Think of some famous person, U.S. President, Business Leader, or Celebrity. How many generations back do you think we can identify the names of their ancestors? How far back can we identify our ancestors? Most likely, we can identify our great grandparents, or maybe their parents. That would be four generations back.

Matthew 1:1-16, lists the fathers and some of the mothers of Jesus’ ancestors back to Abraham. Matthew 1:17 says, “All those listed above include fourteen generations from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the Babylonian exile, and fourteen from the Babylonian exile to the Messiah.”

Luke 3:23-38 also has the a list of Jesus’ ancestors recorded all the way back to Adam, 76 Generations.

Though there are some variations between the Luke and Matthew list, historians have logical reasons for these variations. I find it amazing to have this type of information for a person that lived 2000 years ago. It is difficult to dispute the significance of Jesus Christ.

Dear Lord, What a blessing it is for us to have historical information about Jesus. The extensive consistency and authenticity of Biblical accounts of history are being identified every day. Help us use this information to support our understanding, our faiths, and our witness to others, that they may come to know you, also. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

When you think of the word “courage,” what comes to mind? A soldier in battle? Performing on stage for the first time? Standing up to a bully?Skydiving?

Courage is doing something that we find frightening

1 Peter 2:19 says, “For God is pleased when, conscious of his will, you patiently endure unjust treatment.”

To consciously endure unjust treatment requires courage. Unjust treatment may be simple teasing when we skip participating in the gossip session, or dirty jokes, or the terrible persecutions of Christians by governments and organizations over the years.

When we demonstrate this courage, God is pleased with us, and it strengthens our faith and confidence in God’s power and protection. Lord willing, none of us will have to endure physical pain and torture for our faith. Let us, however, have the courage to accept the challenge and endure those situations that we are given.

Dear Lord help us have the faith and confidence in you to be ready to endure the unjust treatment that may occur when we do the right thing, knowing that this pleases you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Have you ever experienced this. You go to church Sunday morning, then find yourself doing all kinds of things you know you shouldn’t Sunday afternoon, criticizing the driver in the car in front of you, getting angry at your family members for silly reasons, cursing at the referee or umpire on the TV game. As difficult as it may be to overcome these temptations, we need to put our efforts into doing the right things.

James says in his letter to the Christian churches in James 1:21, “But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.”

We know we are saved by God’s grace, and not by anything we have done, but now that we are saved, it only makes sense that we would show it in how we live our lives.

In order to know what God tells us to do, we need to read and listen to what the bible says, and not just make up things we think are right.

Dear Lord, help and guide us to read and listen to your words in the bible, so that we know how you say we should be living our lives. Then help us actually do it. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

This is the essence of Faith, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.” Proverbs 3:5.

Whether it is our fear of the future, deciding whether to tithe, or facing a crisis, as Christians, Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:7, “We live by faith, not by sight.”

Dear Lord, It is frightening to let go of those earthly things in which we put our trust, our intelligence, our money, technology. Help us and show us that we can put our trust in you, and find the comfort it brings. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

I write this daily post as somewhat of an instruction for Christians, including myself, on how to live and think about living our lives on earth, but I think it is important to take a moment and remember the sequence that God has established for us.

First we are saved, not by doing the right things and living the right lives. Jesus says in John 3:17,18, “God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him.”

The Holy Spirit gives us the ability to believe. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 12:3, “no one can say Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit.”

Then, because we believe, we live the Christian life God desires. John writes in 1 John 2:3, “and we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments.”

Finally, as active Christians we share our faith with others so they might receive the Holy Spirit and believe. Jesus says in Matthew 28:19, “Therefore go and make disciples of all the nations,”

Dear Lord, help us keep this order in mind. It starts with your love for us that saves us, and follows with our love for you that leads us to live the life you want us to. In Jesus’ name. Amen.