One of the biggest questions we try to answer throughout our life is “Who Am I”? This is ultimately a question of identity. As a teenager we may go through different stages of fashion and friends to try on and see what fits us best. As we grow into adulthood, our identity could be wrapped up in a job or our relationships. Part of answering this question of identity is answered in where we belong. As children, we start to figure out who we are because of where we belong and who our family is. We make connections to our grandparents and cousins and aunts and uncles. Knowing about the family we are connected to is an important part of figuring out who we are.
As people of faith, we might say that Who we belong to is the most important part of who we are. If our identity is wrapped up only in our role, our salary, or our accessories – we will feel empty. But understanding that we belong to God and are a part of God’s family brings meaning, purpose, and fulfillment to all other parts of our lives. If we belong to God, we also belong to God’s family.
This is one way for us to look at the Bible. The Bible is like a family photo album. We can learn about our spiritual ancestors. We see the mistakes and the problems and the generational cycles and trends. We see the struggle, but we also see the celebration. And most of all – we see God’s hand at work and God’s incredible and faithful love throughout time.
Through our focus of our Year in the Bible, we have been able to read these stories, to learn more about these characters and about who God is and who we are. Which brings us to something new we are highlighting at St. Luke’s this year called The Jesse Tree. The Jesse Tree is a way to share and remember many of the key biblical stories from creation to the birth of Jesus. As we look at the family tree of Jesus, we remember that are also connected as a part of God’s family. And just as God has been at work from creation to Jesus, God continues to be at work in our lives today because of his love for us, his children.
Isaiah 11:1 – “A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots, a Branch will bear fruit.”
*If you are interested in bringing this faith-based tradition to your home to prepare for Christmas, you can order a Jesse Tree box. There is a guide with 24 different ornaments with a symbol that connect to a Bible story, character, or passage. https://stlukesokc.org/jesse_tree/
Amy Givens, Director of Youth Ministry & Discipleship
