So you think that because you come from a severely dysfunctional family that Jesus can’t possible love you, huh? Well let’s take a look at His lineage. This is all the begats and begots, but we aren’t going to quote the entire thing.

Abraham (who lied twice about his relationship with his wife…said she was his sister) begot Isaac.

Isaac begot Jacob (the great deceiver who stole the birth right from his brother and then got tricked into marrying Leah…did I mention that he hated Leah and loved Rachel more?).

Jacob begot Judas and Judas begot a whole lot of people.

Of the most important of Judas’ children we have Boaz…the one that married Ruth. He begot Obed.

Obed begot Jesse…

Jesse was David’s father. David was also a murderer and an adulterer…and, peculiar as it is, David was also listed as a man after God’s own heart because of his devotion to God.

David begot Solomon…which was the child of his adulterous affair. Solomon, although wise, eventually gave in to severe temptation and ended up writing Ecclesiastes.

Solomon (the proud) begot a lot of people including Jehosephat.

Solomon’s great great great great great (I might have miscounted) grandson was Josiah.

Add ten greats to Josiah and you get Joseph (husband of Mary).

Poor Joseph wants Mary for a bride and finds out she’s pregnant. He loves her and thinks about putting her away (divorcing) privately instead of her probably being stoned to death. An angel of the Lord comes to him and says, “Whoa! Don’t do that. It’s all good! This is the coming King and yall need to name Him Jesus!” Okay, so that is the Sister Robin translation of that dialogue.

Yall know the rest of the story I am sure, so I won’t continue. I urge you to take a long look at the lineage above. We have liars, adulterers, the proud, the vain, and murderers. Yeah, and you thought your lineage was dysfunctional.

It doesn’t matter. Jesus loves you regardless. The way some people put a label on those that come from such a background makes you wonder if Jesus had to deal with that, doesn’t it? Think twice before you label someone or they may just become a self fulfilling prophecy (as in because someone was abused as child they will become an abuser). Jesus broke the mold so we could do it, too.

Labels: faith files