10. Genealogy

10.  (Joseph) and Mary 


A casual reading of Luke and Matthew's genealogies of Jesus would raise the question of who Joseph's father was, Jacob or Heli? But as we have heard, a popular tradition is that Luke records Mary's family tree and Matthew records Joseph's. Ultimately, Jesus wasn't born from a man, but through the Holy Spirit of God. 


John promises us that we can become adopted by God, born again by His Holy Spirit. In a similar way, the eternal Son of God was born not as a result of an earthly father's decision that he wanted a child. Instead, Jesus was born in order that God could save His people from their sins. 


This is where, whatever our family trees might be, we can become adopted into the family of God, through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. As Peter says, once we might not have been a people, most of us are probably Gentiles, but now we can become the people of God. Maybe we feel as hopeless as Tamar must have felt. 


Perhaps we feel as fearful as Rahab must have felt, as mournful as Ruth, as guilty as David and Bathsheba. But whoever we are, we can migrate from this world of darkness into God's glorious Kingdom of light. All we need to do is to trust and obey King Jesus. 


Matthew 1:16, Luke 3:23, John 1:12-13 


'Father God, may we trust and obey You, and so get adopted into Your Kingdom family of light, forevermore, amen' 


Are you part of God's great family? If not, why not make today the day You are adopted by Him?


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