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Good news for a new year:
Good news for a new year:
January 4, 2016
Matthew 1:16
and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah.
New International Version (NIV)
                After hearing his family tree ad infinitum from his father, a little boy observed, “We sure come from a long line of ancestors.”  Well, we do.  Jesus, too.  Listening to a great sermon by our Assistant Pastor Joshua Barrett, I was reminded of how ordinary Jesus’ ancestors were.  Some of them, like Jacob and Rahab were notorious.  Others, like Manasseh were nefarious. 
                In answer to the question, “Why would God work through people like that,” we might answer, “Who else does he have?”  Matthew’s account of Jesus lineage reminds us that God can “hit a straight lick with a crooked stick.”  God chooses to use us not because of our goodness but because of God’s goodness.
                Good news for a new year:  Immanuel is still with us.  Christmas comes and goes.  Our God stays.  And Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today and forever.  As Joshua put it, “If God could use ordinary people to bring his Son into the world and bring him up, what extraordinary thing can God do through ordinary you?”  Good question.  Let’s find out the answer together this year!
Pray with me:  
Father, we thank you that you do extraordinary things through ordinary people.   We are not yet who we ought to be.  Thank you, though, that we are not who we used to be.  In this new year of 2016, we ask you to make us new.  You are the only one who can.  We trust you in the name of Immanuel, God with us.  Amen.
Scripture reading for today: 
Matthew 1

Our Read Through the New Testament in One Year guide is available at Tallowood Baptist Church.  Or click to download it!
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