Devotion # 1 - God's Choice of People - Matthew 1:1-17

Devotion # 1 
God's Choice of People
Matthew 1:1-17

Matthew begins his Gospel with the introduction of Jesus as both the Son of David (the greatest King of the Jews) and the Son of Abraham (the Father of the Jews).

He goes into great detail to mention names of certain people in his enlisted genealogy, denoting that God's choice of people does not always coincide with the choice we would have made, given a chance. Abraham lied about his wife being his sister for fear of his life, Isaac cheated to gain wealth, Jacob deceived, Judah was not the eldest son of Jacob, and he was the one who came up with the idea to sell Joseph off to the Ishmaelites, Tamar beguiled her father-in-law (Judah) into sleeping with her because she had no children, Rahab, who though a harlot, was saved by her act of faith when she hid the spies, David was a Shepherd boy, Solomon was the son of Bathsheba, who was Uriah's wife, Josiah was 8 yearld and was chosen to be king of Judah, and the list goes on). God seems to be indicating that He chooses people, not based on their lifestyle, but rather based on His Grace and on their willingness to trust Him to be made rigteous and this would then be evident in a changed lifestyle as well.

God's ways haven't changed today. He still chooses to love and use people you and I would not dream of choosing to love and employ; and the reason still remains the same - God's choice is not dependent on one's behaviour, but rather on His Grace and one's faith, that results in a change in behaviour. 

Looking at my own life is an example of this fact - I was the least likely choice anyone would make to adopt into one's family, but that's exactly what the Lord did, and then, the least probable choice to be employed in service to the God of the Universe, but that's exactly what the Lord did again.

It's with this introduction of Jesus that Matthew commences his account of the Life of Jesus and he continues in His Gospel, to reveal the amazing ways of God through the life of His Son Jesus Christ.

The following passages indicate the same truth:
  • 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 - "Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world's eyes or poweful or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And He chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the word considers important. As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God."
  • Ephesians 2:8 - "For by grace you have been saved through faithh, and thhat not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."
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Michael Collins


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