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Written by Aileen Bonilla, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Ecuador 
Breaking the generational cycle of disobedience is a very big responsibility placed on our shoulders by God. However, He promises to be by our side at all times, and not only this, He also promises to lighten our load because His yoke is easy (Matt. 11:28-30) and His grace is sufficient (2 Cor. 12:9-10).
With this in mind, let me share some thoughts about the generational cycle between Saul and his son Jonathan. The scriptures tell us that God chose Saul to be the first king of Israel. King Saul had serious character flaws, so why would God anoint such a man to rule His people? The answer may not be totally clear to us, but it is evident that God allowed this situation so that His people would realize that no human king could compare to Him, and that absolutely no one could be as good as God Himself.
Saul was an arrogant man. However, the position he had been given was not what made him prideful; it simply exposed what was already in his heart (Prov. 23:7). Being the first king of Israel certainly must have reinforced his pride. This king did not trust God: he made foolish and unwise oaths (1 Sam. 14:24), and he did not comply with God's commandments. This leads us to conclude that he did not fear God. He did not value even the life of his own son (1 Sam. 14:44); however, in spite of this, Jonathan decides in his heart not to be like his father.
The Bible describes Jonathan as a brave, strong man, and a good warrior, but it also describes him as a man of love (1 Sam. 18:1), a loyal friend, and a good son. Above all, he was a young man who feared God and lived to assure that nothing or no one would hinder Jehovah's purposes.
Jonathan knew that the Spirit of God was no longer in his father. Recognizing this truth was very critical, because everything Saul did was subject to his human nature, rather than out of a desire to please God. As a result, it was impossible to trust him. Jonathan decided not to be like his father. To make such a crucial decision, his bond with the Lord must have been very close since God is the only one who can help us break these generational chains.
Any one of us can choose not to follow the same destructive path as our parents if we grew up in a non-Christian family. Asking God to help us break those unfaithful generational cycles will bring light not only to our current family, but will also build future generations of believers, and God will pour out His blessings on all of them. It all begins with creating a close relationship with God. Then He will show us what sinful attitudes we have inherited from our unbelieving ancestors which will enable us to break the generational cycle and be transformed into faithful followers.
This is also a way of fulfilling the command of Jesus when He says, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:26 NIV). Jonathan was not willing to sacrifice obedience to Jehovah for the unholy whims of his father. Many times, without realizing it, we carry bitterness in our hearts, because our parents were also bitter. We downplay the importance of church involvement because we do not believe that God requires this, and as if that were not enough, at least in Latin America, faithfully congregating every Sunday with the Lord’s church is no longer a priority.
Jonathan was clear about his purpose on this earth—to give glory to God at all times—even to the point of offering his own life so that his best friend David could live, assuring that the messianic lineage would continue its course until it reached Jesus. In the same way, we must fervently ask that God show His purpose for us so that we can live giving Glory to Him, and above all, accept His grace every day to break family yokes that are not healthy. Building a spiritual life that transcends for many generations depends on our effort and courage, but above all, it depends on the openness and sensitivity of our hearts toward the voice of God. Saul closed his heart to Jehovah; therefore, the Spirit of God left him.
Today, I first encourage you to pray and ask God to show you His purpose for your life. Second, ask Him to help you live for this purpose and, in this way, He will break every chain that ties you to the past.
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Written by Katie Forbess, Board President 
There is something extremely special about when women get together to focus on learning and celebrating Christ that allows for intergenerational diversity in a natural way. One of the most beautiful things about an Iron Rose Sister Ministries event is the multigenerational representation. This aspect of the events is also international.
A recent bilingual event was hosted by the Memorial Church of Christ in Houston, Texas, where I grew up going to church and only a block from where I grew up going to high school. I was unable to attend that event in-person, but loved hearing the God stories about the intergenerational and international diversity, as pictured (photo cred: @findyournitsch). Everyone celebrated with everyone else and learned from each other.
Relationships throughout the Bible show mentorships and intergenerational learning. David and Saul started as David soothed Saul by playing his harp and observing his role as king. It then moved into a dangerous game of hide and seek. David taught King Saul, as well as others, when he faced the giant and convinced his best friend that his father was going to try to kill David. Along the way, David learned the importance of keeping God’s Spirit and prayed after his own sin that it not be removed as it was from Saul. Nathan led David though that terrible time of repentance and restoration. David learned and taught through relationships.
Jesus brought multitudes together that were diverse in ages, like when the small boy brought his five loaves and two fishes from amongst 5,000 men. When the children approached Him at other times, the disciples were not as accepting, but Christ used it as a teaching moment to emphasize the importance of the younger generation. Jesus also honored the widow who had lost her son. From the old to the young, Jesus taught through all ages of relationship.
The early church needed a reminder to take care of the older generation. They elected seven men to help make sure this would happen evenly across both the Hebraic and Hellenistic Jews (Acts 6). James continues this emphasis in his book, including the multigenerational admonition to take care of widows and orphans (1:27). I don’t think that was solely for the widows’ and orphans’ benefit. Everyone learned as those two groups were being served.
I can testify to the blessing of learning from those we think that we have been called to serve or teach—most recently from a new neighbor. I can truly say every time I have been close to her I have learned more about her love for the Lord, her faithfulness and gracefulness, her honesty and transparency. We have a lot in common even though she is older than I am by at least 20 years. We both love dogs and bugs and our families and laughing.
I remember my first conversation with her was mainly about our dogs. The second one was about house robes and how we like to wear our husbands’ but for some reason the sleeves were so wide that water from the sink always ran down them. The third time, I learned she was a member of the Church of Christ and met one of her best friends who had come to visit from California.
About two weeks prior, she had lost her husband and her dog during the same week, but I didn't know that she had lost her dog before I went. I went over with a plan to talk to her because I wasn’t able to go to the funeral. I took a puppy I have been taking care of for “puppy therapy.”
I learned that she misses her husband and her dog terribly. She loved on the puppy and asked about my family. She was so happy that a neighbor was going with her to church on Sunday after listening to the preacher at the funeral, and I told her that her husband, who was an evangelist, received the best gift at his funeral! He was smiling in heaven! As we spoke, she taught me by sharing her stories of grief highlighted by the faithfulness of God.
At church gatherings, throughout the Bible, and with a neighbor, we can see the impact of teaching and learning through intergenerational relationships. Who can you reach out to today? Someone younger? Someone older? Share your stories with us!