Jesus taught that all scripture testifies about him so that in him we might have life (John 5v39-40). King David taught that it is only by living according to God's word that we're kept on the right path (Psalm 119v9). What then could be better than reading the entire Bible? Click the menu to read about the program, choose a month or Bible book - or just work through the blog posts day by day.
BEGIN WITH PRAYER
"Lord open my eyes and my heart."
Read slowly so that you take in. And as you do, turn your heart to God, thanking him for the good you discover and praying his will home for you, your family, your church and the world.
Wisdom to chew on
Understanding to grow in
Names matter. Writing around 60AD, Matthew had in mind a Jewish audience. And he immediately shows Jesus fulfils all their hopes. The number 7 in Hebrew thought represented completion. So the structure of 14 generations shows Israel's history was, in a sense, being brought to completion with Jesus' birth. He is descended from David, to whom was promised an everlasting kingdom (1 Chr 17v14), from Abraham, who was promised an offspring who would inherit Canaan and bring blessing to the world (Gen 12v2-3, 7), from Judah, who was promised one who would receive the obedience of the nations (Gen 49v10), and those stemming from the exile, who had longed for 500 years for a final deliverance from the oppression that had continued even after God's people had returned to their land. But there's more: Jesus came through Tamar's incestuous relationship, through Rahab, who had been a Canaanite prostitute, and Ruth the Moabitess, together with all manner of unworthies. So when he is conceived by the Holy Spirit and named "God saves" and "God with us," we start to see what it might mean. God has come in Jesus to save all who acknowledge him as the promised Messiah (which means "anointed one"), whether Jew or Gentile, good or bad, enabling them to share in his everlasting kingdom, finally free from all sin and oppression. As you read consider why we are given the detail we are about Joseph in v18-25.
Matthew 1
Matthew 1
Finish this reading by pausing to ask yourself:
1) What’s the main thing it teaches me about God or his purposes in Christ? Then praise him for this.
2) What’s the main thing it teaches me about his will for me or the world? Then pray that home.
Devotion to offer up
You could read this aloud and perhaps as a springboard to further prayer.