The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham. Matthew 1:1 (NKJV)
My sister received an unusual early Christmas gift straight from the Lord. "Let me tell you what happened," she said. "I was standing at the library's copy machine and the lady behind me said, 'Orville's buried in Sidney, not Woodlawn.' She was collecting data for Find-a-Grave.com and knew the exact spot." Only God could have arranged that.
The next day, just twelve minutes away from her home, my sister located the gravesite of our great-great grandfather. The marker was in good shape; the script quite legible. The two of us were excited to discover the forgotten past. It gave us an emotional sense of belonging -- an identification and a new kind of self-understanding. Somehow, the structure and detail of the way we fit into God's plan changed from being abstract to being concrete.
In the same way, the very dull topic of who's dad is who's dad, the begats of the Christmas story, provides continuity and emotional grounding for Christians. Since the records trace the Savior's connections back to David, Abraham, Noah, and Adam, Jesus' credibility as Savior and Messiah is verified. Knowing the facts allows followers to enjoy a peaceful sense of acceptance and belonging to Christ. As proved in the genealogy, God's faithfulness and commitment to mankind is sure. Anyone who chooses to follow the One who can and does keep His promises attains a life-long security. When He claims us, we have a place to be, forever confident that He is trustworthy.
Lord, Thank you for verification that your Son is your Son, the fulfillment of your plan. Thank you for the emotional assurance which comes with your love. Amen.
© V. Colclasure 2010
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1 comment:
This has special meaning to me as someone who finds personal identification in my geneological discoveries. Nice job!
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