Tag: Matthew 1
The King from Heaven
Scripture reading for January 1: Matthew 1
“Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a Son, and you shall call His Name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:18-21
Joseph, son of Jacob, was a godly carpenter of the tribe of Judah living in Israel under Roman occupation. He knew God’s Laws and sought to live by them. His world view was shaped by his parents, his past history as a Jew, and by God’s Word. Joseph likely would have memorized the first five books of the Old Testament before he became a man at thirteen. He was a carpenter by trade and lived an ordinary life. He was betrothed to Mary, another of David’s line, when his world was shaken by the revelation that Mary was pregnant! Wanting to offer grace, he decided to divorce her quietly. But God broke into his world view through an angel appearing in a dream declaring to him, “Do not fear.” The angel explained that this child, to be named ‘Jesus’, was conceived by the Holy Spirit and would save His people from their sins.
How was Joseph’s world view challenged by God? What were some of the objections that he was being asked to overcome by faith? Would Joseph have been able to understand all the implications of the angel’s statements?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, as I contemplate these questions and this amazing story of Joseph and Mary and Your plan to save Your people from their sins, expand my world view as You did for Joseph and Mary. Help me overcome my natural tendencies and fears and to walk by faith in Your Amazing Word. Amen.
Daily Scriptures for Overcomers in 2016!
Scripture reading for January 1: Matthew 1
As we begin 2016, I have chosen, after prayer, to go through the New Testament again this year. I will do one chapter each day for five days each week and chose one scripture or short portion from each chapter and apply the verses to help believers overcome the world, flesh, and Devil. Let me encourage you to read with me through the New Testament or even the whole Bible this year. Ask the Lord each day for fresh manna to feed your soul and give you overcoming power and the joy of victory! It is the Lord who always leads us in triumph in Christ Jesus!
Key Scriptures: Matthew 1:20-23 “But after he had considered this, (divorcing Mary because she was pregnant) an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,”Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a Son, and they will call Him Immanuel”–which means, “God is with us.”
Joseph was a righteous man who encountered a difficult situation. His fiancee’ Mary was found to be pregnant and they had not yet come together! His natural thinking was to divorce her quietly and move on. But God broke in with amazing instructions that were hard to understand and would require great humility and faith. He was to take Mary as his wife and name the Son to be born “Jesus”. This angel also told Joseph that the child was from the Holy Spirit and would save His people from their sins. Joseph believed the angel and by faith, obeyed!
Observations for over-comers: If we are to overcome our fears and walk in victory, we must hear God’s Word and obey! In doing so, we, like Joseph, help our Lord bring His Word to fulfillment and hasten the day of His coming! “Abram believed the Lord, and He credited it to him as righteousness.” (Genesis 15:6)
Happy New Year! “Simply Jesus” in 2013!
Scripture reading for January 1st: Matthew 1, Psalms 1 Proverbs 1:1-7
Welcome to the fifth year of BibleTrekToday.com, a blog that comments on a personal journey through the New Testament in 2013! I would like to invite you to read along with me and participate in the journey for yourself. I will post the readings for each day from the New Testament and Psalms and Proverbs.
Our theme for 2013 at Good Shepherd Church is “Simply Jesus”. Key scriptures for this theme are found in Acts 4:10-12 and Hebrews 12:1-3 . Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation and His Name is the only Name with power for salvation and healing. Through Jesus, the Holy Spirit was given as the Father’s gift to the Church. The Spirit marks all who belong to Jesus Christ with God’s seal of ownership (Ephesians 1:18). The early apostles simply trusted in the Name of Jesus and experienced miracles and deliverance. May we learn to simply trust His Name for miracles and our needs.
In our journey of faith, we must fix our eyes on Jesus Christ, who is the author and finisher of our faith. (Hebrews 12:2) The times we live in may involve suffering, pain, persecution and even martyrdom. “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) As Jesus suffered and set us an example of patience and faithful obedience, we must also simply follow Him. Jesus has promised to never leave us and will walk with us through any trouble or persecution. In Him we will overcome the world as well!
Religious and spiritual deception is rampant in our world as well. “I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to Him. But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.” (2nd Corinthians 11:2-3) As we journey through this year, I am praying with godly jealousy over my church family against the deceptions of our time. Satan knows his time is short and is actively seeking to lead God’s people away from a pure devotion to Christ. Through a pure and simple focus on Jesus Christ, we shall overcome in 2013!