One Family in Christ

 Our Shared Story

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 1:1–2:17

“There is one body and one Spirit… 

one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 

one God and Father of all…” 

Ephesians 4:4–6 (NIV)

The opening chapters of 1 Chronicles may seem, at first glance, like dry lists of names. But in truth, these genealogies breathe with life and meaning. From Adam to Noah, from Abraham to David, these names are not just historical artifacts—they are reminders that God’s story unfolds through people. And if you are in Christ, this is your family tree.

God does not deal in abstract principles or faceless crowds—He works through names, through individuals, through people like you and me. The Chronicler roots the story of Israel in the broad sweep of human history, showing that the redemptive story spans generations, cultures, and nations.

In Christ, we are united not by blood, ethnicity, or language, but by grace. We are part of one global family—brothers and sisters from every tribe and tongue (Revelation 7:9). As Patrick Miller notes, “The Psalms remind us that the people of God are not defined by geography but by their worship and trust in the living God.” Our spiritual DNA traces back to Adam, through Abraham, and culminates in Christ, the true Son of David.

Alexander Maclaren reflects, “These genealogies are more than chronicles of descent—they are witnesses to the continuity of God’s purpose.” Even in seasons when God seems silent or distant, His promises continue, passed from generation to generation.

Matthew Henry reminds us that “In these names, we see both the faithfulness of God and the frailty of man. Yet God’s covenant endures.” Each person listed bore the weight of that covenant forward until Christ fulfilled it in His own flesh.

Walter Brueggemann puts it plainly: “To read this list is to remember that faith is not invented afresh each generation but handed on—tethered to memory, marked by continuity.” And now, we are part of that continuity. Not as spectators, but as living stones in the house God is building (1 Peter 2:5).

Let this truth reshape how you see yourself and others. That Christian in another country? Your brother. That woman singing in a different language? Your sister. You are not alone—you are bound into the great, unbreakable story of God’s people.

Prayer

Lord, thank You for grafting me into Your family tree. Thank You for a heritage that goes back through Adam, Abraham, and David—and for a future that stretches into eternity. Help me to walk faithfully in this long story of redemption, and to embrace my brothers and sisters around the world as fellow heirs of grace. Amen.