“O God, from my youth, you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come.” (Psalm 71:17-18)

Good morning, Saints,

Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ! This past Tuesday, our Crean Lutheran High School campus was blessed with special visitors, almost 300 grandparents, for our Grandparents Chapel. I love grandparents for many reasons. 

First, I think it is because of my lived experience. I had wonderful grandparents who were influential and taught me a lot. My grandfathers were very industrious and kept and cared for their large families (eight children) during a tough time in this country’s history. One was a farmer (seed corn & sugar beets) who taught me the value of sewing and growing through hard work. The other was a diesel tractor mechanic; he taught me mechanical curiosity, patience (how to fish), and how to operate a boat. My grandmothers were prayer warriors and domestic engineers of the highest caliber in their kitchens. My paternal grandma was Protestant, but when her daughter married into a Catholic family, she began to attend the Catholic church in town every other Sunday; she said it was to “keep the peace” and that she received permission from her pastor to do so. 

I also love grandparents because they are wise, battle-tested, and always have wonderful stories about life. I especially like stories of how God worked in and through difficult times in their lives. These are valuable lessons. Lessons worth sharing. Lessons our students today need to hear. By the way, one grandparent who attended, Angie S., is 100 years old “and three months,” she added. She has a lot of life to share about with her grandchildren. Today’s devotion is dedicated to our grandparents, their values, faith, and sharing their stories. 

Our guest speaker for Grandparents Chapel was Dr. George L. Pla, a husband, father, grandfather of three CLHS students (and several more to come), a great grandfather, and a successful businessman who is very wise and humble. He is the Founder and CEO of Cordoba Corporation, a nationally recognized company specializing in civil engineering and program management across sectors such as energy, water, school facilities, and transportation. In his encouraging message during chapel, he suggested to grandparents that they continue to tell their stories to their grandchildren to share their struggles, values, and faith that they’ve lived out, lest they remain forgotten or, worse, untold. Psalm 71 reflects God’s faithfulness during difficult times. The psalmist leans into a lifelong love of God and passion to tell other generations about God’s righteousness, might, and goodness. 

Psalm 71 is a wonderful Psalm worth reading in its entirety. For brevity, I will share a few comments about the Psalm and then speak to verses seventeen and eighteen. I do encourage you to read the entire Psalm. I love what Charles Spurgeon says about Psalm 71, “We have here [Psalm 71] THE PRAYER OF THE AGED BELIEVER, who in holy confidence of faith, strengthened by a long and remarkable experience, pleads against his enemies, and asks [God] further blessings for himself.” What’s evident and beautiful about this Psalm is the psalmist’s deep and lifelong relationship with God, trust, and love of God. “In you, O Lord, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame (71:1)! ...For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O Lord, from my youth (71:5)...O God, from my youth you have taught me (71:17(a)). The author of Psalm 71 demonstrates deep knowledge of the scriptures, often using familiar phrases found in other psalms and places in scripture according to several commentaries.

I like Psalm 71:17 because it fits well with our Crean Lutheran High School mission statement, “Proclaiming Jesus Christ Through Excellence in Education.” It could be a mission statement for our grandparents. Here, the psalmist gives credit to God for teaching them from youth, “O God, from my youth you have taught me,” (71:17a) clear evidence of a long history of learning from and trusting in God. In the second half of the verse, they proclaim God’s goodness and love, “and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.” A picture of longevity and stability, knowing and placing your trust in one thing: God. Grandparents, thank you for sharing the stories of faith so our children can hear and gain encouragement and hope from trusted and sage voices. 

Verse eighteen, like seventeen, continues to proclaim God. In the first half of this verse, the author reflects on a different season, that of aging, “So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me,” as they beg the Lord not to forget them. As we age, a common fear is to feel alone or forgotten, as if a well-lived life will be forgotten and set aside. Grandparents, God does not forget or forsake those who love Him. In Matthew 11, Christ says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (11:28-30). The psalmist then pleads to God for time and a purpose, “until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come.” Thank you for continuing to share your faith with another generation. 

Grandparents are a part of the generation(s) that helped build America's backbone. Their stories of how their faith in God carried them through the tough times are heartwarming and precious. Grandparents, please keep telling your stories and sharing your faith with this generation so they, in turn, can share with the next generations. What a blessing it is to experience the joy in knowing your grandchildren are walking in faith as 3 John 1:4 reminds us, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my [grand] children are walking in the truth.” Amen.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all evermore. Amen. 

In Christ’s love and mine,

Dr. Jeffrey S. Beavers, CEO

Crean Lutheran High School 

dr.beavers@creanlutheran.org

Writing the Saturday devotion, along with our Campus Pastor, Timothy Unke, for the Crean Lutheran Saints family is an honor and a blessing, according to Dr. Beavers. Most of the time, Dr. Beavers and Pastor Unke alternate the writing of devotions on Saturdays for the community’s enjoyment. Dr. Beavers is a husband and father of three. He is a Minister of Religion, Commissioned in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, and serves as the Executive Director |CEO of Crean Lutheran High School. He has served there since the school’s founding for the past eighteen years and is blessed to be a lifelong follower of Jesus Christ, a sinner and a saint, only by God’s grace. He and his family worship at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Orange, CA.