"Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south, and in you and your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed." (Genesis 28:14)
We know that Jesus is the promised Offspring of Abram, now known as Abraham—he is the one that God said would be the blessing to every family of the earth. But what does it mean, to be the Offspring of Abraham? Besides the obvious, that is.
Well, it means first of all to be the child of a man who by all logic never should have had children. It means to be a miracle, born by God's promise—an unexpected blessing, a child who might grow up to do anything, anything at all!
But it means more. It means to be the Offspring of a man of faith, a man who chucked everything and went out on a limb just because God said so—and who lived to see some of God's wildest promises come true. Jesus did that, too. After all, He came down from heaven to become a Man, and why? Because God the Father asked it.
And it means even more than that. It means to be a blessing—the blessing, the One to bring all humanity out of the power of death and darkness. It means to be the One who "abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel" (2 Timothy 1:10b)—through His own life, death, and resurrection.
Because of Jesus, all the families of the earth have the opportunity to be God's family—to be born of the Holy Spirit, to become God's offspring. Jesus Himself tells us that Abraham saw His coming and was glad (see John 8:56). We are glad, too!
THE PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for Your Son Jesus, who makes us Your children. Amen.
Reflection Questions:
* Are you like your family or ancestors? If so, how?
* As Abraham's offspring, Jesus is related to the whole human race. What does it mean to you, to think of Jesus as your relative?
* Why do you think God wanted Jesus to be a relative of yours and not just a stranger-an angel, for instance?
Advent Devotions were written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Today's Bible Readings: Ezekiel 40-41 2 Peter 3
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