“Solomon fathered Rehoboam, Rehoboam fathered Abijah, and Abijah fathered Asa.  Asa fathered Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat fathered Joram, and Joram fathered Uzziah.  Uzziah fathered Jotham, Jotham fathered Ahaz, and Ahaz fathered Hezekiah” (Matthew 1:7-9).

Take a look at this list.  Many (most?) were bums who did not follow the way of the Lord.  From the wisdom of Solomon to the folly of selfish worldly men who did as they pleased, the world moved on.  Why do you wonder at the continual fall of Israel, or any people for that matter, when you see how easily we are corrupted?  This journey of faith is not easy, for each of us continuously fall from grace and into sin.

Lord, I love to look at wicked people and say, “I’m glad I am not like them.”  And then, I look in the mirror and encounter one who is equally a sinner.  Except for Your grace, I too could be as wicked as the most wicked people who have ever walked upon the earth.  Guide me in Your goodness to look to You, confess my sin, and humbly walk daily in the grace that You give me.  In my family lineage, grant that I be one who is faithful.

Lord Jesus, it begins with Your call to each one of us to come and follow You.  You know the path that is before us.  You know the things that are needed.  Guide me this day to humbly and simply do what You give me to do.  May I be in constant prayer with You, listening to what the Holy Spirit is telling me and walking without a care of what the world thinks of what I am doing in accordance with Your purpose.  Amen.

David fathered Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah” (Matthew 1:6b).

And it continues.  David was acting in the family way.  He had a child by a woman who had been another man’s wife.  But that is not the point here.  The world would call the child illegitimate, a bastard.  God redeems all who come to Him.  Though our sins be as scarlet, yet will the Lord wash our sins in His blood to make us clean.  The wisdom of Solomon, birthed in the folly of Solomon, shows us what a willingness to persevere can do.

Lord God, you created each one of us and You have said that we are wonderfully made.  I have spent too much time blaming and convincing myself why I cannot do something, but You show me time and again how You can do great things with people whom the world calls hopeless.  Who cares what the world thinks.  Lead me in Your goodness to believe that You are the God who resurrects to the land of the living those whom the world rejects.

You have said Lord Jesus that You are making all things new.  Make me new by Your grace so that I may become like You.  Continue to lead me Jesus in all things that come my way so that I may grow in this faith You have given me.  According to the Father’s will, let me not look for excuses, but for opportunities to live the life of faith You have given me knowing that You are making of me what You will.  Amen.

“Judah fathered Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez fathered Hezron, and Hezron fathered Ram.  Ram fathered Amminadab, Amminadab fathered Nahshon, and Nahshon fathered Salmon.  Salmon fathered Boaz by Rahab, Boaz fathered Obed by Ruth, and Obed fathered Jesse.  Jesse fathered David the king” (Matthew 1:3-6a).

What an interesting lineage from Judah to David.  One prostitute, a daughter-in-law who slept with her father-in-law, and then there is Ruth.  The women are pointed out with purpose.  Everything in Scripture is with purpose.  Our God is a God of purpose who turns what the world says is bad – and it really is – and turns it to good for His purpose.  He will do the same with each one of us and make us to be like Christ.

We would like to pretend that ours is a normal family.  The truth is, it probably is not.  We all have in our family lineage dysfunction upon dysfunction.  The Lord chose no different for Himself.  It shows us, time and again, that humans are able to rise to the level of loving the Lord in spite of their background.  You too can do this.  It may seem impossible, but with God, all things are possible.

Lord Jesus, I need You.  You have called for me to be conformed to Your image.  You have shown me in Your word that others have done it.  Help me to overcome the obstacles of this world so that I may be conformed to Your image.  Guide me this day in grace so that I may walk humbly where You direct, doing what You give me to do throughout the day.  Lead me in Your goodness, Lord.  Amen.

“Abraham fathered Isaac, Isaac fathered Jacob, and Jacob fathered Judah and his brothers” (Matthew 1:2).

Most of the Book of Genesis is about these three men and the faith which called them to the Lord.  In the rest of Scripture, we hear, “The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”  We also hear that through the line of Judah, Messiah would be born.  Looking back, we see promise after promise fulfilled by the Lord.  This should be an encouragement to you, for our God fulfills His promises.  Trust in the Lord above all!

Lord, I have heard the story of father Abraham from a very young age.  It has become so familiar that I often do not give it a second thought.  Teach me that every message in Your word matters.  I come from a long lineage, even if most of it has been forgotten.  I too have been given Your grace.  Guide me away from being dismissive toward an attitude that pays attention to all that You offer.

Word of God made flesh, born of a woman as all of us humans have been, You have placed me in the promise of Your salvation.  Lead me as I am, with all of what I have inherited, to come with You in faith.  Through Your grace, enable me to humbly walk with You, yet boldly walk in the turmoil of this sinful world.  Help me now and always to know my place in Your kingdom.  By faith, through grace, You have promised that I will be with You forever.  Amen.

The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham” (Matthew 1:1).

Genealogy is important, for it is that which connects us together.  God, who sees all moments as now, sees us in the lineage to which we have been born.  When We read Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles, we see a connection of family, generation after generation.  At the end of the day, they were either faithful to the Lord, or else, as the majority were, unfaithful and sinned against the Lord.

Lord, I too come from a long lineage, only I cannot tie my name back to Adam and Eve as some are able to do.  But, I too am a descendent of my first parents who chose to sin.  I have inherited sin.  I do not need to remain there.  Regardless of what my parents have done, I need not choose to remain in sin.  I can receive the grace of Jesus and be one of the few who follows the way of eternal life.

Lord Jesus, You came into life in this world in a family just as I did.  You who are God in the flesh chose time and space and dwelt amongst us for our sake.  Through all of the mystery that surrounds why You would do this, help me to not lean upon the modern idea of excusing my sin by blaming my family, but instead, follow the offer You give to come by grace and live the new life that You give.  Amen.

“The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen” (Revelation 22:21).

It is no small statement for our Lord and Savior to speak His grace into us.  He died that we might have the forgiveness of sin and the ability to repent, turn, and come to Him as we are so that He would make of us, children of the Heavenly Father.  Without His grace, we are doomed.  By His grace, we are empowered to live the journey of becoming like Christ.  Receive His grace and walk in forgiveness.

Our sins are forgiven, but that does not mean that we go on sinning without care.  We have been given a new life and that new life is one that seeks to be obedient to all that our Savior has commanded.  To receive grace is to have faith that the Lord’s grace will bring about healing.  To act as if you are being healed is to believe that our Lord has given you the words of eternal life.

Lord Jesus, You have spoken these things and awakened faith in me.  Help my unbelief so that I do not sit and do nothing, but follow where You lead.  Thank You for the grace which I have received.  Lead me to humbly learn as the Holy Spirit guides me in preparation for that day when, at long last, I shall meet You face to face.  Between now and then, may I be found faithfully walking in the grace You have given me.  Amen.

“He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20).

The Creator, the One through whom all things have their being has testified to these things.  Do not be mislead nor think that another knows more than the One who knows all things.  The Gospel is true.  You are saved by the grace of Jesus Christ and yes, He will teach you to live in the way He designed you to live.  It is a journey that will take up the rest of your life.  Look to the Lord and long for the day when you shall see Him face to face.

Lord, I do long for that day, but I also fear it, for I know that wickedness has resided in me all the days of my life.  You are the author of my faith and only through You can I live into the life to which faith calls me.  Help me to be like Abraham and be willing to leave behind where I am in order to move to the place that You promise.  Guide my footsteps each step of the way.  Help me to trust in You above all things.

Lord Jesus, do come quickly.  Guide me now and always so that I may walk humbly by Your leading each day.  You know what needs to be left behind and what needs to stay in place.  Lead me according to Your goodness to live today under the direction of the Holy Spirit so that I may be found obedient to all that You command.  I am trusting in Your grace Jesus, for apart from grace I know there is no way I could remain in Your promise.  Help me always.  Amen.

“[A]nd if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book” (Revelation 22:10).

The Lord has spoken forth His word so that those who have ears to hear may repent and turn to the Lord while there is time.  Do not hinder another by either adding to or taking away from what the Lord has said.  It is so simple that a child can lead us.  There is right and there is wrong.  Confess the wrong, seek the right, and look to the Lord to lift you up and out of the mess of this age.

Why does it seem so difficult, Lord?  I hear all kinds of things but what I need most often, is encouragement.  Yes, I stumble and fall.  No, I do not stick to my resolutions.  I want to think I can do it on my own, but deep down I know I cannot.  Guide me by Your grace so that I see that what You have said in all of Scripture is really the same message over and over.  There is right.  There is wrong.  We need to be saved, and then we need to be helped to do the right and avoid the wrong.

Lead me, Savior, in the way of everlasting life.  Guide me in Your goodness so that I may live out what is good, right and salutary.  Help me to know that by Your power and under Your authority, I can move forward in living the godly life.  Help me to take seriously, this and all of Your admonitions so that I may live wholly in Your grace, seeking to do what is right always, knowing that I am in Your loving arms. Amen.

“I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book” (Revelation 22:18)

Over time, how many are there who have messed with God’s word?  Some really do make a mess of things.  The purpose of these devotions is to bring your heart to be devoted to the Lord.  At no point were you told what to believe, but you were encouraged to believe.  The Lord calls all who are in this age of sin to repent, that is, turn, and follow Him.  He will save those who turn to Him and trust in His salvation.

Lord, I do not need special knowledge.  I do not need to have insights or hidden knowledge.  What I need is to be rescued from the stinking thinking that goes on in my mind.  It is at its worst when I think it is not present at all.  I need Your salvation, and You are the Savior.  Guide me Lord in the way You would have me go.  Lead me into the way of life so that I may neither take away, nor add to what You have commanded.

Lord, You are the way, truth, and life.  Trinity, You are One God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  You have shared Your word and I have heard the call.  Guide me. Lord. in the way You would have me go so that I may walk in Your salvation.  By Your grace, lead me away from all error so that the plagues of this book will not be added to my judgement.  Guide me according to Your eternal will always.  Amen.

“The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires, take the water of life without cost” (Revelation 22:17).

The only action any of us can really do is to step out in faith and go in response to the Lord’s call.  He offers to allow us to drink the living water.  He invites us but we must take the invitation and act upon it.  Unopened, it does no good.  Open it and see what the Lord has offered us which will complete the desire He created in our heart to be fulfilled.  We were made to be filled with the Lord in an eternal relationship.

The Holy Spirit speaks to us each day.  The Holy Spirit, the bride of Christ and the people of faith proclaim to us the Good News.  Saint Paul told us that the word needs to be preached.  You have heard and now you believe.  Continue all the days of your life, no matter what happens, seeking to follow the Lord.  Live in the blessed assurance that faith gives, trusting that the word of the Lord endures forever.

Lord, You do speak to me, and You have given promises.  Where I am unable to see, and must live by faith, give me the encouragement I need.  Whether through Your word, the faithful witnesses around me, or by the prompting of the Holy Spirit, guide me to know that in You I do have hope through the many promises You have given me.  Strengthen that hope today so that I may walk humbly with You.  Amen.