“Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song” (Psalm 95:1-2).
Molly and I traveled to Tennessee to be with my older daughter and her family for Thanksgiving. It is getting harder to get my whole family together at the same time so it was good to be with one of the families. Another reason for traveling to TN was to visit with friends who are in a battle with cancer. Family and friends are at the top of my list of things for which I am thankful.
As I look forward to celebrating Christmas I am most thankful for God’s plan to redeem us for His own people. Beginning in the book of Genesis God reveals his plan to mankind that a Savior would come. Matthew and Luke begin their gospel writings with the narrative of Jesus’ birth and both include his human genealogy. Matthew begins, “A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham.” God had promised David, “your throne will be established forever” (2 Samuel 7:16). Jesus fulfills that promise as the King of kings over the Kingdom of God. God had promised Abraham his descendants would be as numerous as the stars and “all peoples on earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:3). Jesus offers this blessing of salvation to all who will receive it.
It is interesting that Luke takes Jesus’ genealogy all the way back to the first man, Adam, who he calls the son of God. (Luke 3:38) He was created by God as the very first man. Jesus, the Creator, is the last Adam (1 Corinthians 15:45), the Son of God. The first Adam brought sin to all people, but the last Adam brings life. The first Adam was not without sin, the last Adam is sinless and takes away sin through His sacrificial death and powerful resurrection.
Thank you, God, for my Savior! I praise you for the peace He gives me. Help me live a life worthy of my King!
“Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this” (Isaiah 9:7).