Hey friend! This month, in addition to any words that God gives me, we will be studying the book of Matthew. Yesterday, as I was writing a reflection on the chapter that I read, I felt the nudge to post my reflection as a blog post so here we are. I pray that you will read each chapter and dissect it for yourself prior to reading the reflection posted here. Feel free to engage in the comments!
Chapter one starts off listing the ancestors of Jesus. You can read through His lineage at your leisure. There are four mothers that are mentioned in the ancestral lineup: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth and Bathsheba. The footnote in my Bible reports that these women were associated with sex scandals but are honored as the Messiah’s ancestral mothers. The inclusion of these women should provide hope for women who feel ashamed of their past or are outcast because of their origins. In Christ, God cleanses all our shame and brings us into His family. Isn’t that beautiful? This footnote healed a portion of my heart as I know shame all too well, and my background includes things that are not worth bragging about. But Jesus loves me and invited me to be a part of His family just as these women were invited in. And just as He loves you and invites you into His family.
After the ancestral lineup, we are taken into the birth of Jesus. Jesus’ mother, Mary, was a virgin and was engaged to Joseph who was a righteous man. She became pregnant via the power of God’s Spirit, and he planned to divorce her when he found out she was pregnant which was rightfully so since she was supposed to be a virgin. Joseph did not want to humiliate Mary or cause her death so he planned to divorce her secretly. (In those times, engagement was a permanent relationship which required a legal process to be ended. Also, Mary could have been stoned to death due to cultural standards.) An angel of the Lord came to Joseph in a dream telling him to not be afraid to take Mary as his wife due to the child being conceived via the Holy Spirit. The angel of the Lord also told him that the child was a boy, and His name was Jesus. Joseph married Mary. When the baby was born, Joseph named Him Jesus. Whew! That seems like a lot of drama that surrounded the conception and birth of our Lord and Savior. I love that Jesus’ background was a little rugged because it is more relatable to mine. I love that Joseph loved God. I love that he displayed such respect for Mary when he decided to divorce her privately. I love that God sent an angel to comfort Joseph and provide clarity to him during his time of distress. I love that Joseph followed the angel’s instructions and trusted the process. I love that he took on the role of father to a Son that was not naturally his.
The question, “What will they say or think?” had to have been what was on Joseph’s and Mary’s minds when they were both made aware that they had been selected as Jesus’ earthly parents. I am sure that you’ve had a few of these moments as well. And while your moments may not be related to the birth of a child, I am sure that they were related to major events in your life. It is important to know and recall what God says and thinks about you instead of what people say and think about you. Your past does not define who you are. God will use every portion of your past, shame included, as a means to show His glory. If you have not yet repented for your sins, do so today, and God will forgive you. If you have already repented for your sins, God has already forgiven you. Now it is time for you to forgive yourself. Join God’s family.
Real Talk with Keve 