WHO ARE YOUR PEOPLE?
Daily Devotion for Advent 2020 | Monday, November 30
The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham.
(Matthew 1:1)
In many places in the world, practically the first thing people ask you is, “Who are your people? Where did you grow up?” They are trying to place you in the mental framework they use to understand the world.
People do this to Jesus, too. Maybe that’s why God included Jesus’ genealogy right at the beginning of Matthew. Dull as it may seem, it answers the question of where Jesus came from.
“Who are Your people, Jesus?” Kings and princes. Nomads and rich men. Poor women and artisans. The high and the low.
“Say it again, Jesus? Who are they?” Liars and thieves (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob). Murderers and adulterers (David). The half-faithful and half-foolish (Hezekiah). Foreigners (Ruth and Rahab). Prostitutes (Rahab). Broken families (David, Uriah, Bathsheba). Child abusers (Manasseh). These are Jesus’ people. This is whom He comes from.
Do they look familiar? These are our people, too. They are us. This is the family Jesus was born into, in order to save us all—to be born and grow up and lay down His life on a cross, so that we might become God’s family. Because Jesus died for us, our evil is taken away. Because He has risen for us, we have new, everlasting life as children of God.
Lord, thank You for coming to us, just as we are. Thank You for making us Your own. Amen.
Reflect & Discuss
- Who are you most surprised to see in Jesus’ family tree?
- Why do you think God chose people like this to be among Jesus’ ancestors?
- Jesus is now a member of your family. How is God making you look more and more like Him?
Brought to you in partnership with Lutheran Hour Ministries – lhm.org/advent
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About These Devos
GOD WITH US Advent Devotions 2020
Christmas is a time for reflecting. We think of holidays past and the one that’s upon us. As you read the messages of God With Us, consider the many ways that God is present in your life—through His Word, your loved ones, the fellowship of believers, Holy Communion, and more. His love for us is personal. He proved that in a Bethlehem manger—God’s only Son born for all mankind, so that through the Christ Child we might know life with Him forevermore.
Lutheran Hour Ministries (LHM) is a Christian outreach ministry supporting churches worldwide in its mission of Bringing Christ to the Nations—and the Nations to the Church.