Jesus indicated that those who follow Him will become like Him (Matt. 10:25). What does it mean to "be like Jesus" in today's complex world? Matthew paints eight portraits of what Christ-likeness looks like, including:
#1: To Be Like Jesus Means...
TO ACCEPT OUR ROOTS (Matt. 1:1-17)
Jesus' family tree hides nothing. His heritage was multiethnic and included several unattractive or embarrassing individuals. Indeed, the circumstances surrounding His own birth might have raised questions in the minds of some. But Jesus never denied His ancestry or allowed others to shame Him. If we want to be like Him, we need to understand and accept our roots in terms of culture, race, gender, and reputation. Moreover, like Jesus we want to avoid demeaning anyone else's heritage.
(from The Word in Life Study Bible from Thomas Nelson Publishers)