Daily Devotionals

Devotional: August 4th

For Reading and Meditation:
     Matthew 1:1-17

Our theme now centers on the only two books in the Bible which are named after women - Esther and Ruth. Although the two books are quite different in style and scope, there are several intriguing similarities. First, both books depict a woman who was brought by God into an unusual marriage. Second, both books are set against a background of great national peril. Third, both books teach us valuable lessons about the providential dealings of a great and loving God. We focus first on the story of Ruth. The first thing we must notice about Ruth is that her name is included in Matthew's genealogy of our Lord Jesus Christ. It was the custom in Israel when writing out a genealogy to list only the names of men, but occasionally, if there was a special reason to do so, the names of women were included. Good and godly though Ruth was, however, the real reason why her name is mentioned here is because she was among those who were the direct antecedents of the Lord Jesus Christ. She, as well as the others, are given prominence not because of what they had achieved but because of who they were related to - Jesus. It is a parable. Our real greatness in this world arises not so much from what we do but from whether or not we are directly related to Christ. When we are linked by faith to Him we are given a status that lifts us above the greatest of earth's categories. This is where real significance lies - in being related to Him. Never forget - you are who you are because He is who He is.

O Father, how can I ever thank You enough for bringing me into a relationship with Yourself and with Your Son? I belong - belong to You and thus to everyone else who belongs to You. I am so deeply, deeply grateful. Amen.

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