December 13–42 Generations

Happy Friday! We are only a dozen days from Christmas.Have you got your shopping finished? I think I’m close to done. I think I just have a couple more small things to pick up. ! It’s quite the process, isn’t it? This thing we do called “Christmas” that really has very little, if anything, to do with Christ. Don’t get me wrong, i love this holiday—the gift-giving and the friends and family times, the holiday cheer, Santa and even eggnog. But unless we are very intentional, Jesus is mostly an afterthought—a nativity set on a shelf somewhere in the background. 


I’ve been trying hard to read the story every night to keep it fresh in my heart. Last night I read Matthew’s accounting and it is the most historically detailed accounting I think. He makes sure to point out the exact number of generations between Abraham and the Messiah. 


“Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭1:17‬ ‭NIV‬‬


It seems a little amazing that we know it was 28 generations from King David to Jesús and 42 from Abraham to Jesus. And I suppose it makes sense that it would be Matthew who would include the numbers since he was the accountant, but the fact that over time and through it all, records had been kept. Has anyone been keeping records since? I certainly couldn’t tell you. But what I do know is the one who has counted every generation. The same one who counted before has counted since. He not only knows how many generations, but He knows every person in every generation, what their struggles were, what their victories were, every detail of each of their lives down to the number of hairs on their heads.


“When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭2:10-11‬ ‭NIV‬‬


They were overjoyed! True joy is only found in our relationship with Jesus. Joy like that is not fleeting with the moment, but is a lasting, deep down, here to stay joy. With all our gift giving and receiving, let’s try hard to remember the one who brings us the gifts of peace, hope, joy and love. 


Lord Jesus we thank you for bringing to us peace, hope, joy and love. You are so good to us and bridging the gap between us and God. God we thank you for knowing us so well and for understanding who we are and loving us anyway. Spirit how blessed we are that you dwell within us and are speaking to us each and every day, guiding us and showing us the path you’d have us to walk. We thank you for your grace and mercy on us and ask that you’d forgive us when we fall short and take off on our own. Help us Lord to love others and to be your hands and feet as we walk through this world. We praise you today and lift your name. Amen and amen. 


Love you dear friend,

Pam




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