Matthew 1:1-7

Matthew 1:1-7
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Everyone's eyes gloss over a bit at the genealogies -- I cut this one off 9 verses before the end.  But there is a foundational message included in this genealogy.  Look at some of the names in here, and realize how broken some of the people are that are included.  Jacob was a thief who stole his brother's birthright.  Tamar was Judah's daughter-in-law that he failed, so she disguised herself as a prostitute and seduced Judah, and Judah was ready to condemn her until he realized that she was pregnant by him.  Ruth was a foreigner from Moab, a wicked place.  David was an adulterer who had a man killed so that he could take his wife.  Solomon was certainly far from perfect.  The list goes on, each person broken in their own way, each one pointing to Jesus.
  And that's my story, and it's your story -- we're each broken in our own way, but through the grace of God, we point to Jesus.  God is doing something miraculous through the people of faith, and he's redeeming us by his love, so that we can be included in this story. 
  So don't look down upon yourself because you're imperfect.  Don't exclude yourself because of what your past or your present looks like.  Look to the future with hope, and look to God with trust, because God can do a great work through you, no matter how broken you may be!