.

Paul says, “Your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 6:19). So are we taking care of our bodies? Are we eating well, resting well, exercising, and shaping our lives so we can finish strong? Or are we wasting our health in addictions, careless eating, and endless scrolling?

Today, we hear of young people in their 40s with heart attacks. Even children face lifestyle diseases. Generational thinking means we take care of ourselves so that we can finish the race and leave a legacy of strength for those who come after us.

At 80, will you be able to say like Caleb, *“I still have strength to claim what God promised”?

# Living for Generations

So how do we live like God, who thinks in generations?

• We prepare our households to serve the Lord.
• We help others inherit their promises.
• We steward our lives so that we finish strong.

Faith is passed from one generation to the next. If we do our part today, our children will carry it tomorrow, and their children after them.

God thinks in generations. So should you.