We must decide for ourselves!

It is clearly evident that Jesus' ancestors were a mixed bunch of people - some were godly and upright, but there were a few that were quite the opposite. Even in a short list of names we can see the diversity of these men (Matthew 1:8-9): 

"Asa was the father of Jehoshaphat (good guy). 

Jehoshaphat was the father of Jehoram (not so good).
Jehoram was the father of Uzziah (okay - better than his dad).
Uzziah was the father of Jotham (righteous).
Jotham was the father of Ahaz (very dodgy)".

No matter how good a King tries to be, it is still the responsibility of the people to follow God or not. Jotham seemed to be a man after God's heart, but many people stubbornly chose their own paths, ignoring his example.

"Jotham did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight. He did everything his father, Uzziah, had done, except that Jotham did not sin by entering the Temple of the Lord. But the people continued in their corrupt ways." - 2 Chronicles 27:2

This is an important lesson for all of us: We can teach our family about the ways of Jesus, but in the end, we really must pray that they decide to follow Christ for themselves. We cannot have a 'personal' relationship with God on behalf of someone else.

Thought: When we stand at the manger this Christmas, we must each decide what to do with Jesus!

Living in Grace

D3LM3