We have been tracing the family tree of Jesus, and it includes Adam and Eve, Seth, Noah, Shem, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah, Rahab and Solomon, Ruth and Boaz, Obed, and Jesse. All of these people were sinful and messy, but God continued to prove His faithfulness to His people and keep His promise to send a Savior to rescue them.
The next person in Jesus' family tree was a man after God's own heart. The Israelites wanted a king like all the other nations. God gave them what they wanted, and Saul became their king. Saul didn't obey God for very long, so God chose a new king. That new king was David. When David was chosen as king, he was young and he was a shepherd, but he trusted God.
David loved God and followed him and was known as a man after God's own heart, but he wasn't perfect. He made selfish and sinful choices that hurt other people. But when he was reminded that his actions were sinful, he repented and asked for forgiveness.
Could God continue to use messy people to continue His promise of a Savior? Yes! God knows everything about us and chooses us anyway! God's promised rescuer would come from the tribe of Judah and a future generation of David. This rescuer is perfect and would always obey God. Jesus is the rescuer, and lived a perfect life, died on the cross for our sins, and rose from the dead three days later so that we could be with God forever.
Lamentations reminds us that God is always faithful.
The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22-23
Read Matthew 22:37-38.
What three words does Jesus use to describe how we should God?
What do you think it looks like to love God like this?
Can someone say they love God but consistently choose not to listen to him?
Pray and ask God to help you love Him with your whole heart.