What Jesus Did! 'No Hidden Skeletons' — Matthew 1:6-10

Friday, January 3, 2025

David was the father of Solomon (whose mother was Bathsheba, the widow of Uriah).
Solomon was the father of Rehoboam.
Rehoboam was the father of Abijah.
Abijah was the father of Asa.
Asa was the father of Jehoshaphat.
Jehoshaphat was the father of Jehoram.
Jehoram was the father of Uzziah.
Uzziah was the father of Jotham.
Jotham was the father of Ahaz.
Ahaz was the father of Hezekiah.
Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh.
Manasseh was the father of Amon.
Amon was the father of Josiah.
— Matthew 1:6-10 NLT

Key Thought

Nearly every family has a few skeletons in its closets, and you can find them if you open up enough closets! (For those not familiar with the idiom "skeletons in the closet," it is another way of saying that someone has some bad family secrets and tries to keep them hidden. One of the most significant "skeletons" is Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah and the one for whom David lusted, then had Uriah placed in danger so that he died in battle, and finally married her.) As a propaganda piece, the Bible is not very good because it doesn't even try to hide the skeletons - not even in Jesus' family tree. Instead, the Scriptures are brutally honest about the failures of even our greatest Bible heroes. You look through today's verses and you'll find some serious skeletons. It's as if God is saying to us, "If I can bring triumph through them and their failures, just imagine what I can do through you!" I don't know about you, but that surely is encouraging to me. I call this the principle of "Hallelujah anyway!" God's power and grace triumph over our failures.

Today's Prayer

Almighty God, I am thankful that your strength is made perfect in weakness. I don't want to stumble or fall in my service to you, but it is very encouraging to know that you have raised so many others up from failure and made them useful and holy to you. Please forgive my sins and empower me to overcome my weaknesses and sin. Thank you for giving me reasons not to give up when I do falter. In the name of Jesus, my atoning sacrifice and hero, I pray. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

  • Ephesians 2:8-10
  • 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
  • 1 Timothy 1:15-17

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

8 Related Resources by Heartlight

This Is Our Story, Too! (SOR 4.0)
Article by James Nored & Phil Ware
The more most of us examine our past, the more we realize that our family tree is full of interesting stories that have shaped our identity. James Nored shares about God's story through Abraham and David to Jesus and Phil Ware helps us understand the meaning of the story through the genealogy of Jesus.
This is Our Story, Too!
Article by James Nored & Phil Ware
We want our lives to be part of Jesus' story of redemption, and then we want to share that redemption with others! Phil Ware and James Nored continue to share God's story of redemption and focus this week on Jesus as the fulfillment of God's promises to Abraham and David and the genealogy of Jesus that displays God's grace.
To All Nations
Devo: What Jesus Did!
"This is a record of the ancestors of Jesus the Messiah, a descendant of David and of Abraham: Abraham was the father of Isaac. Isaac was the..."
An Early Christmas Would Be Nice
Article by Max Lucado
Despite all the mess and the complications, God came to live among us being born in a place where animals fed. Max Lucado reminds that Jesus, the Son of God, the Christ and Messiah, came to us in a manger in Bethlehem.
See All 8 Related Resources about Matthew 1:6-10

Illustration

Illustration of Matthew 1:6-10 NLT — Amon was the father of Josiah.

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Friday, January 3, 2025

Spiritual Warfare
A daily devotional about God's power for our battles.
'God's Power Over Death for Us!' (1 Co. 6:14)
"By his power God has raised the Lord from the dead and will also raise us from the dead."
Today's Verse
A daily devotional featuring a Bible verse, thought and prayer.
John 17:15
"My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one."
Unstoppable!
A one-year devotional guide through the book of Acts.
'Amazed!' (Acts 12:16-17)
"[After Rhoda left Peter outside at Mary's house in her excitement at seeing him, he] continued knocking. When they finally opened the door and saw..."
Daily Wisdom
A daily devotional featuring wise counsel found in Scripture.
Colossians 3:1-2
"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above,..."

About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

More What Jesus Did!