The Bible is all about Jesus. The New Testament opens with his family tree. As we read the list of Jesus’ ancestors it is encouraging to see that they include Tamar (the adulteress), Rahab (the prostitute), Ruth (the non-Jewish Moabite), Solomon (who was conceived after King David’s adulterous affair with Bathsheba), as well as many others. Thankfully, God uses sinful human beings and, therefore, can use us. Whatever your past, however broken your life may seem right now, God can use you to do something great with your life. The very name ‘Jesus’ means, ‘he will save his people from their sins’ (v.21). Every time we use the name Jesus it reminds us that our greatest need is not for happiness or contentment (although these may both be by products). Our greatest need, as with Jesus’ ancestors, is for forgiveness. Therefore, we need a Saviour.

Question: Which areas of our family’s past or our own life need God’s forgiveness?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for this promise – that, in Jesus, I am forgiven and saved. Help me to focus my life on you.