ODJ: genealogies
Abraham was the father of Isaac. Isaac was the father of Jacob. Jacob was the father of Judah and his brothers (v.2).
READ: Matthew 1:1-17
I have a confession to make. Reading through the lists of genealogies in the Bible can be less than scintillating for me. I know. Sure, they’re important. They help trace and verify a person’s roots. And they often provide essential background information as to why a story or person in the Bible is so relevant and remarkable. But, if you’re like me, simply reading a list of names doesn’t stir the soul (especially the ones I can’t pronounce).
The New Testament Gospels record the genealogy of Jesus twice. Matthew 1:1-17 and Luke 3:23-38 trace His lineage all the way back to Abraham and King David—showing He was the promised Messiah.
The Bible also records another reference to Jesus’ ancestry that we can easily gloss over—missing its significance. On many occasions, Jesus referred to Himself as the “Son of man.” And there’s a lot of meaning packed into that description.
In part, it was a term He used to refer to His own humanity. Jesus was the God-man—fully God and also fully human. “Son of man” was also a phrase intended to show us the kind of humans we are meant to be as well as to point us to the hope that, through Him—the second Adam—we can become as He is (1 Corinthians 15:47-49).
When the disciples saw Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration, they caught a glimpse of all He is (Luke 9:28-36). He was the same Jesus they knew and loved—only more so.
Reading about Jesus helps us view our ultimate destiny. He’s the type of person we are in the process of becoming—one day we’ll be like Him fully even as we see Him face to face (1 John 3:2). —Jeff Olson
In what ways are others seeing Jesus in you? How will you radiate His truth and love today?
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Loading ...ODB: learning from erin
July 26, 2010
READ: 1 Cor. 12:21-25
The Lord is gracious and full of compassion. —Psalm 145:8
Erin’s life was so different from that of most 8-year-olds. While other kids were running and playing and eating ice cream, Erin was lying in a bed being fed through a tube—able to see only the brightest lights and hear only the loudest sounds. Her life consisted of needles and nurses and hospital visits as she battled ongoing illnesses and profound disabilities.
Surrounded by a remarkable family who cared for her with compassion and filled her life with love, Erin died before reaching her ninth birthday.
What can be learned from a precious child like Erin—one who never spoke a word or colored a picture or sang a song? A friend of Erin’s family put it best: “We are all better for having had Erin in our lives. She taught us compassion, unconditional love, and appreciation for the little things.”
Children such as Erin also remind us that this world is not reserved for the perfect, the wealthy, or the athletic. Each person, no matter their physical, mental, or emotional condition, is created in the image of God (Gen. 1:26-27) and is of equal value and significance. Our Lord has compassion for the weak, the broken, and all He has made (Ps. 145:8-9), and we should mirror that concern (Eph. 5:1-2). Is there an “Erin” in your life you can learn from? —Dave Branon
Never underestimate the value of one soul.
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