READING: 1 Chronicles 1-2
I wonder what people would write about me if they had one brief line to describe my life. I read folks who say Abraham Lincoln was the “president that saved the nation,” or Tom Brady is “the greatest quarterback in NFL history,” or “Brother Jack was the best pastor we ever had.” Others say that Adolph Hitler was the “most evil man who ever lived.” If they had just one line, what would people say about me?
Today’s reading is a genealogy of the people of God, and much of these chapters is only a listing of names. But, occasionally a few words are added to describe somebody’s life:
- “Nimrod, who became a mighty warrior on earth” (1 Chron 1:10)
- “One was named Peleg, because in his time the earth was divided” (1 Chron 1:19)
- “Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the Lord’s sight” (1 Chron 2:3)
- “Achar, who brought trouble on Israel by violating the ban on taking devoted things” (1 Chron 2:7)
- “Jether died without children” (1 Chron 2:32)
Simple statements. One lines. Summaries of a life. Some people remembered for valor, but others remembered for evil. I ask again, “what would folks say about me in one line?” What would my wife say? My siblings say? My mom say? My students say? Pam and I don’t have children, but parents must surely add, “What would my children say?”
My prayer is that those who know me best would summarize my life with the words that describe Enoch in Genesis 9:24 — “Enoch walked faithfully with God.” If I get that part right, everything else will fall into place.
ACTION STEPS:
- Be brave: ask somebody to describe your life in one sentence today.
- Make decisions today on the basis of eternity. Live in such a way that your life reflects God in every decision.
- Be godly toward someone else today. Show Christ’s love — give others a reason to see God in you.
PRAYER: “God, let me live today so the summary of my life glorifies you.”
TOMORROW’S READING: 1 Chronicles 3-5