This time of year there are commercials for virtually every type of gift imaginable. I saw a commercial for one of those kits that you can get to find out your ancestry and it got me to thinking about our spiritual ancestry.

In Genesis 12 we see the call of Abram. God promises not only to bless Abram with a large number of descendants, but He also says in Genesis 12:3

“I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”

In multiple places in the Old and New Testaments we see the words "tribe,” "language," “people" and "nation" to describe God’s family. The focus of God’s family is on the people who make up His family.

We also see this focus in the Great Commission found in Matthew 28:19:

"Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit”.

That word "nations" in the original language is actually "ethne," which is where “ethnicity” comes from. It refers to all the people groups.

God is always interested in the spiritual legacy that began all the way back in Genesis with Adam and Eve, then Abraham and Sarah, through time Jesus comes through this line (Matthew 1). Then, at last, in Revelation we see all tribes, languages, people and nations worshipping together (Revelation 5:9)

Have you thought of how you might fit into the spiritual ancestry of those around you? Every opportunity we have to share the Gospel, to love our neighbor, can have such a lasting impact on our spiritual family.

Who can you start the conversation with this week?

~Michelle Negron