Nothing Too Spectacular

but God used them anyway.

This was the Truth that permeated Day One of my 30 for 30 Challenge as I began reading Matthew chapter one.

“The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren; And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram; And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon; And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias; And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa; And Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias; And Ozias begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias; And Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias; And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon: And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel; And Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor; And Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud; And Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob; And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.”

Matthew 1:1-16

Here we find a very long list of names leading to the birth of Jesus. Names like Abraham, Jacob, David and Solomon are names we’d expect to find. They are mentioned often in Scripture and there’s no doubt in our minds that the things we’ve read about them are kind of a big deal. We’d expect them to have a place in the lineage of our Lord.

But here in this precious passage we also read names like Pharez, Hezron, Salmon and Abijah. I highly doubt any of us have heard many sermons on these men and yet we find them listed as kindred to the King of Kings!

I thought about how they were probably pretty ordinary, nothing too spectacular, just like the next guy kind of people. Yet it was because of their place in Jesus’ family tree that He was able to be born of Mary who was betrothed to Joseph, the great great great…grandson of Abraham thus fulfilling prophecies made years prior.

Just as He has purposely placed us exactly where we are today, God specifically placed these people in His Son’s earthly lineage. He gave them a place there that was so very important despite the fact that their lives weren’t as recognized as maybe Abraham’s or David’s were. And in the midst of living pretty ordinary, nothing too spectacular lives, we don’t realize that God is using us too, in pretty amazing ways to accomplish much for the cause of Christ.

We’re simply doing what we know we’ve been called to do. We’re packing lunches and making beds, teaching classrooms full of third graders, getting up and going to work every morning, serving God in our local churches, etcetera, etcetera. We go about life everyday and it seems no one notices, but He does. Even when we feel like our lives are insignificant, this passage challenges us to realize they matter in BIG ways!

We never know what God will use our lives and testimonies to accomplish if we’ll only stay faithful.

He delights in choosing “the foolish things of the world to confound the wise;” and  “the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;” (1 Corinthians 1:27)

And as I read further already so encouraged by the Truth found in the first several verses, I read a few more names that struck me as unusual upon Jesus’ pedigree.

Bathsheba, Tamar, Rachab, and Ruth. First of all it is very rare that you find women mentioned in passages like this one and it is certainly rare that names such as these would be found.

Bathsheba’s sin with David had terrible consequences. Tamar had sons out-of-wedlock. Rachab was a prostitute prior to her conversion. Ruth was a foreigner from Moab not an Israelite by birth.

None of these women had very impressive resumes yet their names will remain forever etched in history as a part of Jesus’ family.

What a beautiful picture of redemption! Not only can He use us even though we’re nothing too spectacular, but He can use us in spite of our sinful, fleshly natures. This is not saying that sin goes without correction or consequence because we will certainly reap the results of our sin, but it is clear in these verses that sin does not disqualify us from being useful for our Lord. Sin confessed is sin forgiven, and He longs to make us meet for His use once again.

Oh what a testament to God’s marvelous and undeserved grace, of His wonderful ability to take what we would deem useless and use it to accomplish great things for His glory!

When our sinfulness causes us to harden in His hands, He loves to moisten the dry, cracked clay that He might make “…again another vessel…” (Jeremiah 18:4) I am so glad that He doesn’t throw the clay away!

If He can use women such as these, He can even use me!

I confess that I normally skip right over chapters containing genealogies, but I would’ve missed so much had I done that yesterday!

Every verse of Scripture was penned for our profit and we miss out when we fail to find Truth in each word!

So friend, remember that you matter! Your life is being used in ways you’ll never quite comprehend on this side of eternity!

Have a wonderful Wednesday! Be all you can be for the King!

“But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”

Matthew 4:4