Tamar: You Matter to GodExemple

### God Is Not Ashamed of You Tamar’s life was placed on hold while waiting to marry Shelah. She must have felt forgotten and rejected when her father-in-law refused to let her marry Shelah, as promised. So she deliberately committed incest. The incestuous union produced twin brothers Perez and Zerah. God could have said, “That is it. I cannot allow such scandal in my son’s earthly lineage.” Perhaps God could have continued Judah’s lineage through Shelah. God showed mercy and Tamar’s story was rewritten. By inspiring Matthew to list her in Jesus’ genealogy, Tamar was given a place in history. God is not ashamed to be associated with those who have a dark past or come from broken homes. You may have conceived out of wedlock or you may not have been conceived the proper way based on the society you live in. Your life matters to God and God is not ashamed of you. Culturally, I was not conceived in the proper way. I was not conceived in a marital relationship and my mother was advised to abort me. God is working in my life in ways that assure me he is not ashamed of my story. Some of us were conceived in adulterous and incestuous relationships, through rape and other complicated circumstances. Tamar and her children’s place in Jesus’ genealogy is God’s way of telling us he sees us and is not ashamed of us. You may have unpleasant childhood memories, your family may be ashamed of you, and you might have made many wrong choices. God is not ashamed of you. He wants you to know you belong in His royal family. God does not require us to come from perfect families or be perfect people to qualify for a life of amazing signs and wonder. Something good is coming out of you because God loves you. Your sins, shortcomings, or how you were conceived cannot stop God. God sees you and he wants you to know love like you have never known. Accept God’s love today. Do not hold back or doubt God’s love. Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for loving me and welcoming me into your family. Thank you for sending your son, Jesus to die for me. Today, I accept your love and give up my shame. I lay my guilt, sin, shame, and inadequacies at your feet. Teach me to embrace your love. Let your love fill my heart this moment in Jesus' name.