In case you missed my weekly vlog and were wondering where I was, I was skiing in the Alps and broke my pointer finger and couldn’t type. No, that’s not it. I was on a tofu diet and couldn’t find the strength to type. Nope, try again. Justin Bieber came for a visit and I couldn’t pull away from all his adoration. No, that’s REALLY not it! In all reality, I decided to take a Christmas break. Not nearly as glamorous as the other three, but it’s the truth. I had company, and was filling in at a store that needed extra help and was really busy, blah, blah, blah. I’m sure your season was just as crazy. Now, I think I’ve got this nasty flu that’s going around, and I just couldn’t find the gumption to scare you all with my flu-face!
Something that really caught my attention during Christmas season was my pastor’s sermon series on Jesus’ genealogy. Sounds exciting, doesn’t it? ☺ Actually, it really was. Hang in here, and I’ll tell you a little something about it.
When I was in my early 20’s, I was working at a Christian radio station. I was the Girl Friday, doing everything and anything they needed, including a Friday shift on the air. Pastors and laymen would come in and tape their show in our production room. One of my favorites was a young guy who played piano and sang during his program. One day, he asked if I would sing with him. Now, I had always sang in choirs and small groups ever since elementary school. But I cringed at the idea of singing a solo. So I told him “no”, with the excuse I wasn’t good enough to sing on air. I thought I was being humble. ☺ But he was sad. He said something about not waiting until I was perfect. It didn’t matter to me what he said, because I was confused at his response.
Now I get it. And here’s where Jesus’ genealogy comes in. Rob Duford, pastor at Orlando North Church, pointed out that women were mentioned in Jesus’ genealogy only four times. And three of those four were…ahem…a little risqué in one form or another. There was Bathsheba, Tamar, Rahab and Mary, Jesus’ mother.
Bathsheba was the one bathing on top of her roof when King David saw her. David had her warrior husband killed, took her as his wife and a bunch of other sordid details. (I think she may have enjoyed the attention.) Tamar pretended to be a prostitute and had a baby with her father-in-law after her husband died, so that someone would take care of her. Rahab? Well, she really was a harlot…a prostitute. Then there was Mary, Jesus’ mother.
Rob says that the author of the genealogy intentionally included those women–and only those women–in there. Why? Could it be because the God-inspired author wanted to send a message that we don’t need to “be perfect” before coming to Jesus? He wants us all, warts and all. The Creator of the universe wants little ‘ole me! With all my insecurities and a bunch of other stuff. (No, I’m not going to start listing them here—haha!) And He wants me all the time–not just at Christmas or Easter. What a profound and comforting message. He’ll take me as I am.
What about you? Have you ever felt like you weren’t good enough at something or for someone? Let’s hear your comments! 🙂
Laurie Barker Copeland 