matthew 1,2,3
my youth is doing a study of matthew for the next 28 days, and i thought i would write some stuff along the way, for my DP members as well as other ymers (and for wandering visitors) we're reading one chapter a day, so i will try to be as on-schedule as possible :) [today's the 3rd chapter already haha blogger was down]
Matthew 1
now the genealogy in matthew follows Josephs's line, while the one in luke follows Mary's. it's interesting if you take time to study the genealogy of Jesus, because there are many people in there who are famous, for good and for bad things. in Joseph's genealogy, it's interesting to note that Jehoiakim was actually cursed, that none of his descendents would sit on the throne of David (Jeremiah 36:29-31). well that would invalidate Jesus being the King- if Joseph was the father. but Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit thus, Jesus is still King.
imagine yourself in Joseph's shoes, he faced alot of tough circumstances and still did the right thing. imagine: the person i'm pledged to be married to is pregnant, and I didnt do it so that means she cheated on me. and she's telling me that she's carrying God's child and that she's still a virgin! that would be quite hard to believe, but even to someone who seems to be a lying adulter, Joseph was still so gracious! he could have gotten her stoned for that! but an angel of God appeared to Him and showed him the way he was to take. we all need to learn graciousness, especially to the undeserving and those who hate us.
Matthew 2
let's learn from the Magi. they searched for God, and brought gifts and offerings to Him; nowadays we expect God to find us, to come and meet us and give US stuff! we are the ones that are to bring to God, not the other way around. it is true that God will bless us, but to receive in return should not be our motive in giving.
and having being warned, the Magi returned by another route. and they were obedient to it, likewise we should be too. sometimes choosing to follow God would mean we have to take a totally different path from what we expect and we should be willing and obedient to that calling. because God knows what's best for us!
Matthew 3
preparing the way for others, verse 3. even though Christ came already, this verse is still applicable to us; we can prepare the way for our friends to receive Christ.
we can do that by telling them about the gospel: how they need Christ because we are all sinners, and only Christ can cleanse us of our sins because He lived a sinless life and sacrificed Himself and took our sins with Him.
we can prepare the way for our friends by living in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ: that is, to live in love; to be at our best conduct all the time, to put the interests of others before us, and to always do things for the glory of God and not ourselves.
we can prepare the way for those around us by telling them how being a Christian changes everything: that there's meaning in living as a christian, because we are God's Children and have a purpose in life on earth, to live for God. (sounds boring but it really isnt!)
we can make straight paths for Him by helping our friends understand Christianity better, by correcting misconceptions that our friends may have- such as all religions can co-exist.
we can make straight paths for God by living right and not being a stumbling block to them. a christian who smokes, a christian who is addicted to drugs, pornography or women is a stumbling block because the bible teaches against these things.
prepare the way for your friends :)
Matthew 1
now the genealogy in matthew follows Josephs's line, while the one in luke follows Mary's. it's interesting if you take time to study the genealogy of Jesus, because there are many people in there who are famous, for good and for bad things. in Joseph's genealogy, it's interesting to note that Jehoiakim was actually cursed, that none of his descendents would sit on the throne of David (Jeremiah 36:29-31). well that would invalidate Jesus being the King- if Joseph was the father. but Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit thus, Jesus is still King.
imagine yourself in Joseph's shoes, he faced alot of tough circumstances and still did the right thing. imagine: the person i'm pledged to be married to is pregnant, and I didnt do it so that means she cheated on me. and she's telling me that she's carrying God's child and that she's still a virgin! that would be quite hard to believe, but even to someone who seems to be a lying adulter, Joseph was still so gracious! he could have gotten her stoned for that! but an angel of God appeared to Him and showed him the way he was to take. we all need to learn graciousness, especially to the undeserving and those who hate us.
Matthew 2
let's learn from the Magi. they searched for God, and brought gifts and offerings to Him; nowadays we expect God to find us, to come and meet us and give US stuff! we are the ones that are to bring to God, not the other way around. it is true that God will bless us, but to receive in return should not be our motive in giving.
and having being warned, the Magi returned by another route. and they were obedient to it, likewise we should be too. sometimes choosing to follow God would mean we have to take a totally different path from what we expect and we should be willing and obedient to that calling. because God knows what's best for us!
Matthew 3
preparing the way for others, verse 3. even though Christ came already, this verse is still applicable to us; we can prepare the way for our friends to receive Christ.
we can do that by telling them about the gospel: how they need Christ because we are all sinners, and only Christ can cleanse us of our sins because He lived a sinless life and sacrificed Himself and took our sins with Him.
we can prepare the way for our friends by living in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ: that is, to live in love; to be at our best conduct all the time, to put the interests of others before us, and to always do things for the glory of God and not ourselves.
we can prepare the way for those around us by telling them how being a Christian changes everything: that there's meaning in living as a christian, because we are God's Children and have a purpose in life on earth, to live for God. (sounds boring but it really isnt!)
we can make straight paths for Him by helping our friends understand Christianity better, by correcting misconceptions that our friends may have- such as all religions can co-exist.
we can make straight paths for God by living right and not being a stumbling block to them. a christian who smokes, a christian who is addicted to drugs, pornography or women is a stumbling block because the bible teaches against these things.
prepare the way for your friends :)
posted by jawn at
21:36
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