Heirs According to the Promise

“…for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to the promise.” Galatians 3:29

When we read the family tree of Christ in the first chapter of Matthew,  we will see that amazingly there are four women listed. It was unusual enough that women were included, but they were outsiders, they were women who did not fit in. There was twice widowed Tamar, discriminated against by her father in law. Then there is the Canaanite prostitute Rahab who becomes a heroine by hiding Israelite spies. The Moabite Ruth is famous for being a comfort to her mother-in-law by staying with her. “Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God,” she promised. And then there is the infamous Bathsheba who entices King David by her beauty and is the reason the King has her husband murdered. 

Like a portion of a plant is grafted on to a branch of another such that they will continue to grow together, you and me, and Tamar, and Ruth, Rahab and Bathsheba, are grafted into Jesus’ royal lineage! In grafting, this added piece is called a “scion”, a young shoot or twig of a plant for rooting. Coincidentally, “scion” can also mean a descendant of a notable family. 

Thank You, Father, Your plan for Your family is more than amazing, more than miraculous. You take us, broken as we are, unfaithful, messed up people, and graft us into Your family, into Your heart.