Genealogy

“Remember the law of my servant Moses, the decrees and laws I gave him at Horeb for all Israel.

“See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes. He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction.”

Malachi 4:4-6

This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham:

Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,

Matthew 1:1-2

We know the roots of Jesus, and we know our own roots. We are a family of man.

We can find ourselves in circumstances of separation and danger we did not anticipate. Malachi and Matthew both remind us that we are troubled children of troubled parents who desperately need the help of our Father in heaven. Sometimes we need His help to see and avoid repeating the sins of our fathers. Sometimes we need his help to turn back to the example and care of loving parents.

Only from our heavenly Father can we find the perfect forgiveness, example, and inner grace we need. He knows we are all fall children of fallen parents, and even now He offers us the help of His Spirit and the rescue of His Son.

It’s never too soon to turn back to God.

Our Daily Bread – April 23, 2011