Discover His heart: Because of His great love, He adopted us
I’m going to write about your family today. Oh…you didn’t know that I knew them? Well, yes, I know a little bit about them. In fact, today we read all about your ancestors as well as mine, many of whom were dynamic leaders and people of great faith, and a few bad apples on the old family tree too. I mean, really, don’t we all come from Adam?
I Chronicles 1-4 records the official family history of the nation of Israel, starting with none other than Adam. When we accept Jesus as our Savior, we are adopted or grafted into the family tree of Israel, so all the inheritance that was promised to Abraham and his family is ours as well. (Romans 11:17)
Just like with our personal family genealogies, we are able to read about our ancestors in the Bible and discover how and why we have arrived at the point where we are today. So, dear one, I won’t be stopping by for dinner unannounced as family sometimes does, but please keep in mind that we are family and we’re all going to live together someday in one great big glorious city. Don’t worry – it will be good!
There are so many amazing family members listed in these chapters that it would be impossible to write about all of them today, but a few stand out to me as I read them: Enoch, who walked with God and never died, now that’s a story all on its own; Noah, the shipbuilder who trusted God in the face of ridicule; Abraham who left home and all that he knew to settle in an unfamiliar land just because he trusted God; David, the King after God’s own heart; and Jabez, our example of the man who prayed and God granted his requests. Most of these are listed in the Hall of Faith of Hebrews 11. What a heritage! Also listed were dozens of faithful kings, priests and prophets – such an impressive background we have.
The next time our enemy comes around to demean and to discourage us by reminding us of our more recent family members who may not be so illustrious or to remind us of our own dismal past, we have something to declare. We come from a long line of Royalty, we are Kings, we are Priests, we are blood-bought, (Revelations 1:6) and these are things our enemy will never be. We will someday rule and reign, and these are things that he will never do. Because of who we are in Jesus, we really don’t have to take any of his talk!
As I think about where we come from, who we are and where we’re going, I can’t help but remember the verse that puts it all in perspective for me. In Revelations 4:10-11, represented by the 24 elders, we learn what we the redeemed, His royal family, will do with our crowns when we stand before Him, “And they lay their crowns before the throne and say, ‘You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased.’” We may have a great and impressive heritage; but when it’s all said and done, it’s really all about Him.
Moving Forward: Head held high, I move forward today remembering who He is and remembering who I am because of Him. I’ve got great genes!
Tomorrow @ Psalms 93-95
Phyllis Benigas 