Message One: "Gems Of Grace"

By Dr. Michael Guido, D.D.
Matthew 1

He never made Who’s Who, but everyone said of him, “He’s through!” But God saved him. One night he gave his testimony. In quoting the verse, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners,” he made a mistake and said, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save cinders.” How grateful we are that Christ Jesus did come to save cinders–blasted, burned out lives, and He gives them “beauty for ashes.”

As we turn to the first chapter of the book of Matthew, we see some blasted lives that He beautified. One was the writer of that gospel–Matthew. He was also known as Levi, and that means “joined.” He lived up to that name. He joined himself to the crookedest crooks, and he became the richest robber of them all. He became a despised tax collector for the Romans. He bled his own people white to satisfy the unquenchable thirst of Rome for gold, and he bled them even whiter to build a fortune for himself. Rome hated him, and the Jews despised him. He was rich, but wretched.

Jesus probably knew him, perhaps only too well. He had often been to his office to pay taxes. And one day He said to him, “Follow Me.” Instantly he left his stealing for soul-winning. He was called Matthew, which means “the gift of God.” He became a gift to the world, for he wrote the magnificent gospel according to Matthew.

In the first chapter of the book that bears his name he presents the genealogy of Jesus. Listed among them are some of the greatest of the great, but also some of the most sinful among the sinful.

One was Tamar. She’s introduced to us in the 38th chapter of Genesis. What a sordid chapter of sin. What a sinner. But that’s what you and I are–sinners. When our Lord came to earth, He made this statement, “I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Why did He say that? There aren’t any righteous. There are many self-righteous, but the Bible says, “There is none righteous, no, not one.” Tamar was a sinner, but she put her trust in the Lord. That’s how she got into the genealogy of Jesus.

Then there was Rahab. Her profession is given in the Bible. She was a harlot. Two spies sneaked into Jericho. They were discovered, and they ran to her house for shelter. When the king’s soldiers came, she hid them, and pointing down the road, she cried, “They went that way.” While they ran on their fool’s errand, she dropped a scarlet rope out of her window and over the wall, and the spies escaped. When the men of Joshua took the city, they spared Rahab and her family. Why? Hanging from her window was a signal–the scarlet rope. Putting her faith in Him, she turned from her sins to the Savior and became famous for her faith and works. Today she’s listed among the heroes and heroines of the Bible.

Then there was Ruth, a charming person. But, she, too, was a sinner. Being a Moabite, she couldn’t come into the presence of the Lord. But one day she turned from her idols to the Lord, and one of the books of the Bible is named after her.

Finally there was Bathsheba. She came from a God-fearing family, and married one of the king’s most loyal soldiers. The king fell for her, and took her. When she was with child, they were terrified. Together she and David schemed to have her husband come home. But he never came. Her adultery led to murder. David and Bathsheba married, but their child got sick and died. But Bathsheba repented of her sins. Being assured of God’s forgiveness, she didn’t let the sins of adultery and murder ruin her entire life. Repentant and forgiven, she used her mistake as a guide to a godly life. She’s listed in our Lord’s family tree.

Has your life been marred by mistakes? Don’t despair. Turn to the Lord in repentance, and He’ll make something of beauty out of your burned out life, and you’ll become a blessing!

copyright 2000 Guido Evangelistic Association

All Scripture verses are quoted from the New King James Version.

This series of messages on the books of the Bible were originally written for broadcast on Dr. Guido's radio program, "The Sower." They are collected and reprinted here for your enjoyment and spiritual edification. Go to the Sower's site for more at www.TheSower.com.