Devotionals

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FAMILY TIES 2
(A further reflection of Matthew 1:1-17)



Something else occurred to me this morning as I opened once more to Matthew 1.

When I consider Jesus' lineage (that proof of His legal right to the throne of David recorded so faithfully by Matthew,) with the story of myself, the story of all of us in mind, another amazing portrait displays itself unexpectedly upon the canvas.

Through the inspiration of God, Matthew records Jesus' lineage under three designations. They, too, speak of me.

I, as a spiritual child of Abraham, am a child of faith. A child of the promise. A promise I can hold on to for myself, for my children, for those those whose heart God woos ... desiring that none should perish.

But I am also, as seen under David, a child of sin. Adulterous at heart, I am a child of desire, who standing before that tree, more often than not, plucks what God's love and grace would not have me taste. Yet taste it I do. And its beauty turns to ashes in my mouth.

It is then I discover myself a child of bondage ... a captive, enslaved, carried away into judgment ... utterly without hope.

Onto this canvas an amazing hope spills from the Artist's brush ... light, fashioned by love in the tiny tent of a helpless baby declaring Jehovah is salvation.

Where the supplanter fashioned bitterness as my portion, leaving me helpless ... despairing ... Almighty God stepped on the the canvas adding mercy and grace, boldly declaring Himself my salvation.



God's word never ceases to fill me with awe. My story is written all over the page. In every line. And so is His amazing grace.




[ See Family Ties for an introduction ]

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