Matthew 1:3,5-6,17
Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah (whose mother was Tamar). 3 And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram; 5 And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;6 And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Uriah
17 All those listed above include fourteen generations from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the Babylonian exile, and fourteen from the Babylonian exile to the Messiah.
If you read the first 17 verses in Matthew chapter 1, you will find the genealogy of our Lord Jesus Christ! As you read through all of it, you will notice there are 4 women listed here. Tamar, Rahab, Ruth and Bathsheba. Four unlikely and somewhat unsavory women. Women with backgrounds that seem a little strange that they should be included as being in the lineage of Jesus. So as I began to study and ask the Holy Spirit to help me, I discovered a super abounding grace that could only happen when forgiveness and mercy are poured out. Women with imperfect lives like you and me or someone we may know. Now let me make one thing perfectly clear, there are no "perfect" people anywhere, no one could keep the law, not then and not now!That my friend is why Jesus came. He knew that! Think of all the blood that was shed each year as folks brought sacrifices to the priest to cover their sins. All the good intents of good works was never good enough and would never be until Jesus came and died for our sins. I believe what we are shown here is that no matter what we have done, God's Grace is abundant! Isn't that the most wonderful, amazing news you have heard today or in your lifetime! We do not have to live in condemnation, which I might add is the number one tactic of satan. He will bring up every sin, every intent, every evil action you ever did and try to convince you that there is no hope, and nothing will ever change, BUT, I love that word, BUT, here is where Jesus told us, He did not come to condemn us, but to set us free with His truth, with His mercy and His abounding grace.
So you see All these women were, in one way or another undeserving of God's favour and blessings, (as we surely are), but they nevertheless were blessed by God's grace and the glory of God, (as we surely are) was manifested in their lives through their lives (as ours are) being transformed.
As you read the following account listed below, take the hope that is offered to you, experience grace without condemnation. Accept what Jesus has done for you and rest in the peace that is sure to follow!
{Tamar posed as a prostitute and slept with her father-in-law to bring forth a son; Rahab was a prostitute and a liar but she trusted in God; Ruth was a virtuous woman but was by birth a Moabite Gentile; Bathsheba was another mans wife who bathed in full view of King David, ended up pregnant, her husband was murdered, and her child died! }
Wow, what a family tree, but Jesus was part of it all to show us the truth!
Be strong in the Lord and remember who you are in Him and what He has done for you!
Be sure and check out Spiritual Sundays, you will be blessed!
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