Read Matthew 1-4
Do you like names? I do, and I especially like funny names, wacky names, and meaningful names. For instance, my favorite funny name belongs to my friends’ father: Ivan Odor. For wacky names, I like the first name and middle initial that the Knight parents (who obviously were Star-Wars fans) gave their son: Jed I. For meaningful names, I’m partial to Obadiah, which means “Servant of the Lord.” One of our church volunteers chose this as his nickname, and it suits him well.
The New Testament starts with a list of names, and it can seem pretty boring at first glance. But look close: included in the list is a person who lied (Abraham), a man who impregnated a prostitute (Judah), a man who committed adultery and murder (David), a man who had sex slaves (Solomon) and a man who sacrificed his son as a burnt offering (Ahaz). Plus, the list mentions the aforementioned prostitute (Tamar) and the adulteress (Bathsheba, the unnamed wife of Uriah). Of course, it also includes stellar people such as Boaz, Ruth and Josiah. It’s all there in his family history: the good, the bad and the ugly.
Can you relate? Does your family history contain a few saints as well as a few sinners? The genealogy of Jesus illustrates the wonderful truth that God is bigger than any skeletons in our family’s past, and is able to work his will no matter how bad a particular person messes up. So read Matthew 1 & 2 today about the genealogy and birth of Jesus, and be thankful that as God overcame the difficult past and present situations in Jesus’ life, He can do the same in yours.
- Rick Stedman is the founding Pastor of Adventure Christian Church in Roseville, California.
