This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham…Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of King David. Matthew 1:1, 5-6

My wife Rita gave me the best gift for Christmas. No, not a quiet weekend in the mountains or at the beach—though I would have enjoyed either. She surprised me with a three volume set of the Bailey family history from the late 1700’s until the mid 1980’s. As you can imagine it has been surreal to see my Dad’s photo as a young child, and his grandfather who I am named after: a circuit riding Baptist preacher in eastern Kentucky named Reverend Wallace and not surprisingly other more unseemly characters. My family background is very modest, rural and not without drama.

Jesus came to earth from heaven, so those of us on earth could go to heaven. He was born to a virgin whose family background was as diverse as most of our own. Encouragingly, Christ’s genealogy is made up of farmers, soldiers, kings, a prostitute and unbelievers to name but a few. Jesus was sinless, but He came from a long line of sinners. His family background is full of those who needed the Lord and others who loved the Lord. He was born in God’s timing, in a tiny town, to be the Savior of the world. His family background was part of God’s unique story.

“But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons” (Galatians 4:4-5).

Your family background is part of God’s story for your life: the good, the bad and the ugly! Your unique story is penned by God’s grace with spattered ink blots of love. The antagonist is the devil, the hero is Jesus and the one being rescued is you. Past guilt and ignorance need not shame and define you, because you have been bought and adopted by Christ. Health and wealth are not your family’s security—the eternal security of Jesus is where you find peace and joy. Your family background is a testament to the transforming power of God in your life today.

Followers of Jesus are part of His immediate and extended family. His immediate family of believers may include our children, parents, relatives and church family. His extended family of faithful followers are found with slum children in India, the rich on Wall Street or those suffering from persecution around the world. Wherever we find ourselves—we are not alone. If our earthly family ignores us we have a heavenly family who accepts us. We may be closer to the blood bought family of Christ than our own blood relatives. Our faith family is forever with Jesus!

“Resist him [the devil], standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings” (1 Peter 5:9).

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, thank You for my family background, use me to influence my family toward faith in Jesus.

Application: Do I see the big picture of how God’s story scripted my family background?

Related Readings: 1 Samuel 2:27; 1 Chronicles 28:4; Acts 10:2; 1 Thessalonians 4:10

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