Day 19

Most families have significant moments of success and triumph that are intertwined with the cautionary tales of relatives who fell into failure or sin. The highs inspire and even intimidate us, while the lows shock us, striking fear of falling into the same issues as those who have already paved a low way before us.

The genealogy of Jesus is like this. We see people who set a wonderful standard of faithfulness like Abraham or courage like Ruth. But we also find the lust of Judah. We see complex hearts like David, who ordered the death of a friend, yet also wrote Psalms and prayers we still use today. Then enters Jesus–holy, blameless, and true. Suddenly, the heights of this family line seem like a minor rise in the road, and the lows are almost forgotten in the covering of grace. And it's here we begin to learn how we should view our past issues; as the apostle Paul said, "I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord" (Philippians 3:8 NIV).

Matthew began his gospel account with the genealogy of Christ to explain why and how Jesus was indeed the Messiah. For the Jews, it provided proof of Jesus’ claim of Lordship and the fulfillment of prophecy. For everyone else, the inclusion of people like Rahab and Ruth showed that they were not forsaken in God’s plans for salvation. What if your past and the legacy–good or bad–of those before you were something you displayed as evidence of God's grace?

Jesus upheld the mandate from God to Abram to "walk before me and be blameless." Generations had tried and failed in this line (see Genesis 17:1). In Christ, there was finally a fulfillment of humanity’s side of this covenant. And it's only through salvation and grace that we can walk in this today–not by our own strength, but through His sacrifice for us. Whether the heritage you were born with is positive or negative in your mind, the line of Jesus reminds us that there is a place for us all in the family of God. Not one of us can enter in apart from Christ. Your new legacy is the grace and goodness of Jesus!

Action Step: As you celebrate the holidays and move into a new year, remember that you now carry the name above all names, Jesus. There is no past and no DNA sequence that can overpower the grace God has for you! Keep leaning in to your spiritual heritage as you go forward in your life.