BROADCASTS.com

b'READ: GENESIS 1:26-31; EPHESIANS 2:1-22\\n\\n\\n\\n\\u201cHow does God see my generation?\\u201d It\\u2019s a good question, and one we don\\u2019t often think to ask. We hear a lot of talk about the different generations: what they\\u2019re like, what their strengths and weaknesses are, how they\\u2019re different from other generations, and on and on. The concept of generations is interesting. In our time, people generally separate us into different social categories based on which set of fifteen years we were born in, and therefore which significant events we\\u2019ve experienced in our lifetimes. Those of us who are currently teenagers or young adults are often considered \\u201cGeneration Z.\\u201d\\n\\n\\n\\nIn my experience, being part of Gen Z is hard. I often hear people from older generations talking about us as if we\\u2019re a conundrum or a nuisance. But on the other hand, I\\u2019m also tempted to find fault with their generations. Sadly, as humans we have a tendency to put down people who are different from us, often as a way to try to make ourselves feel better. But this is not just unproductive, it\\u2019s also unkind. Thankfully, there\\u2019s a way out of this judging and finger-pointing.\\n\\n\\n\\nThe most helpful thing I\\u2019ve heard about my generation came from a woman at my church who was praying for me a few Sundays ago. She\\u2019s part of Gen X, and she said, \\u201cDo you know how God sees Gen Z? As people made in His image.\\u201d That declaration startled me. As her words sank into my heart, I began to feel relieved, calm, and hopeful. We are not a conundrum to God. We are not a nuisance. He made us on purpose, and He understands us completely\\u2014even when we don\\u2019t understand ourselves. And He loves us, just as much as He loves every single generation that came before us, and every single generation that will come after us. His love is so great that He was willing to die for us so that we could be restored to relationship with Him. And He is working in our generation, drawing us close to Himself and empowering us to be part of the good work of His kingdom.\\n\\n\\n\\nWhile thinking about people in terms of generations can sometimes be helpful as we look for ways to understand ourselves and those around us, I don\\u2019t think that what generation we\\u2019re part of is the most important thing about us. We need Jesus to save us just as desperately as the other generations do. And when Jesus returns and makes all things new, everyone who has put their trust in Him will be raised from their graves like He was, and we will live forever with Him in restored creation. Then, we will be in perfect community with God and with all our brothers and sisters in Christ, including those who were born thousands of years before us! We will finally understand each other and be able to enjoy one another freely\\u2014without shame or fear getting in the way.\\n\\n\\n\\nEven as we look forward to this glorious day, we can catch glimpses of the restoration Jesus is bringing in our hearts and in our relationships here and now. As we rest in His love and kindness to us, we can see ourselves and everyone around us the way God sees us: as people made in His image, people He loves. \\u2022 Hannah Howe\\n\\n\\n\\n\\u2022 How have you heard people talking about your generation? What things have been helpful, and what things have been unhelpful?\\n\\n\\n\\n\\u2022 Why do you think we\\u2019re often tempted to be resentful or overly critical of other generations? Consider taking a moment to talk to Jesus about this, confessing any sins that come to mind and asking for His help to see others as He sees them\\u2014and love them as He loves them. (It might be helpful to read Matthew 9:36.)\\n\\n\\n\\n\\u2022 Sometimes, we can feel like our very identity is defined by what generation we were born into, but that\\u2019s not how God sees us. He is the One w'