Don't ever forget your roots! Especially your spiritual roots! This is where I grew up, minus the new pavement, grass, fence posts and fancy doorway covering, just the white "stoop"!
My parents, 7 children & 1dog (Freebus) in a 4 BR/1Bath apartment (top right 3 windows)...the CentralAve Projects! Not a Christian family that we knew of in the entire housing complex. Notta one! There was 1 "Protestant" and one Jehovah's Witness family - though no one seemed to know exactly what they were all about, just that they didn't have statues or blood transfusions. We were all just your garden variety pack of Project pagans! A lot of drinking, swearing and pleasure seeking...miles and miles away from any interest in the things related to Jesus Christ! Miles!...Man, has God done some incredible, mind-blowing things since those days that seem so surreal! So, no matter where your physical roots may be traced... consider afresh your spiritual roots today. Remember your forefather Adam! Remember God's is gracious when He should have been JUST! Speaking of roots, hear Ezekiel!
Eze 16:3-14
... Thus says the Lord GOD to Jerusalem: Your origin and yourbirth are of the land of the Canaanites; your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite. And as for your birth, on the day you were born your cord was not cut, nor were you washed with water to cleanse you, nor rubbed with salt, nor wrapped in swaddling cloths. No eye pitied you, to do any of these things to you out of compassion for you, but you were cast out on the open field, for you were abhorred, on the day that you were born. "And when Ipassed by you and saw you wallowing in your blood, I said to you in your blood, 'Live!' I said to you in your blood, 'Live!' I made you flourish like a plant of the field. And you grew up and became tall and arrived at full adornment. Your breasts were formed, and your hair had grown; yet you were naked and bare. "When I passed by you again and saw you, behold, you were at the age for love, and I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your nakedness; I made my vow to you and entered into a covenant with you, declares the Lord GOD, and you became mine. Then I bathed you with water and washed off your blood from you and anointed you with oil. I clothed you also with embroidered cloth and shod you with fine leather. I wrapped you in fine linen and covered you with silk. And I adorned you with ornaments and put bracelets on your wrists and a chain on your neck. And I put a ring on your nose and earrings in your ears and a beautiful crown on your head. Thus you were adorned with gold and silver, and your clothing was of fine linen and silk and embroidered cloth.You ate fine flour and honey and oil. You grew exceedingly beautiful and advanced to royalty. And your renown went forth among the nations because of your beauty,for it was perfect through the splendor that I had bestowed on you, declares the Lord GOD.
Never ever forget your roots...never ever forget what God has promised you in Christ!
...remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. Ephesians 2.12-13
Meet Arturo G. Azurdia III once again. Some time ago I highlighted his sermon series in the book of Jonah. Here I highlight each of his messages on the final chapters of Genesis, following the account of Joseph, as God deals with him, his father and his brothers in some mysterious, yet profound ways. Listen and take encouragement, you who wonder if God is present when you are in the deepest of valleys! God isn't joking, lying or teasing when He promises and swears by His own Name with an oath the "He will never, ever, no not ever leave you. He will never, ever, no not ever forsake you." (Heb 13.5) And oh how he unfolds and proclaims Jesus Christ from the Older Testament is such seamless and beautiful ways. Preachers and teachers take note!
