“After the deportation to Babylon: Jeconiah fathered Shealtiel, and Shealtiel fathered Zerubbabel. Zerubbabel fathered Abihud, Abihud fathered Eliakim, and Eliakim fathered Azor. Azor fathered Zadok, Zadok fathered Achim, and Achim fathered Eliud. Eliud fathered Eleazar, Eleazar fathered Matthan, and Matthan fathered Jacob” (Matthew 1:12-15).
After the deportation, the line was no longer royal, but became quite ordinary. As it began, so it ended. Is that not often the truth of the matter? We tend toward pretense, when we are all just ordinary after all. We are all connected and in our family tree are both those we admire and those whom we’d rather not be associated with. We are, above all else, human right down to our toes.
Lord, it does take a dose of humility to bring me to the place where I realize that I am just like everyone else. Guide me in the way You would have me go. Lead me according to Your purpose so that I see that You love everyone equally, but never let me mistake that love as an excuse to sin away. You paid the price with Your life on the cross so that I could be redeemed to live the new life.
Savior of my soul, whether I am at the top, or at the bottom in this world, I am where You have placed me. Amidst the circumstances in which I find myself, guide me this day so that I may humbly walk in Your presence. You are the author of my soul. You are the One who paid the price to redeem me. You are the One who has promised that You would make of me a child of the Heavenly Father. Teach me to love and praise You now and forever. Amen.
