“Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide” Luke 2:10.
Also read Matthew 1:1-17.
The genealogy of Jesus mentioned some interesting characters. There is Tamar, who slept with her father-in-law, Judah. There is Beersheba, who had an extramarital affair with King David while her husband was on military assignment. There is Rahab, the renowned prostitute of Jericho. There is Ruth, who was legally banned by the law of Moses from ever having anything to do with Israel. These women stand in sharp contrast in their shortcomings to Elizabeth, Mary and Anna.
The men also offer a complete spectrum of humanity. The good, the bad, the faithful, the faithless, the proud and arrogant as well as the humble and self-sacrificing. We meet Abraham the father of faith, and Matthew is careful to put in Jacob (not Israel) in the list. Jacob was the deceptive trickster (as opposed to the born again Israel). We meet Judah, whose one night stand with a prostitute turned out to be the preferred lineage for the Messiah. Though we are often blinded by the accolades and achievements of David, we know he slept with a woman and killed her husband just so he can cover up his illicit moral failure. Again it was out of this most corrupt of all his marriages that the Messiah opted for.
As the Christmas story progresses, we see diligent shepherds and innkeepers doing their best and often getting too involved to understand the impact of the moment. We see pagans (Wise men from the east) scribes, scholars and priests who knew where the Messiah should be born but too lazy to walk the short distance to worship him. We see a King Herod and his court too blinded by hatred to adore Him.
It is not always obvious, but the Christmas story reminds us that we are all worthy of receiving God’s grace. We are all worthy of hearing the story of His birth and even much more of the salvation that He brings. It may not be the angel announcing it to us, it just be ordinary people like shepherds who have no theological training or the right kind of anointing, or it may even come from the mouth of people who don’t even practice Christianity. You are good enough to hear this good news! God will use any and every way possible to ensure that you participate in this wonderful story. The big question is, will you?
Don’t allow the moral failures hold you back. Don’t allow your political positions or your academic positions to hold you back. Don’t let business get in the way. Make this Christmas the one that brings you home to God. He has been waiting all along. If you have never made a commitment to serve Him before, or if you have fallen short of your commitment in the past, today is a great opportunity to worship the King again with these words:
Dear Jesus, thank you for coming into my world as sinful and dark as it is. I yield my spirit, my soul, my body and all my earthly possessions to you. Come dwell in my heart. I come as I am, please accept me. In Jesus Name. Amen.
#GOD COLOURS; TRUE COLOURS (A Deep Words Devotional Material)
#Celebrating the Second Anniversary of a great vision through the visionary, Aleele Paago.
***Please share with others and let it bless them as it blessed you***
Stay blessed.
©TRANSFORMING WORDS SERIES
(Transforming the World through the Word)
Also visit www.christapoet.wordpress.com every Monday to read your favourite TWS alongside poems from great poets.
Transforming Word Series 