I have to admit I am thoroughly unfamiliar with today’s passage from Luke. Having read the Bible all the way through a few years ago, I know I must have read this before…but it is foreign to me. Maybe that is because I find it so troubling….so difficult.

I guess I thought by Jesus’ arrival we did away with the idea of children carrying the sins of their fathers. That seems unfair…unjust. But this passage implies that our burden…our guilt…is not just the sins of our fathers, but our fathers’ fathers, and our fathers’ fathers’ fathers.

…in order that this generation might be charged
with the blood of all the prophets
shed since the foundation of the world….

That’s a tough deal. BUT…we need…I need to look at this remembering that God is Just.

It certainly isn’t hard to see how we are the product of the generations before us. With all our accomplishments…with all our revivals…we are still the progression…or rather regression…of the generations before us. Since the first gift of God…the first Law of God was twisted…we haven’t looked back. The distance of time somehow has lessened the tragedy of all our sin. We rationalize and dismiss many of our choices today because “that’s just the culture we live in.” We are the blame society after all…accountability is all but gone. We seek solace in knowing we are products of society…of culture…of “our time.” But that is precisely why we stand convicted…and rightfully so. Why shouldn’t the blood of the all the prophets and Apostles be on us. Unless we heed their words…unless we humble ourselves to their message…how are we any different than those who killed them?

But I have to be careful. For God is about conviction…not guilt. Now that I see this…now that I realize my collusion…rather than gripe about it being “unfair” AND instead of feeling overwhelmed and depressed (by the guilt and consequences of all this sin), I need to wrap myself in the blanket of God’s Mercy and Grace. I need to follow the simple example of the Prodigal Son. If I just humble myself…acknowledge my unworthiness….my sin…and start back to God, He will meet me…He will run to me before I ever get the chance to run to Him. The formula is simple…and has been for thousands of years:

…if my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14

Call, humble, pray, seek, and turn…that’s all there is to it. God has already forgiven us…already paved the way for Eternity without blemish…without guilt. Just freedom and love. But not only are we forgiven, but the future is not yet written. It isn’t too late for us. Our generation can still change. We can still honor the prophets and Apostles. All we have to do is obey. And all that responsibility to change…to obey…well…it all starts…with me…

Father, please humble me…convict me of the sin in my life…convict me of all that is unholy. Strip away my pride so that I can fully embrace Your love and forgiveness. And finally, direct my next step, Father. Set me on Your path…and guide all of my steps. Teach me to honor Your servants of old…my brothers and sisters surrounding me. Empower me to obedience…to humble service. Let me be a light for my generation. Let me be a beacon for Your love…and Mercy…and Grace. I know I am unworthy, Father. But all things are possible through You.