Daily Devotional

When the search for Ancestry became popular, my husband and I decided to take the plunge and send in our DNA for Ancestry tracing. Of course, my husband’s Ancestry came back 100% Italian.  My results were 51% Scotch/Irish which was a bit of a surprise to me. My 7th generation grandfather, James Greenlee came from Waterford, Ireland in the mid 1700’s to the American Colonies. His daughter was born in Virginia. My imagination went wild thinking about his journey across the Atlantic and the adventures in the new land…America.

More importantly, there is a whole new level of Ancestry to discover...in the Bible! The Bible contains history of my ancestors. I can trace my ancestry all the way back to Adam and Eve. My family includes Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Ruth, Hannah, Samuel, King David, Daniel, Mary, to name a few. WOW! I can read about their trials, their achievements and even their failures. I can learn through their mistakes and be inspired by their devotion to God.

Reading the Bible is not just an academic exercise. Reading the Bible is not just an expression of obedience. Reading the Bible is about connecting with my God by studying my ancestors. I cultivate my imagination by thinking about how God empowered David to stand up to Goliath and sling the stone that killed him. I think about the time Jonah had to think about his rebellion against God in the belly of the whale. I meditate on Mary’s obedient response to the angel’s news that she would carry the Son of God in her womb.  

The Bible’s riches are there for us to explore. The Bible over and over again describes God’s great love, His patience, His power. His works in the lives of our ancestors are there for us to investigate. Dive into the Bible’s treasures daily.  Learn about your Ancestry.  

FOR PARENTS:
1. Every year when my kids were at home, we made our annual trek to the Civil War Revisited. The kids would pick a character to act out during the event and dress up to assume the role. My goal was to infuse my kids with a love of history. I introduced them to wonderful historical novels. We enjoyed lively discussions about what it would be like to actually be there in that moment of time. Imaginations were cultivated, lessons in history were debated. This cultivated love of history also carried over into our Bible Story reading time.
2. Read Bible stories to your kids. Help your kids assume a Bible Character and act out a scene from the Bible.
3. Teach your kids about their ancestors in the Bible. Cultivate their imaginations by asking questions like: “When Mary saw the angel…how do you think she felt?” Guide their thinking through questions.  
4. Reinforce to your kids how special it is to read the Bible and learn from their ancestors. God wants them to think about their ancestors’ mistakes and be inspired by their successes. Draw their attention to God’s love through it all.

"English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers."