A Legacy of Goodness

 

As I get older, I sometimes consider what my legacy might be. What will I be remembered for? Who will I be remembered by? 

But, more important, what might I pass down to my folks that has value. Not monetary value - there won't be much of that, but perhaps a legacy of goodwill. Maybe if I ever start (and then finish) the book I've always dreamed of writing, that will be my gift. They can say, "She fulfilled her dream."

But this verse really is what we should be remembered for: doing good, being rich in good deeds, and generous with a willingness to share. I have been spending a little bit of time on the Ancestry.com website. I'm trying to learn about my family a few generations back. It is easy to get lost for hours.

This family tree research is fun, but it doesn't really tell anything about my people, only vital statistics. There is no family history, no interesting stories, heroic deeds or even the hint of an outlaw in the background to spice it up a bit. 

So, how do we pass on our goodness so future family members will know we followed Jesus? Much of my history will be found in my journals. But how else can they know that my faith mattered? Love is a legacy that cannot be denied. Just like we remember Aunt Daisy for her cantankerous ways, we can be remembered for how we treated others who needed us. We might not discover these tidbits on Ancestry, but we will hear about it at family gatherings. Those we loved well will not forget. And just maybe they will pay it forward.

Comment below or email here.

1 Timothy 6:17-19

Tales from the Family Tree

There was a popular book and mini-series many years ago titled, "Roots." This story was viewed by millions of households. The sweeping saga spanned generations and followed a family from its 'roots' in Africa to North America. The story followed the struggles, pain, injustices and also their triumphs and joys and victories.  Roots is a bold tale of love and hate, good and evil which held its audience mesmerized from start to finish.

Our roots are important, our history - family history - is handed down over and over again.  We all love to hear about great-grandfather's journey from his early days until this day when we are seated at his feet. Who doesn't want to learn about the early days or compare our parent's first date with ours? History matters, our roots are important.

Never forget where you came from, where you had your start.  That story is part of who you are, of whose you are. Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. (2 Corinthians 1:21-22)

How many of us remember our roots, our lives before Jesus set his seal of ownership on us?  We should never forget where we came from, what our life was like before and after Jesus entered our lives.

Were we to remember this, our mission would naturally rise out of those memories. We would want to share our story and encourage others to embrace the new way of life. We would create our own mini-series and tell and re-tell the story of our roots.

2 Corinthians 1:12-22

Keeping Cool When Things Heat Up

Acts 7:1-16 (NIV) Then the high priest asked him, "Are these charges true?"  

Stephen, while being questioned by the religious leaders, found himself accused by liars planted in the crowd. Even though innocent of these crimes, Stephen was calm and collected as he responded to his accusers. Using wisdom of the Holy Spirit he painted a picture for his enemies of their family tree.

The Sanhedrin, as religious scholars, likely studied scriptures more than most. The story narrated by Stephen would be familiar to these men and they would be able to discern the truth Stephen told. One would think they knew better, but it was obvious there were ulterior motives involved.

At times we operate with questionable ethics; we act out of selfish ambition or greed to obtain a place of power or authority over others. As humans we place our desire for comfort and convenience over sound morals and good principles.

The Sanhedrin acted out of fear. What are our motives? How often do I know better, but operate out of my own selfish ambition and desire for fame or fortune? Some days I have to remind myself over and over that a Christian doesn't act the way I just did. 

My impatience with drivers on the road is a good example of sin in my life. I found myself praying for God to change my heart but within the time it took me to drive five miles I had caught myself scolding two drivers.  It doesn't matter if they were in the right or not, it was not my place to even think the thoughts I was thinking.  Muttering under my breath only fills me with angst and puts me in a foul mood for the rest of the morning. This is not the behavior God wants his children to practice.

How do we overcome this type of behavior? I know that I need to stay close and in constant communication with Jesus.  I must call upon him, listen to praise and worship music on the radio, and remind myself minute by minute of Jesus' love for me and the grace He lavishes.  Practice, practice, practice.

Acts 7:1-16

Jeremiah 23:5; Luke 3:23,31

Isn't it curious to see words we use to commonly have deeper meaning and actually have origin in Scripture?  I can remember my grandfather calling my brother a little sprout when teasing him. I never gave it much thought at the time, until the commercial for the Jolly Green Giant were popular.  The giant had a son called Sprout.  That made sense and it was a fun play on words.

A few days ago we talked about family trees, searching for members of our family line and discovering things about our ancestors we did not know before.  Jesus comes from David's family tree or the root of Jesse.  David is known as a man after God's own heart.

The Scripture for today refers to Jesus as a righteous Branch and my commentary defines Branch in this instance as a luxuriant sprout. Luxuriant means lush, fertile, flourishing.  The Jeremiah text is heralding a rich shoot, branching out on God's family tree.  Over and over again the Old Testament foretold of Jesus' coming. Don't you love it when the Old Testament meets the New Testament?  All the references to trees, family trees, branches, vines, tree of life, (we could go on), come to fruition with Jesus' birth.

The days are coming,” declares the LORD, 

“when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, 

a King who will reign wisely 

and do what is just and right in the land.

Read the text here

Son of Isaac and Jacob

Have you ever tried to assemble your family tree?  It is quite a project, and one that takes time and patience and maybe even a strong stomach.  When we dig into our history and discover the folks who we will claim as our ancestors we might be shocked.  There is a saying, "It takes all kinds to make up this world," could be a line you declare too.

While working on my family tree I discovered descendants with history of heart ailments, amazing military records and some startling truths as to the integrity of a great-grandfather. I learned that while I was born and raised in Wisconsin then moved to Ohio, our family roots began in Ohio.  Providence?

The Scriptures we are directed to today tell of the lineage of Jesus; they point out the ancestral characters in our Savior's line. Family history was important then and still is today.  Jesus' family tree is traced back to David (see Isaiah 11) and then to God. It feels good to know that I am Jesus' kinfolk, and can claim him in my tree.

What amazing story do you have from your ancestral searches?  You may locate some savory characters and learn a few astonishing stories, but none will compare with the story found in Luke 2, The Birth of Jesus.  Listen to it here.

Genesis 21:12; Numbers 24:17, Luke 3:23,34