Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Daily Reading: Matthew 1-4

Reading Through the Bible in a Year!
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6 comments:

  1. UnknownSeptember 1, 2009 at 8:34 PM

    When the Messiah arrives on the scene He changes everything. Mary's heart was moved to willing and Joseph changed his wedding plans, all for the Messiah. We find in Luke that John the Baptist jumped in his mother's womb when Mary entered carrying the Promised One. The lives of Shepherds were interrupted, even drastically altered at the announcement of the Messiah. The Magi sought diligently only to find the Anointed One and fall down to worship Him. Joseph's settlement was dictated by the baby Messiah on more than one occasion. Even Herod's decisions were in response to the Messiah. Fortunately our decisions, like Herod's, cannot hinder the purposes of God.

    I say all of that because it is amazing to see the alterations that occurred in the lives of individuals because of the arrival of the Messiah. To which of these characters are we most akin in reaction to His presence? Many respond like Herod in rejection of the Messiah's appropriate position. He is, and will be regardless of our response, the King of kings and Lord of lords. Too often we go to great measures, as did Herod, in our own lives to reign supreme and maintain the dominion of our own hearts. Often we feel as if Christ threatens our domain. We must recognize first our tendency to be like Herod and desire to hoard our perceived kingship and second thwart any response of our thoughts or actions to dethrone the true Anointed One from God.

    I pray that we will be as the others in the Messianic story. May humble submission and willingness without limits dominate our hearts for the preservation of the Name of Christ, the Promised One of God. May we be as Mary and humbly submit to the alteration of every facet of our lives, because of the Messiah. May we be as Joseph willing to suffer ridicule or pick up our roots and move, for the sake of the Name. May we be as the Shepherds and Magi who's lives were responsive to the Messiah in worship.

    The truth of the Messiah will alter our lives. Will we live in spite of the Name or for the sake of the Name? FOR THE SAKE OF THE NAME!

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  2. TondaSeptember 1, 2009 at 11:15 PM

    I'm new to this blogging business, but I'm really excited about the prospect of getting more connected with my RRC family by reading the Word together and sharing our thoughts, questions and musings. Please take the time to share...even if it's just a few words. I want to hear what the Lord speaks to you. He is so faithful to send us just the right word just when we need it, and God could use YOU to encourage someone just when they need it most. Don't be intimidated or worry about being too articulate or gramatically correct - just share your heart....

    There were three words in chapter 4 that really stood out to me today. After Jesus had soundly defeated Satan in the duel in the desert, His public ministry officially began. Verse 17 says FROM THAT TIME, Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. It is amazing to me that Jesus never started preaching until the final three years of His life. In other words, only 10% of his lifetime was actually spent in public ministry, which leads me to ask...were the other 30 years spent somehow in preparation?....hmmm. In a way, there is a subtle message to our V.I.P.s here. If our lifespan is, say an average of 80 years, and if we followed the same pattern as Jesus, that would mean around the age of 70, we would just be getting ready for our most productive and fruitful years of ministry. Don't fall into the trap of wanting to retire to a rocker on the front porch. The Lord has prepared you and invested in you all these years for such a time as this. Let God use the wisdom and experiences you have gained through the years to minister to others in your golden years. Like Jesus, may the final 10% of your life be your greatest for the glory of God. THE LATTER SHALL BE GREATER!

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  3. "Virtuous Wannabe"September 2, 2009 at 2:39 AM

    Like Tonda, I am excited about reading the Word with my church family. In the first 5 chapters of Matthew, the thing that stood out to me the most was the fulfillment of prophecy.

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  4. debseverydaySeptember 2, 2009 at 6:07 AM

    I'm so excited about this opportunity to read through the Word with my church family!

    One verse in today's reading popped out to me and that was Matthew 2:3 'When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; '

    As the king went, so did his people. As Herod assembled the chief priests & scribes before the wise men, and the words of prophecy were spoken, I wondered what the people of Jerusalem thought. Hearing the words that a new King was coming from Bethlehem, why were they troubled? Why didn't they rejoice at the fulfillment of this most wonderful prophecy?

    I pictured the Jerusalem people as sheep following the wrong shepherd, and when that happens, you've only got trouble.

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  5. Joel GriffisSeptember 2, 2009 at 7:10 AM

    Matthew 1:21 - She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.

    I am not a fan of popular depictions of Jesus. I see him regularly painted as a poor, weak, beggar peddling around trying his best to get someone to take him up on his offer. This verse leaves no room for such. We have a powerful Savior. He upholds everything in existence by the word of His power (Heb. 1:3). He controls the weather, defies physics, and speaks life into dead hearts. Let's proclaim our Savior as the powerful, Sovereign King that He is. He has never failed, and will never do so. All of God's purpose will be accomplished (Isaiah 46:10), and Christ will redeem every last one of His people.

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  6. AnonymousSeptember 2, 2009 at 10:04 AM

    While reading these passages there was a few things that stood out to me. I thought it's interesting how chapter 2 talks about the birth of Jesus and the things happening at the time, and then jumps straight into chapter 3 where Jesus went to John to be baptized. I agree with Tonda, that maybe God was preparing Him for what was to come for Jesus and that's why there's not more said throughout His childhood.

    I like how John had a sharp tongue towards the Pharisees and Sadduccees, calling them "Broods of vipers!" He was so blunt to these so-called religious leaders, but when Jesus comes to him to be baptized, John totally changes. He becomes meek and humbled that Jesus came to him to be baptized, when it should have been the other way around...and John realized that.

    What stood out the most to me was chapter 4. Right after Jesus was baptized, the devil started tempting Him, especially while Jesus was hungry and weak. It makes me think, Why do we act surprised or shocked when things get tougher for us after accepting the Lord as our Savior and getting baptized? Do we really think it's gonna be like a cure-all pill once we accept Jesus? If the perfect man who ever lived, our Lord and Savior, had to go through trials and temptations while on earth, then OF COURSE we will have to face those things too! But just like Jesus had to do, we need to remember what is written in His Word and tell the devil to stop and leave us alone!

    After going through that test with the devil, then Jesus started His preaching ministry. Just remember that after every test, trial, or temptation that is thrown at us, God has a greater reward to share with us once we endure through those things!

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