Session 3

Where your family tree begins matters more than where it ends

From Luke: A 24-Day Devotional

A family tree shows family relationships throughout generations. Digging into your family history might reveal that you are related to presidents, kings, or next door neighbors.

The Bible is full of these family histories. Many genealogies tell the story of God's faithfulness from generation to generation. In Luke 3:23, Jesus, the only Son of God, enters into human history and all the recorded genealogies of the Bible abruptly stop.

These records stop because our connection to God is no longer through our human ancestry but through Jesus. When we are in Christ, we are connected to God and become part of His family.

John 1:12-13 says, “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God — children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will but born of God.”

Thank God we've been included in His family through Jesus. We have been born into this spiritual family not based on our parent's faith but based on our believing and receiving Jesus as Savior and Lord. When we read a genealogy in the Bible, our hearts should be encouraged. God has entered our story, and now we get the opportunity to be part of His family and His story.

Reflect:

• God's love is based on our position, not on our performance. How can you rest in your position as His child today?
• Is your name written in God's family tree? If not, it can be today! If it is, take some time to thank God for adopting you into His family.