God's Royal Line

"The Lord confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant know to them." Psalm 25:14

When you think of royalty what comes to mind? I think of the throne of England. I picture ancient castles, red carpets, tapestries, jeweled crowns and golden statues. I picture Queen Elizabeth in her pristine hats waving to her kingdom from the balcony of her palace. I visualize in detail the wedding of Prince Charles and Dianna as she processed toward him enveloped in layers of taffeta and lace. I recall the scandalous stories of adultery that followed that day. I vividly recall where I was when I heard she'd been killed in a car accident and how I cried while watching her sons following behind her casket down the streets of London.

Jesus was born of royalty as well. He comes from the line of David, King David of the Old Testament. The king through whom God promised to establish his everlasting kingdom. It wasn't a perfect line of perfect people. David was handsome but considered the runt of his family and the last of a long line of stronger, bigger, more handsome brothers. Yet God told Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height...The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7).

David was a shepherd and a man of great faith. He was known for his many songs of praise (we know as the Psalms) and for his courage in facing his enemies, whether man or beast. He strove to communicate with God daily in the pastures, on battle grounds and from his throne. And, because of his great love and faith in the Lord, God chose to reveal His promises to David and establish his lineage as the one from which Jesus, our Savior would be born.

But like the scandals of the English throne, David had his own. He committed adultery with Bathsheba, got her pregnant and murdered her husband by putting him on the front lines of battle. Because of David's sin, a dysfunctional kingdom and family ensued. Yet, God forgave David when he confessed and restored relationship with him. God kept his promise and did establish His kingdom through David's line through his son Solomon.

We may not be born of royal blood but we're all dysfunctional in some way. We all suffer the consequences of bad decisions we've made or the scandals of past generations. That's how life works. But God gives us hope. Scripture says, "If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. " (Romans 10:9,10).

God doesn't demand perfection from us. It's impossible to ask. He doesn't ask that we look perfect on the outside. He only asks that we seek him with all of our heart. Why? So that he may continue to reveal His kingdom through us. How? By confiding in us; by speaking to us through His word; by conversing with us through prayer; by planting a desire in our hearts and by our obedience to share His promises to those around us in a way that comes naturally to us.