In the 1970’s and 80’s, it became popular to search out your family tree. People had always kept records in the family Bible but with the information age, via the internet, it became easier to find dates, places and events that shaped our history.
Now it’s easier than ever, with the help of sites like Ancestory.com and 23&Me, to dive deeper in our past and even discover unknown relatives.
I have to be truthful; although my mother-in-law did extensive study and research on Dave’s family it never peaked my interest. Yes, I was curious about his grandfather and some of the other family members but knowing the whole history just isn’t my thing.
However…there is one bit of family history that I find very intriguing.
“When Jesus began to preach, he was about 30 years old. Everyone thought he was the son of Joseph. But his family went back… David, 32 Jesse, Obed, Boaz, Salmon,… 34 Jacob, Isaac, Abraham, Terah, Nahor,…Shem, Noah, Lamech, 37 Methuselah, Enoch,…Seth. The family of Jesus went all the way back to Adam and then to God.” Luke 3:23-38 CEV
The world had a hard time accepting the words of Jesus because they considered Him to be the son of Joseph, a carpenter, but there was so much more. He truly was the Son of God!
How do people see us?
I’m the daughter of a construction worker and a bank teller. No great fame or fortune, just part of the working class. Not a scholar or one of the elite in society. That’s the way it looks from the outside.
But inside it’s entirely different.
“ Only those people who are led by God’s Spirit are his children. 15  God’s Spirit doesn’t make us slaves who are afraid of him. Instead, we become his children and call him our Father. 16 God’s Spirit makes us sure that we are his children. 17 His Spirit lets us know that together with Christ we will be given what God has promised. We will also share in the glory of Christ, because we have suffered with him.” Romans 8:14-17 CEV
“ Before the world was created, God had Christ choose us to live with him and to be his holy and innocent and loving people. 5 God was kind and decided that Christ would choose us to be God’s own adopted children. 6 God treated us with undeserved grace because of the Son he dearly loves, and so we should praise God.” Ephesians 1:4-6 CEV
We have been adopted. Chosen by God since before the creation of the world. Chosen to be His children!
When we have our identity in Christ, our family tree starts with God. We receive His character. Our DNA is His Divine Nature Attributes. We become His representation to the world.
“Â Do as God does. After all, you are his dear children.” Ephesians 5:1 CEV
“ God’s Spirit makes us loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, 23 gentle, and self-controlled. There is no law against behaving in any of these ways.” Galatians 5:22-23 CEV
The Holy Spirit creates within us God’s character; after all, we are His dear children.
When we are adopted by God, we get a brand-new life and a new family heritage. Our family tree begins and ends with God, the Father.