What Jesus did? - for January 4

The People Lost in the Credits - Matthew 1:11-17

Josiah was the grandfather of Jehoiachin and his brothers. (This was during the time that the {Jewish} people were taken to Babylon {to be slaves}.) After they were taken to Babylon: Jehoiachin was the father of Shealtiel. Shealtiel was the grandfather of Zerubbabel. Zerubbabel was the father of Abiud. Abiud was the father of Eliakim. Eliakim was the father of Azor. Azor was the father of Zadok. Zadok was the father of Achim. Achim was the father of Eliud. Eliud was the father of Eleazar. Eleazar was the father of Matthan. Matthan was the father of Jacob. Jacob was the father of Joseph. Joseph was the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus. Jesus is called the Christ. So there were fourteen generations from Abraham to David. And there were fourteen generations from David until the time when the people were taken to Babylon. And there were fourteen generations from the time when the people were taken to Babylon until Christ was born. (ERV)

Key Thought
In every great movie, there are the marquee stars that are almost as important as the motion picture show. Then at the end of the movie, many credits are listed for actors and "hands" who have helped make the movie possible. They are what I call the "people lost in the credits." Without them, the movie would not be the same, and very likely would have never been possible to make. This list of folks in Jesus' genealogy is not as familiar to us as many of the names in the earlier part of the list. Yet each person had a role to play and was a vital link in the coming to Israel of God's Messiah. While our role may not seem very large compared to others, God can make it important if we will give ourselves to serve him faithfully. To God, we will not be “people lost in the credits,” but children of the great King of Israel!

Today's Prayer
Marvelous and majestic God, you obviously love variety since you created so many different kinds of just about everything. I know that you uniquely made me and gave me a specific purpose and part to play in your divine drama of redemption. Please, dear Father, help me value my place in your plan whether it seems large or small and help me to fulfill my role faithfully. I don't want to envy the ability of others or minimize the gifts you have given me. May I bring you praise by living out the purpose you made me to accomplish. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.