Daily Reading: Matthew 1
Scripture Focus: The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ. (Matthew 1.1a)
Devotional Thought: How far back do you know your genealogy? I can't go back very far. My son-in-law has traced a little bit of our ancestry, but I think he ran into a dead end, too. The good news, however, is that my future genealogy history is not complete. There have been two generations added to my genealogy since I came on the scene. And more entries are coming!
Genealogies were important in the Old Testament. The New Testament opens with a genealogy: Jesus' genealogy! In Matthew, the family history of Jesus is traced back to Abraham. In Luke it goes back through Adam to God himself. As I read it, I thought about Jesus' genealogy forward. That's right. The family history of Jesus was not done when he was born. Though he did not have any children in the physical sense, he has billions of people in his spiritual genealogy. In Jesus the promise is fulfilled that God would give Abraham children as numerous as the stars in the sky and as plentiful as the grains of sand on the seashore.
Jesus' genealogy is still being written. With every passing day, people are being born again - born from above - into the Kingdom of God. How exciting! The question I have today is, "What am I doing to add to the genealogy of Jesus?" Jesus saved me, am I working to see salvation come to others?
The book of Revelation talks about "The Lamb's Book of Life." In it there are recorded all the names of the children of Jesus. I'm in that family! Let's do our best to see more and more entries in that genealogy!
Prayer: Jesus, thank you that I have been born again into the family of God. I am in your genealogy! Use me, O Lord, to bring others into your forever family. Amen
Psalm of the Day: 56 Yet they tested and rebelled against the Most High God and did not keep his testimonies, 57 but turned away and acted treacherously like their fathers; they twisted like a deceitful bow. 58 For they provoked him to anger with their high places; they moved him to jealousy with their idols. 59 When God heard, he was full of wrath, and he utterly rejected Israel. 60 He forsook his dwelling at Shiloh, the tent where he dwelt among mankind, 61 and delivered his power to captivity, his glory to the hand of the foe. 62 He gave his people over to the sword and vented his wrath on his heritage. 63 Fire devoured their young men, and their young women had no marriage song. 64 Their priests fell by the sword, and their widows made no lamentation. (Psalms 78:56-64)
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