Interesting!

Daily Reading: 1 Chronicles 2

The son of Carmi: Achan, the troubler of Israel, who broke faith in the matter of the devoted thing. (1 Chronicles 2.7)

Devotional Thought: Mom told me that we had horse thieves in our family tree, and they were literally in a tree... My ancestors were actually hung in Indiana.  Interesting!

It is easy to forget that the people named in Chronicles have interesting backgrounds, too.  Consider Achan, who is called "the troubler of Israel, who broke faith in the matter of the devoted thing."  Do you remember that story from Joshua 7?  Achan was a soldier in the army that defeated Jericho.  God had told them that the spoils were not to be seized by the soldiers.  They were to be "devoted to destruction."  In the battle, however, Achan saw, coveted, and took some devoted things.  He brought trouble on Israel.  Achan was discovered and paid a severe price for breaking faith.  His reputation lives on.

But, in 2 Chronicles we see that Achan included in the genealogy of King David.  That puts him in the family tree of the Messiah.  And that means there was a "horse thief" in the family tree of Jesus!  Achan was not the only "horse thief" in Jesus' family tree.  Reading the gospels, we find that Tamar, Rahab, and Bathsheba - with less than stellar reputations - were part of the family.  So were Noah, Judah,  and Manasseh - all who exhibited questionable character traits.

The good news in this?  You may feel unworthy of being a part of the family of God, but, your name can be in that genealogy, too.  Mine too.  No matter how "interesting" our backgrounds may be - how much trouble we may have caused, how much we may have broken faith - God longs to make us a part of his family.  Interesting!

Prayer: Jesus, thank you for giving me the right to become a child of God.  I believe in you and I receive you.  Help me to always live in your grace.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: 31.1-7

1 In you, O LORD, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me!

2 Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily! Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me!

3 For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name's sake you lead me and guide me;

4 you take me out of the net they have hidden for me, for you are my refuge.

5 Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God.

6 I hate those who pay regard to worthless idols, but I trust in the LORD.

7 I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love, because you have seen my affliction; you have known the distress of my soul,