How would you feel if you knew that you were a descendant of a man who was willing to get his wife raped so he can stay alive even though the Lord protected the wife Sarah? - Abraham

How would you feel if you knew you were a descendant of the son of the man who was also willing to get his own wife raped so he can stay alive even though the Lord protected the wife? - Isaac

How would you feel if you knew you were a descendant of the son of the man who plotted with his own mother to cheat his older brother of his inheritance? - Jacob

How would you feel if you knew you were a descendant of the man’s son who slept with his own daughter-in-law thinking she was a prostitute? - Judah & Tamar

How would you feel if you knew you were a descendant of a man who was willing to marry a woman who lived her life as a prostitute and harlot? - Salmon & Rahab

How would you feel if you knew you were a descendant of a man who married a woman  who was the descendant of a woman who slept with her own dad - Lot - Abraham's Nephew - Ruth, the Moabite.

How would you feel if you knew you were the descendant of this woman’s husband who was a descendant of a man who married a harlot and prostitute? - Boaz

How would you feel if you knew you were the descendant of a man who slept with another man’s wife and then plotted to have the man killed after he found out the woman he slept with became pregnant so the man does not find out? - David

How would you feel if you knew you were the descendant of this man’s son who had 1000 wives and concubines and allowed idolatry to pervade the land? - Solomon

How would you feel if you knew you were the descendant of this man’s son who gave into the peer pressure of his friends instead of taking the wise council of the godly? - Rehoboam

How would you feel if you knew you were the descendant of this man’s son who was worse and more wicked than his father? - Abijah

How would you feel if you knew you were the descendant of this man’s son who killed all his younger brothers, so they will not be a threat to him? - Jehoram

How would you feel if you knew you were the descendant of a man who promoted idol worship, sacrilege against the temple of the Lord, killed his own son, and did other wicked things? - Ahaz

How would you feel if you knew you were the descendant of a man who asked the Lord to give him a longer life when he was supposed to die that night and, in the process, had a son who was the most wicked son who promoted idol worship, sacrilege against the temple of the Lord, and did other wicked things even though he repented at the end of his life?  - Hezekiah & Manasseh

 What if all or even one of these vices describe your descendants and family genealogy too?

All these vices and sins described one man’s family genealogy that spanned 42 generations.

If you knew this man’s family genealogy had all these sins, would you feel comfortable to let this man raise a child or would you look for a family genealogy that did not have these sins?

We are so quick to judge and believe a lot of times that the sins of our fathers should disqualify us from what the Lord has in store for us.

But you know what?

The Lord always amazes us and His grace and mercy is unfathomable! The Lord did not disqualify this man from raising the Son of God. Yes, you heard me right!

Every single question that was raised here had to do with Joseph, the earthly father of the Lord Jesus Christ. Even though Joseph’s family genealogy was marred with sin and wickedness, the Lord in His mercy and grace allowed Joseph to be the earthly father of Jesus and raise Jesus. This is so amazing and should encourage us so much. The Lord in His mercy and grace will not define us by our genealogy no matter what it reveals when we turn our lives over to Him.

This Christmas season it is exciting to know how loving and gracious our Lord is! What an honor Joseph had to be able to raise the Lord Jesus Christ! Thank you Jesus!  This happened too by God's grace because God chose the Virgin Mary to impregnate her by the Holy Spirit with child even though she was engaged to be married to Joseph whose genealogy was marred with sin. God did not choose another woman but the virgin Mary. God wanted Joseph and Mary to be Jesus' earthly parents.

I asked myself what are the implications for my own life?

I come from a family genealogy that is into idol worship. My own loving mommy would worship idols. Even after the Lord Jesus chose her to be His very own and she accepted Jesus as her Lord and personal Savior, she had trouble giving up her idol worship. Even though she believed Jesus to be God, she also believed Jesus was God among many gods. As she read the Bible more and more, she realized Jesus is the only God of the Universe and stopped worshipping idols.

“You shall not make yourselves any idols; no images of animals, birds, or fish. Remember, you must not make or worship idols made of silver or gold or of anything else! “You must have no idols; you must never worship carved images, obelisks, or shaped stones, for I am the Lord your God.(Exodus 20:4,23, Leviticus 26:1, TLB)

Then, she raised us by reading Bible stories to us and sharing the love of Jesus with us even though by our family background and legal papers, we were considered Hindus. Only later did we all become followers of Christ by His grace and mercy including my loving dad.

jEven to this day, our beloved relatives are Hindus but we know we are not defined by their religion but our personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. We still need to be aware of our upbringing and what our relatives are into lest it creeps into our lives. We are told time after time in the Bible not to worship idols but we are also told time after time to share the love of Christ with those who don’t worship Jesus alone as we do. My genealogy does not define me because my identity is in Christ.  Our family members need to be loved dearly even if they are not followers of Christ for Christ alone can change them by His grace.

I ask you now dear friend, what about you?

Whatever evil or badness is in your family genealogy, it does not have to define you. Look to Jesus who can give you a new beginning. The Lord Jesus is full of grace and mercy.  God's favor and blessings are not dependent on the genealogy we are part of. If genealogy could determine God's favor and blessings in people's lives then Joseph never would have had the opportunity to marry the Virgin Mary and raise Jesus but he was given that opportunity and privilege of raising Jesus Christ no matter what genealogy he came from.

Never think to yourself, idol worship, alcoholism, drug addiction, sexual addiction, idolatory, abuse, short-temper, etc is part of my genealogy so I cannot escape it. You can with the help of the Lord Jesus Christ. Yes, you can friend! Oh yes you can! It won't always be easy but with the Lord on your side and the right community of believers who believe the Bible is the Word of God, through accountability, prayer support, counsel, etc you can overcome. 

It encourages me and should encourage you that when you find God's favor, it does not matter what was behind you including genealogy but what is ahead of you with the Lord. By the Lord's grace not only did Joseph get to marry the Virgin Mary but also be the earthly father for the Lord Jesus Christ, who is Emmanuel - God with us! This Christmas season, look to Jesus who is the Reason for the Season! 

Anything mentioned in Scripture has significance so mentioning the genealogy of Joseph is to show no matter what the genealogy is marred with, there is hope. Genealogy of Joseph is important because it is also Jesus' earthly genealogy since He was raised by Joseph.

What is important to know is that Jesus is without sin even though He was raised by Joseph and Mary.

I ask you again dear friend, what does God do with  your G.E.N.E.A.L.O.G.Y in life?
Dear friend, you may know your genealogy or you may not. You may come from a genealogy involved in sexual sin, idolatory, idol worship, wickedness, witchcraft, murder, adultery, prostitution, divorce, physical abuse, crime, racism, caste prejudice, homosexuality, etc. We may not know everything our genealogy has committed except that we were all  born in sin because of Adam and Eve.

If you know your genealogy and it is not good, there is still encouraging news my friend. As you live your life for the Lord, regardless of what is happening in your family and genealogy, you will find the Lord’s favor.  Scripture has examples throughout of those that found God's favor regardless of their family genealogy because God can change anything around in His grace.

The key becomes turning to the Lord and having Him become part of your life and letting Him work in you and through you. Now you will be governed by His Holy Spirit working in you and not the flesh.

No matter what your earthly genealogy reveals to you, you do not have to be captivated by that. You do not have to be a prisoner to your genealogy for you can be focused on a new genealogy that is spiritual in nature and it starts with Jesus Christ.

Yes, friend when you come to Jesus Christ, you belong to Him and all His children become your brothers and sisters, with Him as your Heavenly Father who is perfect in every way. He will give you a life of righteousness that can be attributed to Him and Him alone.

This righteousness starts with Jesus Christ and continues with Jesus Christ. In Him you will find your hope and righteousness by His grace revealed to you.

No matter what the devil sends your way and reminds you where you came from and how your life is, remember when you give your life to Jesus, He will give you a new beginning that starts with Him.

This is not a prosperity Gospel where everything will turn peachy when you come to Jesus. Jesus never promised that but what He promised is that you will find faith, hope, and love in Him to get you through because He will never leave you nor forsake you.

"He who had no sin became sin for us so that we can experience the righteousness of God"

When God sees us now, He sees the righteousness of Christ covering over us and because of Christ's blood shed on the cross of Calvary that we take upon us, God's judgment will Passover us because of the precious cleansing blood covering in our lives.

It is available for you and me by His grace. Jesus offers His Salvation to you no matter what genealogy you have come from. He loves you so much that He died on the cross for you that you can receive His Eternal Life and favor all through His grace. Now it is this same grace that not only justifies you but sanctifies you to live a Holy life in Him.

You will never be out of His love and never out of His reach for He reaches you where you are right now. Yes, He does friend! No matter what you have done, where you have been, or who you are, you can be a child of God when you accept the free gift of grace He  offers you.

As we await Christmas during this Advent season, come as you are to Christ who wants to transform your life His way. He wants to give you peace, purpose, pardon, and provision. Yes, He does friend! You will always feel loved by the One who loves you so deeply. Yes, friend come as you are to the throne of grace and find help in time of need no matter what your genealogy and family looks like. 

For the Word of the Lord says, "You will keep in perfect peace whose mind is turned on thee." (Isaiah 26:3)

Never give up but hold on to Jesus and you will be holding on to hope. May you know this Christmas season that Jesus Christ wants to be part of your life and He will make you part of His family filling you with His Holy Spirit.

When you have been called to be the Lord's very own, don't keep it to yourself but you be the love to reach your loved ones with the love of Christ for that is what Jesus would want you to do. I know He does. (Read Mark 5 about how Jesus sent a man healed back to his family to share what the Lord did in his life)

“Gracious Emmanuel Nurtures Eternally Amidst Leadership's Ominous Genealogy's Yuckiness!”(G.E.N.E.A.L.O.G.Y)/"What do you do with your G.E.N.E.A.L.O.G.Y in life?"

PRAYER:
Dear Jesus, I thank you regardless of what genealogy we come from and what our genealogy has been involved in, as we turn to you and depend on you, we can find favor with you. I thank you Lord that you choose to show favor to whom you desire though we cannot understand it but we know you are Holy and do what is best and right. Thank you for choosing to save humanity by dying on the cross where you shed your precious blood while we were yet sinners. Lord, you do not force yourself upon us but give us the opportunity to come to you. Thank you so much Lord for all those you have saved and all those you will save as they come to you. Lord, you know the generations people have been part of and are part of. You know the sins that are involved whether it be alcoholism, abuse, idol worship, murder, divorce, racism, etc. We thank you that you can deliver us and we need not continue to be part of that trend. Help us to seek you for those that are lost and please Lord intervene on their behalf and rescue them. I thank you so much that you are Mighty to save! I know you can! You are the Lord and our Good Shepherd. Hear our prayer and answer us Oh Lord. Be part of our lives this Christmas season. Thank you Jesus we can find hope in you. You are the reason for the season. Thank you that you have heard us and answered us. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!