22.1.25 Luke 3:21-38
22 January
Prepare
Heavenly Father,
We come before You with humble hearts, knowing that You are holy and good. We bring our praise and our burdens, trusting in Your mercy and grace. Help us to draw close to You, to hear Your voice, and to rest in Your presence. Teach us Your ways and guide our hearts as we spend time with You.
Take a moment to be still, to humble ourselves to our heavenly Father.
Read – Luke 3:21-38
When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry. He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph,
the son of Heli, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi,
the son of Melki, the son of Jannai,
the son of Joseph, the son of Mattathias,
the son of Amos, the son of Nahum,
the son of Esli, the son of Naggai,
the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias,
the son of Semein, the son of Josek,
the son of Joda, the son of Joanan,
the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel,
the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri,
the son of Melki, the son of Addi,
the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam,
the son of Er, the son of Joshua,
the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim,
the son of Matthat, the son of Levi,
the son of Simeon, the son of Judah,
the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam,
the son of Eliakim, the son of Melea,
the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha,
the son of Nathan, the son of David,
the son of Jesse, the son of Obed,
the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon,
the son of Nahshon, the son of Amminadab,
the son of Ram, the son of Hezron,
the son of Perez, the son of Judah,
the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac,
the son of Abraham, the son of Terah,
the son of Nahor, the son of Serug,
the son of Reu, the son of Peleg,
the son of Eber, the son of Shelah,
the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad,
the son of Shem, the son of Noah,
the son of Lamech, the son of Methuselah,
the son of Enoch, the son of Jared,
the son of Mahalalel, the son of Kenan,
the son of Enosh, the son of Seth,
the son of Adam, the son of God.
Reflect
How many times have you come across a genealogy in the Bible and shuddered at the thought of reading it? Or thought why is this list of names here?
In the programme ‘Who do you think you are?’ celebrities are able to find out about their ancestors, to see where they have come from, and many are shocked and surprised about the history of their family.
One notable example is Jeremy Clarkson, the TV presenter who found out that he was a descendant of King Charles II!
When we look at these genealogies in scripture, we see God keeping his promises through generations.
The stories of the ancestors in the Old Testament come to climax with Jesus, the adoptive son of Joseph, from a place called Nazareth.
Be
May His favour be upon you
And a thousand generations
And your family and your children
And their children, and their children
May His favour be upon you
And a thousand generations
And your family and your children
And their children, and their children
Amen Amen Amen
Become
Lord God, we thank you for the generations that have been before.
We thank you that you have kept your promises through time.
Help us to prayer for the generations to come and ask that your promises will continue for your glory.
Do
Spend some time thanking God for the lives of your parents, grandparents and family members, both recent and long ago. Pray also for the next generation, that they will find God in their lives.
Practice:
Spend some time today looking at a photo album and remember memories from the past.
Or make some new memories with your family and friends and praise God in the process.