Scripture: Matthew 1:1-2
An account of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers…
Thought for the Day: One of the beloved pastors in our denomination, William Nichols (he died this past year), described this passage as a dirty trick. When someone makes the commitment to read the New Testament, they are immediately hit with a “dry-as-dust” listing of some less than perfect individuals. As you work your way through the genealogy, it feels as if you are walking through waste-deep oatmeal, though Dr. Nichols helps us see it in a different light when he writes, “Matthew’s reminder, through this listing of Jesus’ ancestors, is that God can take any material that is available and make something magnificent of it. As God once took the clay of the ground and breathed into it the breath of life…so God can take your life—as flawed and impoverished of virtue as you may feel—and make you a miracle of grace.”
Prayer: Many names and many stories, O Lord, yet you know them all. May their lives of redemption and grace inspire my life. Amen.
