Who Do You Think You Are?

“Who Do You Think You Are?” Watching the program and seeing famous people find out their roots, past skeletons and good news, makes me all the more interested in my own ancestors. Some branches of my family are easily found and bring much good news. Other branches not so much. From the Indian great grandparent who walked the Trail of Tears to Daniel Boone who married into the family, there is much available. But my father’s family tree is amazingly elusive. Beyond my great grandfather I can find very little. It makes me wonder and want to know so much more.

I especially get excited when there is mention of a family Bible or a preacher in the tree. At least I know someone who had a walk of faith.  Just like the title of the show asks, we all want to know something about those who have gone before us. For my husband, he was especially blessed with great grandparents and five generations of living relatives. I’m not so fortunate as my grandparents were gone before I was born.

For the believer, genealogy is incredibly important as well.  We are very fortunate people for our godly spiritual genealogy is written in the Bible. Scripture plainly states the blood line of Jesus’s mother and tells as well the spiritual genealogy of the One Who was born to die for us. Pretty exciting stuff to read the names in that family tree. To start with Adam and Eve, the fleshly line, who for the momentary decision to disobey eternally changed the world. Then to see the spiritual lineage of the Son of Godand read what it means to be In Christ…this line of Christ has spiritually given redemption and eternal life for all mankind. When a person is born again, they are automatically adopted into the line of Christ.

The enemy of our soul will taunt us, “Who do you think you are?” He wants us to live under the assumption that all of our genealogy is flawed, simply of the flesh, damned and unforgiven. He wants us to believe that we are destined to remain in a long line of unredeemed people. He also wants us to think that we’re so flawed that we are weak, unable, have no virtue and worthless.  If Adam and Eve were our only ancestors this would be oh so very true.  Satan knows our name but calls us by our mistakes, our failures, our sin.

The lover of our soul will encourage us, “Listen to who you are!”  “Open My book of genealogy and find the incredible story of you.”  God will show you, if you let Him, that you were born to die, but destined to live. That you were born with an incurable disease but because of His incredible decision you have been healed of sin’s sickness unto death. He will go on to lead you through the hall of fame as you learn to live by faith, following your spiritual ancestors in Hebrews 11.  The Lord knows your sin but calls you by name – you are His.

Oh beloved, have you been dwelling on the wrong family tree? Even the best of trees are slated to be cut down and cast into the furnace. But God, your spiritual Father, your heavenly Redeemer has purchased you as His own and has given you life everlasting! Not only that, He’s given you a reason to be forgiven, a reason to forgive all who have done wrong to you and a reason to live in blessings of who you are In Christ. In Christ changes everything. In Christ moves your ancestral curse to a blessing.  In Christ gives you new life, faith and wisdom, power and love.

God loves you and He’s for you and that’s worth being adopted into the Royal Family and letting Christ live through you all the way to heaven.

I Corinthians 15:22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.

1 Peter 1:23 For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God.

John 3:3 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”

Galatians 3:26 For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ

2 Corinthians 2:14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.

Your Story - God's Glory!

A lady I know shared that when a mutual friend went to their office to apply for a position a couple of years ago, she took one look at him and thought, “Oh my, he’s an old hippie! What have I gotten myself into?”  But over the years, he’s proven to be one of the best employees ever.  As we were discussing the story I thought to myself you can’t judge a book by its cover.

You can’t.  But you can judge that book by what’s inside. At least you find out the truth about it once you’ve opened it up and looked inside. Read a few pages, get to know the character and the plot and you will know what’s really going on.

Books come in all shapes, sizes, colors and some are hard bound, others are paperback. The oldest books may seem a little tattered and torn but inside is an awesome story worth picking that book up.  Other books look very sophisticated and fresh, yet when you look inside its pages there’s nothing there but pulp fiction. 

We’re a lot like books. Some of us have been through a lot – left out in the rain, dropped in the dirt, leaves dog eared and pages soiled.  Some of us were passed around, thrown in the trash and left untended and uncared for. It shows.  Others are simply different – no special gold foil, no elegant cover, no exciting draw for the crowd to pick up. 

Get to know either type and once they share their story, it’s pretty much the same:  Started out great, cared for greatly. Then someone got tired of them and put them away.  Story after story abounds with joy, tragedy, being discarded or misread.

No matter what the real story, no matter the background, there is One Who wants to rewrite your story. He wants to give you incredible edits and magnificent rewrites so that you will shine with the glory of His love on each page. It doesn’t matter what you look like, where you’re from, who you know or don’t know – He’s ready and willing to give you another shot at life.  Although your story may have started with a tragedy, it will certainly end in triumph when the Lord is the writer.  Every single chapter will be given His once over so that there’s courage and victory no matter what. The plot will be changed as well, so it’s not about you but about the Lord and His incredible love and care for you.

If you’ve never given your life to the Lord, it’s so easy – just give Him the entire novel, cover to cover and let Him do what only He can do. He will change everything and that’s all good because His ways are best. He is the greatest Writer of people’s lives ever. 

If you’ve grown tired of going your own way, even if you gave Him your heart, then let Him start doing the editing right away. It’s not too late to let Him change the design, edit the pages and redo the ending. His plans for you are a best seller yet you have to pay nothing for His amazing touch.  He doesn’t look at what you’ve been through; He only looks at your life through the eyes of His love, the touch of His grace and the knowledge of His glory.

Oh beloved, your Editor, the Lord Himself, bids you to step into His sanctuary and give it all to Him. Each page of your life is working into the finest novel ever known. You are His beloved and His magnificence will be revealed on the last page and it will be truly glorious! He loves you and He’s for you and that’s worth letting Him write your story all the way to heaven.

Psalm 40:3 He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what He has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord.

Psalm 139:16 You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in Your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.

Hebrews 10:35 So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you!

Psalm 25:1 O Lord, I give my life to you.

Psalm 138:8 The Lord will work out His plans for my life— for Your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever. Don’t abandon me, for You made me.