Maybe it started with a conversation about my in-law’s ancestry while people shuffled around the kitchen preparing Thanksgiving lunch. Maybe it started with a determination to not just read, but understand, the genealogy of Jesus. Maybe it started with a desperate desire to find meaning during the mundane hours over the long school break. However the idea sparked, the truth eventually settled in the ashes: Our lives are interwoven to tell a grander story—one that impacts the Kingdom of God. Today, you and I are writing the history that will impact the generations that follow. The choices we make, the faith we display, the prayers that we pray matter. Those behind us are watching. They are shifting their worldviews and writing their own stories based on ours.

I don’t know many of the details of my great grandparents’ experience on earth. Only one lived long enough for me to know personally. But what I do know is that she loved Jesus. I know she taught my grandfather about the Lord and he lived his life following God, serving in his local church, passionately worshipping the Lord, and sharing the love of Jesus with others. I know he taught my mom about Jesus. As I grew up, I watched her read and teach God’s Word. I listened to her pray over me and show me how to follow the Lord. And this is just one side of my family tree. There are branches of faithful men and women on my dad’s side as well.

When I slow down long enough to read the names listed in Matthew chapter 1 and Luke chapter 3, I’m surprised by what stands out.

I notice the name of Jacob, the boy who tricked his older brother into selling him his birthright (Genesis 25). Who deceived his father into receiving the honored family blessing (Genesis 27). A man who had multiple wives and a favorite son (Genesis 29, 37). Who, despite his obvious flaws, remained faithful to God and was chosen to carry out the promise given to Abraham (Genesis 35).

Then, I notice Boaz, the man who cared for Ruth and Naomi, generously sharing his crops and offering to be the kinsman-redeemer—the one who could rescue them from a life of destitution. According to Ruth 1:1, Boaz’s story takes place “in the days when the judges ruled,” (ESV). This is significant because in the book of Judges God’s people often “did what was evil in the sight of the Lord,” (Judges 3:7) In fact, this phrase occurs seven times throughout the book. Yet Boaz was a faithful man who not only knew, but adhered to God’s Law. Boaz became the great-grandfather to King David.

A few generations later, I consider how messy David’s story was. He was an adulterer and murderer (2 Samuel 11), yet anointed as a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14). He was a man of war; filled with selfishness and pride and yet was faithful to repent from his sin (2 Samuel 12), worship God with abandon, and he wrote countless songs and poetry about God’s goodness and love.

In the middle of a list of names not recorded in other parts of Scripture, I come across Zerubbabel who is mentioned in the book of Ezra as one of the faithful Israelites who returned to Jerusalem. He was a leader among those who began rebuilding the temple at the end of the Babylonian exile (Ezra 2:2). When it would have been easier to stay in Babylon, Zerubbabel chose to go back to the ruined city and reconstruct a place of worship for God’s people. He knew and loved God’s law and remained committed to worship God’s way.

I know the genealogy is meant to point to Jesus’ eligibility as Messiah. He is of Jewish descent from the seed of Abraham and from the bloodline of King David—just as the prophets promised. But this time, as I traced the family tree, I considered how each generation followed after their father’s commitment to Yahweh.

This is the legacy of Joseph– the man God chose to raise Jesus during his time on earth. Who does God choose to be His Son’s earthly father? A man who exhibits great faith and trust in God, most likely a man who was taught the Scriptures and had examples of faithful men to follow.

What if this can be said about our own families?

What if our family trees are filled with branches growing rich with the fruit of faithfulness?

I remember growing up in a youth group and actively involved in a church in college that praised men and women for going out into the mission field or surrendering to the call of vocational ministry. While these are noble professions and callings, they are not any more prized in the kingdom of God than the faithful men and women all over the world who are serving their neighbors and sharing the gospel with their children.

Matthew 28:19-20, The Great Commission, tells us, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (NIV).

Going to all nations is a command we must take seriously. But if we all went to the ends of the earth, who would share Jesus with our nextdoor neighbor?

What if we took this command and applied it to the people within the walls of our home? What if we viewed our children and grandchildren, nieces and nephews as potential disciples of Jesus? Would it change our earnestness in our prayers for them? Would it impact our conversations?

We can be faithful to obey the Lord’s command to go and tell by leading our families God’s way, rooted in God’s Word.

Will it be messy? Absolutely.

Will it sometimes feel fruitless? Yes.

Galatians 6:9 reminds us, ^“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up”.

Who knows what God has in store for our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. We know He is (and will be) at work in their lives. But let’s not miss the chance to lay the groundwork. To model obedience and reflect on God’s great love and mercy.

Jesus told his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few” (Matthew 9:37). May this verse not be a reflection of us. May we believe that the harvest is ready in our own homes. May we be willing to go to work, trusting that through our faithfulness, God will grow our family tree with generations of men and women who love, trust, and follow Him closely.

Ideas for At-Home Discipleship:

• Share Your Personal Experience:
  • Share what you are learning about God.
  • Share what you are reading in Scripture.
  • Share a worship song that is especially meaningful to you.
  • Don’t expect feedback or reciprocation, just share the message that God has already shared with you. You never know how God might use it to encourage those around you.
• Read Scripture or a Bible Story Book:
  • If you have children in your home, or regularly see other young family members, read Scripture or a Bible story book aloud with them.
  • Follow the lead of the little ones by answering questions or reading another story.
  • Be patient and consistent if they don’t show interest at first. But the Bible is filled with fascinating stories! Most kids just love being read to, and will be thrilled to sit with you and listen.
• Memorize Scripture Together:
  • If you have family members who are engaged in their walk with God and you want to help them grow deeper, memorize a Psalm or another passage of Scripture together.
  • “Quiz” each other or recite it together before a meal or before bedtime.
• Text Out Specific Prayers:
  • Type out a specific prayer to a loved one and send it.
  • Even if they don’t share your faith, it can still be meaningful.
  • I once told an unbelieving friend that I was praying for her and said, “I hope that’s okay with you!” She responded, “It actually means a lot to me…that you care about me enough to go to your god on my behalf.” (You never know what seeds you’re planting!)
• Ask God-Centered Questions:
  • At dinner or bedtime, ask “Where did you see God today?”
  • Be ready to share about a moment God answered your prayer. Reflect on how you saw God’s character through nature. Recall a time you felt worried or sad and God gave you peace or joy. Be honest if you messed up and how you experienced God’s forgiveness.
  • Allow other family members to share how they experienced God and start a conversation about His character.
  • Other questions could be:
    • What’s your favorite quality about God and why?
    • How did God answer a prayer today?
    • What questions do you have about God or the Bible?
    • When God looks at you, what do you think He sees?

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