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

Have I Got A Story For You! Matthew 13:31-35

I love telling stories; you have probably already guessed that about me… I don’t tell stories though just to talk or share an exciting tale. I love to tell stories that have a message. The best stories are the ones where when you get to the punch line, a light goes off and the receiver of the story has an aha moment.

Our passage today shows Jesus sharing stories that explain what the Kingdom of heaven is like. After sharing these stories, Matthew explains why Jesus told so many stories.

“All Jesus did that day was tell stories—a long storytelling afternoon. His storytelling fulfilled the prophecy;
I will open my mouth and tell stories;
I will bring out into the open
things hidden since the world's first day. “

There are many stories Jesus told that we can read in scripture. As a church it is our job to pass those stories on, but we should also tell our own stories of how God has revealed himself to us. We can’t keep these stories hidden from the world, we too need to “bring out into the open” all the amazing ways of God.

Read today's passage at Biblegateway Matthew 13:31-35