Today our pastor preached on Matthew 1. Yes. One. The genealogy of Christ. He went through the significance of those people, and how they played a role in the coming of Christ. Not every single one, but he pointed out that the only mention of some of those people was that they were in the lineage of Christ. (He named Shealtiel, which is one of the names I suggested for Seth, only Dusty doesn't seem to remember that. I think I said Shealtiel Zephaniah Hughes, or something like that.) Anyway, his point was that the significance of these people has nothing to do with their accomplishments, just that they lived, and fulfilled their Godly purpose.
Now, some of these people we know well, and not for great reasons. This also strikes me as interesting because I am shocked to see some of the names there. I mean, even David, for goodness sake. Could he have been farther from a Godly role model? Bathsheba isn't mentioned except as being previously Uriah's wife, but still, she's in there. Tamar, Rahab, Abraham? These people are not exceptional people...well, OK they're significant, but each was a sinner JUST LIKE ME!!! Abraham made stupid mistakes and terrible judgment calls JUST LIKE ME!!! Tamar and Rahab...yeah, I'm not getting into that. But it brings me to my point. I'm important. I don't always believe it, and I certainly don't always feel it, but I am. I'm important, not just to the people who love me, but to God. He thinks I'm perfect. He sees me as righteous because I'm washed in Jesus' blood, and that leads Him to see me that way. I don't have to be perfect. I will (and definitely do) make mistakes, but I'm forgiven.
Do you know who Kay Arthur is? Well, she's one of the leading Southern Baptist women speakers. Look her up, and you'll know she's big stuff. Do you know her past? Did you know that she cheated on her husband? A total Gomer style, from what I understand. God uses her daily to speak to women. He uses her past to shape who she is now. She isn't perfect, but she's forgiven, so she can lead women to good relationships with their husbands. I just think this is interesting.
I wonder how God is going to move me beyond my mistakes. I know I just typed all this like I'm super excited about where my life is going, but to be perfectly honest, I'm quite discontent. I'm searching for another something to divert my attention. I'm not sure why I'm looking for a diversion, but I am. A diversion away from my daily life. I wish I could be content with my daily stuff. That every day I could wake up fresh and ready to impact my kids and others that are around us. I suppose for that to happen...the freshness, I mean, 11:15 isn't really the time to be going to bed. Better now than later, I suppose, so I'm done.
Shealtiel Zephaniah Hughes?? Good Lord! I'm glad you settled for Seth.
ReplyDeleteYour comments on the genealogy in Matthew 1 parallels the comments in our Sunday School lesson here. Ordinary people, most never heard of before, many sinners. Just a cross section of humanity. Makes sense. Why would we assume that God would set up a "perfect" genealogy in order to put Himself into human form? If the genealogy were perfect then it wouldn't be human form, would it?
Understanding that God sees us a perfect, dressed in the robes of righteousness that Jesus bought for us, is almost impossible for most of us. We just cannot accept the idea of free salvation, we have to EARN it our subconscious tells us, and so we try and fail and worry and fret and never really understand the meaning of Christianity. Such a shame!
I have the perfect solution to a new diversion for you: an accordion! OK, stop laughing now. I'm not serious. However, this is a diversion for me and I am having a lot of fun with it, although my command performance at the Crider's Christmas party was not so hot. I keep getting better and better but it blows hot and cold. One day I play for an hour or so and maybe make a few mistakes at best. This I really enjoy. Other times I make a mistake about every two measures and it is really frustrating. (I was in the latter mode at the party.)
So...when will you be starting your accordion lessons?
Is there an emoticon for tongue in cheek?
What a "light bulb" idea! Just because you think you are insignificant doesn't mean you are in God's eyes. So many people say, "I don't have any talents or abilities. I'm just plain. How could God use me?" All the time, He is using that person to raise another generation of believers who may go on to accomplish much more than "Miss Insignificant" could ever realize.
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