PASSING THE BATON

I sat in the sanctuary, for a moment’s repose after rehearsing on Sunday. The sweet presence of the Holy Spirit rested in the atmosphere as a young couple, our new worship leaders, tended their baby before service. I remember those busy days in ministry with young children. As I watched, I thought of stories to share to encourage them for their race. Life is like a relay race of generations, with one runner passing the baton forward to the next.

I’m moving into that time of life, starting the last laps of my race and I’m thinking about passing batons. Everyone runs their part, but at some point, we reach the phase when it’s time to encourage the younger ones to take over!

¹ Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely,
and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
looking to Jesus, the founder and perfector of our faith,
Hebrews 12:1-2a ESV

Running a race exhilarates us with purpose yet exhausts us with distance. It’s only Jesus who can help us stay the course and pass the baton.

OLD LADIES & LEISURE SUITS

The baton of faith travelled through time since the first disciples, or even longer, back to Father Abraham. The baton is the same, the challenges and style of each generation varies.

I was born-again in the early 1980s in the Assemblies of God. I remember attending ladies’ meetings, where women missionaries from the 1900s shared their testimonies and offered the baton of faith to us. They were tiny little ladies, no makeup, in polyester leisure suits or floral mid-calf dresses with head coverings. I sat there in slacks and a blouse, perfume, lipstick and earrings. But it did not matter. As we listened, we shouted in praise at their triumphs in the faith. I received the baton from them and was encouraged by them to RUN! And I did. Their stories held me when times got tough.

READY TO PASS IT

Between the generations, a distinct interdependence is often overlooked. The one who receives the baton today will pass the baton tomorrow.

Down the track, we see another runner, waiting for the hand off. They may be our children, our spiritual children, coworkers, or students, but they are runners waiting for the baton. They see us coming and start running as we approach. They run with us for a time and then we let go.

Never underestimate your relationships with the younger generations. God ordains them for a transfer of faith from one to the other. He equips each generation with runners to carry the baton in their time. He is calling you to strengthen them, to run the good race. They need you! Running this relay is such a blessing!

BUT THEY ARE SO DIFFERENT!

The Millennials can be so blunt and Gen Z is fierce!  They have piercings and tattoos and say things in ways we would never dare. They don’t act like us and they look strange! Remember – those leisure suits looked pretty weird to me too, but those ladies had a baton to pass and I grabbed it!

Each generation is made for the challenges they will face. Their fierceness of spirit is critical to face the spreading darkness in this hour and endure to the end.

In recent years, a movement grew among Christian youth to “deconstruct” their faith and “walk away” from church. This grieves my heart. When there is no runner waiting with an open hand, what should we do?

I’m not sure there is an easy answer, but transferring belief is crucial in this hour, so keep focus. True authentic faith is what they want from us. So, let’s give it.

God is faithful to provide the next runner. They may not be what you expect, but He will not let the baton drop. Trust Him.

SPEED & TECHNIQUE

Running a relay is unlike other races. Winning doesn’t simply depend on being the fastest or first, it equally depends on passing technique. In life, I’ve seen batons pass with smooth precision and others fall crashing to the ground. You may be the fastest runner, but if you cannot hand the baton to the next one successfully, the team will be disqualified.

Let’s look at some keys to smooth hand offs.

CONTROL

When we pass the baton, we let go of it. Letting go of control is a monumental task. We cannot pass a baton with tight and rigid hands. Trusting God and letting go allows the Gospel to go forward on a new length of track which is not ours to run.

We cannot tell the next runner, “It has to be done exactly this way or that way.” No!  Release the Word and faith to them to run, without constraining the way they run. Their challenges will be different than ours, but the Word of God remains true forever.

Trust God with the next part of the race. He has it.

TIMING

You have heard it said – Timing is Everything! – and so it is. The runners seamlessly coordinate and pass the baton within a designated zone on the track. If they pass too late or too early, the whole team will be disqualified.

A definite season exists for passing batons. If you wait too long, the next runner may have gone ahead discouraged from waiting. If you pass too early, they may not be mature enough to hold on to what you are giving them.

DON’T SLOW DOWN!

As we run, we sync with the next generation at the peak of our race. When you see them waiting, don’t slow down. It is up to them to pick up speed to match your pace. When they see you flying up the track, it challenges them to run hard for the Lord. Hallelujah!

Don’t collapse in the passing zone either! Run through it. As they take the baton from your hand, keep running until the end of your race. You have more race to run and they need your cheering and prayers. Keep running!

KEEP THE BATON LIGHT

Too much teaching loads the baton with weight. Too many words, closes their ears. A heavy baton slows down the runner. Listen to their heart and ask the Lord what they need to know. He will lead you.

SHARING THE LANE

When the first runner reaches the second, they run perfectly in rhythm, matching strides at top speed. They share the same lane for a brief time, one in front, one behind, in one accord.

Some batons take greater coordination to pass on and others not. Yet in all of it, running in sync, in agreement, in Jesus, creates a successful pass for the future.

WHEN YOU SEE THEM WAITING

Recognize God has provided someone to receive from you.
Give thanks to God for them, He is raising them up and you are helping Him!
Pray for their speed and technique to further the Good News of Jesus!
Listen to their struggles; point their eyes back to Jesus.
Encourage them with words and time and prayer.
Remind them that you are cheering them on like the great cloud of witnesses.

YOUR BATON

You may ask yourself, “what is the baton I can pass?”   

You may not own a business, or run a ministry, or hold a high position, but you possess something more powerful than you can imagine.

In Revelation 12:11, John writes that the children of God overcame the devil by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony, not loving their lives more than death.

It is the precious word of your testimony of the faithfulness and lovingkindness of God that the next runner needs to hear. Your testimony about Jesus, gives them courage and strength to run the race set before them.

So, share your story and run all out, holding nothing back as you hold forth the baton of faith to the one who is waiting.