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1 Listen, dear friends, to God's truth, bend your ears to what I tell you. 2 I'm chewing on the morsel of a proverb; I'll let you in on the sweet old truths, 3 Stories we heard from our fathers, counsel we learned at our mother's knee. 4 We're not keeping this to ourselves, we're passing it along to the next generation - God's fame and fortune, the marvelous things he has done. 12 He performed miracles in plain sight of their parents in Egypt, out on the fields of Zoan. 13 He split the Sea and they walked right through it; he piled the waters to the right and the left. 14 He led them by day with a cloud, led them all the night long with a fiery torch. 15 He split rocks in the wilderness, gave them all they could drink from underground springs; 16 He made creeks flow out from sheer rock, and water pour out like a river. (Psalm 78:1-4, 12-16 The Message Bible)
In some homes, the dinner table used to be the place where the day's activities were shared, worries and problems were addressed, and good, open conversation took place. Shared meals were a part of the bonding within families. It was also a time to share family stories so each could learn more about each other and more about where each had come and how God had been involved. I don't have to tell you how modern families have "conversation." Or don't. You will hear me and my wife saying many a time, "How I wish I had my grandma or grandpa here." We don't.
Come to think of it, we are not that far removed from the days of oral tradition, where people shared stories and history with each other in ways that bonded families with each member. It was also how the early stories of the Bible came together. The psalmist loved hearing and sharing stories especially the ones from their history and how God built them as a nation. "Stories we heard from our fathers (and mothers), counsel we learned at our mother's (and father's) knee. We're not keeping this to ourselves, we're passing it along to the next generation - God's fame and fortune, the marvelous things he has done." Those kind of stories and with details: "He performed miracles in plain sight of their parents in Egypt, out on the fields of Zion." God split the Red Sea in order for the Israelites to walk through. God piled the waters on each side of the dry road He had created, and God led the people by day with a cloud and led them by a fiery torch during the night. And God also split rocks in the wilderness in order that they could drink water from underground springs, and God even made creeks flow out from sheer rock, and water poured out like a river. This is the God of our faith, the same God in Whom you and me believe.
No matter how busy we become or even think we are, we should pause for bigger and better things; to remember, to teach, and to pass on our faith. This will help us form a legacy that will connect today with our yesterdays. We will become a legacy of God's people who have experienced and have been blessed by God; and we desire to pass on to others, His marvelous words and works. May we share faith stories that will inspire and guide those who come after us so they too may know the goodness and faithfulness of God, It may not be easy, but it will be worth it.
PRAYER: Loving God of the ages and our God of today; speak truth to us as we share; may we listen and speak the truth of how blessed and how well-guided we were by You. Help us form the legacy that will bless this and future generations. In Christ Jesus we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Take time to listen and share.
Receive my blessings of joy and peace,
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
