Today’s Reading: Matthew 1:20-25

Imagine with me what it must have been like for Joseph to learn that Mary was with child. A marriage had been arranged and their future together had been planned. She was pledged to be married to Joseph. Imagine the disappointment and hurt he must have felt to hear that she was pregnant. We do not know who broke this news to Joseph, but scripture tells us that he was taking care of Mary even as he planned to break their engagement quietly. He did not wish for her to be publicly disgraced (Matthew 1:19).

Joseph was a righteous man. He lived his life according to religious law, always choosing to do the right thing. But when the law allowed, even required, for someone caught in the act of adultery or premarital sin to be brought before her community and questioned, Joseph made a different plan. We would expect him to react in hurt and anger, but Joseph’s righteousness was displayed as compassion and mercy.

Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment. – James 2:12-13

Joseph chose mercy. We do not know that much about this man who became the earthly father of Jesus, but we know he was a righteous man who chose mercy over judgment. He chose a plan that would protect Mary and her family. He would divorce her quietly.

As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” – Matthew 1:20-21

It can be assumed from the first thing that the angel of the Lord said to Joseph that he must have been experiencing fear. Perhaps he had considered taking Mary as his wife but feared what others would assume of him if he did. Perhaps he feared judgment would land on him and his family if he went through with the marriage. We do not know what Joseph was thinking, but we do know what he was feeling. This was a new and unfamiliar situation, and Joseph was experiencing fear.

DO NOT BE AFRAID.

At what point would Joseph have recognized that he was witnessing the fulfillment of prophecy? He was a righteous man who knew the law, and it could be easily assumed that he was also familiar with the hundreds of Old Testament prophecies of the coming of the Messiah. But it took a supernatural encounter with an angel of the Lord for Joseph to believe that there had been a supernatural conception. Joseph chose to respond in obedience and experienced God in the form of a baby.

All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet:
“Look! The virgin will conceive a child!
She will give birth to a son,
and they will call him Immanuel,
which means ‘God is with us.’” – Matthew 1:22-23

GOD IS WITH US.

When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus. – Matthew 1:24-25

Lord, thank you for the reminder this morning that we do not need to be afraid to walk in the way you have planned for us. Strengthen our faith and give us the opportunity to experience your presence today like we never have for before. Continue to teach us what mercy looks like, and increase our understanding of how you came to save us from our sins. Immanuel, God with us, we sit at your feet with open hearts to hear from you. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Matthew 1:18-19

As we begin a new journey through the book of Matthew, I am asking God to give me new insights. I long for my heart to take the next steps in my surrender to Him. As Frances J. Crosby wrote in 1880, I am asking God to write the story of Jesus on my heart so that I have a renewed submission to whatever the Spirit wants to do in me.

My plan for this year is to go through the book of Matthew, and then return to the other gospels after we have studied this apostle’s account of the life of Jesus. Some of these devotionals will be familiar from previous years and some will be new. I invite you to join me in studying the book of Matthew in preparation for the upcoming celebration of the birth of Christ.

THIS IS HOW…

Everyone’s story can be started with these three words. This is how Sherry came to be born to a young couple in Bloomington, Indiana. This is how that family came to know Christ. This is how Sherry fell in love with her friend, Scott, and they chose to get married. This is how their family grew, and this is how all five of them pursued God’s call on their lives.

The story of Jesus as told by the apostle Matthew starts with these same three words:

THIS IS HOW Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. Joseph, her fiancé, was a good man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly. – Matthew 1:18-19

THIS IS HOW Jesus was born.
THIS IS HOW the virgin, Mary, came to be with child.
THIS IS HOW Joseph decided to marry her instead of divorcing her quietly.
THIS IS HOW Mary & Joseph were in Bethlehem when Jesus was born.
THIS IS HOW Jesus was born in a stable instead of an inn.
THIS IS HOW shepherds and wisemen came to visit the baby Jesus.
THIS IS HOW Herod came to know of the birth of King Jesus.
THIS IS HOW the prophecy of Isaiah came to be fulfilled in the birth of Jesus.

This is how the story of Jesus began. So what is your story? How did you come to know Christ? What circumstances brought you to the place in life you are today? How would you finish this sentence:

THIS IS HOW ______________________________________(fill in the blank)

In a trust exercise, our leadership team went around the table sharing a little about our backstory. Where were you born? How many siblings do you have and where are you in the birth order? What is something about your childhood that speaks loudly into the adult you are today? It was a moment of honesty and vulnerability – a moment when we trusted each other with new information and purposefully began a journey to increase our trust in one another for the sake of our effectiveness in ministry.

Knowing where we have been, and how we arrived at where we are today, helps us gain focus on where we are going. As Paul Harvey would ask, what is the rest of the story? We have the opportunity to write the next chapter of our lives – our next THIS IS HOW.

Heavenly Father, we bow before you on this beautiful morning asking that you would see into our hearts. Lord, see the desire of our heart to live a life that pleases you. We thank you for our story, for the way you have been with us through the great times and through the difficult ones. We ask for a renewed faith as we study the gospel of Matthew, hearing again how you gave your Son for us — to be born in a manger and to die on a cross. May our hearts be open to any new insights you have for us as we read through your story! Lord, we bring to you the gift of our lives and we give you where our story goes from here. Father, take the pen out of my hand and write the rest of my story for me. I give you creative control of all my tomorrows. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Luke 1:26-56

There are five women in the genealogy of Jesus – five women with stained reputations, but also five women whom God chose to bless by placing them in this royal lineage. What would Jesus have said regarding his precious mother, Mary, the fifth woman in this genealogy recorded by Matthew? Let’s look at her story – a story of a young woman who was the object of gossip, speculation, condemnation and, best of all, the love of Jesus.

Matthan was the father of Jacob.
Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary.
Mary gave birth to Jesus, who is called the Messiah. – Matthew 1:15b-16

Mary — a simple young woman seen by God to be worthy of the task of raising God’s Son.
Mary — a virgin waiting for her upcoming marriage to the carpenter Joseph.
Mary — found to be with child before her wedding day.

Who would believe her when she said an angel appeared to her?
Who would be convinced she was still a virgin?
Who would be the first to call out for her stoning?

Luke tells the story of how Mary came to be in the lineage of Jesus. An angel appeared to Mary saying, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!”

Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end! – Luke 1:28-31

Mary could have panicked; she could have argued, “Why me?!!” She could have worried about her reputation or feared how her community might react. But Mary, precious Mary, responded in submission to God’s holy plan with a humility that is still highly respected today. Listen to the words of her beautiful song of praise:

“…Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and from now on all generations will call me blessed…” – Luke 1:46-48

Mary humbly traveled to Bethlehem in Judea, while far along in her pregnancy, only to arrive in labor with no place but a simple manger to give birth to the Christ child (Luke 2:4-7).

Mary humbly listened to the shepherds’ story of what the angels had said to them and kept all these things in her heart, thinking about them often (Luke 2:16-19).

Mary humbly presented her baby to the Lord in Jerusalem and was amazed by what Simeon had to say about the baby she held in her arms. Can you imagine what she was thinking when she heard his words: “This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, but he will be a joy to many others. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him. As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul” (Luke 2:34-35).

Mary humbly responded when the prophet Anna began praising God and telling everyone that this child was the one God would use to rescue Jerusalem (Luke 2:36-38).

At what point do you think Mary began to feel a little overwhelmed? She was human and would have felt the same things we would feel if we thought we had lost our twelve year old in Jerusalem during the crowded Passover festival (Luke 2:48). She was his mother, no wonder she pushed him toward greatness at the wedding in Cana (John 2:3-5). She was his mother, no wonder she interrupted his ministry with the desire to talk with him and spend time with him (Matthew 12:46). He was her son, no wonder she wept as he hung on the cross dying (Matthew 27:56).

What would Jesus have to say about this fifth woman listed in his genealogy? She was his mother and he loved her.

Standing near the cross were Jesus’ mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary (the wife of Clopas), and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.” And he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother,” and from then on this disciple took her into his home. – John 19:25-27

Jesus said very little while on the cross, but he took the time to respond to his mother’s breaking heart. His love for her must have been so great! Wouldn’t it be great to be loved by Jesus in that way? But wait, we are! Remember this conversation:

Jesus asked, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” Then he pointed to his disciples and said, “Look, these are my mother and brothers. Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!” – Matthew 12:48-50

This fifth woman in the genealogy of Jesus was no doubt loved and cared for by her son, but that same love and care was poured out for us when Jesus gave His life on the cross so that we might spend eternity with Him. Let’s consider how much Jesus loves us as we finish our morning coffee.

Today’s Reading: 2 Samuel 11-12, Luke 7:37-50, Psalm 90

There are five women in the genealogy of Jesus – five women with stained reputations but also five women whom God chose to bless by placing them in this royal lineage. As Jesus was growing up, I am sure his parents taught him the stories of his ancestors.

What would Jesus have said regarding Bathsheba, the fourth woman in his paternal genealogy? Let’s look at her story – a story that includes foolishness, adultery, intense grief and finally redemption – a second chance.

David was the father of Solomon (whose mother was Bathsheba, the widow of Uriah). – Matthew 1:6b

The fact that Bathsheba is described in the genealogy of Jesus as the widow of Uriah is a reminder of the sin that brought her into this family tree. Bathsheba made a foolish decision that led to a weak moment which led to a tragic death of an innocent man, her husband.

Late one afternoon, after his midday rest, David got out of bed and was walking on the roof of the palace. As he looked out over the city, he noticed a woman of unusual beauty taking a bath. He sent someone to find out who she was, and he was told, “She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” Then David sent messengers to get her; and when she came to the palace, he slept with her. She had just completed the purification rites after having her menstrual period. Then she returned home. Later, when Bathsheba discovered that she was pregnant, she sent David a message, saying, “I’m pregnant.” – 2 Samuel 11:2-5

David’s first mistake is that he was not where he should have been. It was customary for the king to be on the battlefield with the army, but David chose to send the Israelite army out alone. Bathsheba’s first mistake was similar. She was not where she should have been. Even if the weather was warm and a bath on the roof was permissible, she should have set up a covering to prevent anyone from being able to see her. Bathsheba would have been fully aware that she could be seen from the roof of the palace.

“Stay ever so close to me, and you will not deviate from the path I have prepared for you.” This is great advice from Sarah Young’s book Jesus Calling, and would have been good advice for David and Bathsheba. If they had stayed close to God, they would have been where they were supposed to be and would not have given into sexual immorality. Their union led to shame and an unintended pregnancy, which led to a cover-up attempt, which led to the death of Bathsheba’s husband, which led to their grief when their son died seven days after birth.

David confessed his sin to the Lord and, although there were still some harsh consequences, God forgave David his sin (12:11-14). God blessed David and Bathsheba with another son and David named him Solomon.

This is the story of how Bathsheba came to be in the lineage of Jesus. What would the young man, Jesus, have to say of this woman in his family story – the one with the “scarlet letter”?

When a certain immoral woman from that city heard he was eating there, she brought a beautiful alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume. Then she knelt behind him at his feet, weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing his feet and putting perfume on them.

When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. She’s a sinner!”…

Then Jesus told him this story: “A man loaned money to two people—500 pieces of silver to one and 50 pieces to the other. But neither of them could repay him, so he kindly forgave them both, canceling their debts. Who do you suppose loved him more after that?”

Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt.”

“That’s right,” Jesus said. Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Look at this woman kneeling here. When I entered your home, you didn’t offer me water to wash the dust from my feet, but she has washed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You didn’t greet me with a kiss, but from the time I first came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet. You neglected the courtesy of olive oil to anoint my head, but she has anointed my feet with rare perfume.

“I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.” Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven…Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” – Luke 7:37-50

If you can relate to Bathsheba’s foolish decisions and sinful behavior, if you understand the grief and regret she suffered, then perhaps these words are what you need to hear from the Prince of Peace himself — “Your sins are forgiven…Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” If you relate more to the Pharisees who stood in condemnation of the sinful woman who was kneeling at Jesus’ feet, if you have focused on the sins of another person or refused to forgive them, then perhaps these words are also for you — “Your sins are forgiven…Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Today’s Reading: Ruth 2-3, Romans 3

There are five women in the genealogy of Jesus – five women with stained reputations but also five women whom God chose to bless by placing them in this royal lineage. As Jesus was growing up, I am sure his parents taught him the stories of his ancestors.

Salmon was the father of Boaz (whose mother was Rahab).
Boaz was the father of Obed (whose mother was Ruth). – Matthew 1:5

What would Jesus have said regarding Ruth, the third of the women in his paternal genealogy? Let’s look at her story – a story that includes the loss of a husband and leaving everything she knows to go to a strange land, only to be treated as an outsider or foreigner. Ruth’s stained reputation had nothing to do with her actions and everything to do with the color of her skin and her ethnic heritage.

Just like Rahab, Ruth was a foreigner who took refuge under the wings of the God of Israel (Ruth 2:12). When given the opportunity to return to her family and their false gods, Ruth said to her mother-in-law, Naomi, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!” – Ruth 1:16-17

Naomi returned to soil that had been inactive in her husband’s absence. With no one there to plant the seed, there would be no harvest. Naomi sent Ruth out to gather what was left after the workers had harvested their fields. But God’s plan for Ruth was not for her to survive on leftovers, but that she would thrive in abundance. She had been faithfully devoted to both Naomi and to the Lord, and He was about to do something for her that was beyond her understanding.

In those days, the nearest relative to the patriarch in the family was referred to as the “Family Redeemer.” Boaz was a wealthy and influential man — a close relative to Naomi’s deceased husband, Elimelech. However, Boaz was not the closest relative, so he went on Ruth’s behalf and arranged to buy the land and take Ruth as his wife.

Like Tamar, Ruth was a widow who was left without children to carry on the family name. But God had a plan of redemption for Ruth, just as He had for Tamar. Not only would Ruth’s family be famous in Bethlehem, Bethlehem would become famous because of Ruth’s family.

The women in the town saw this union of Boaz and Ruth as Naomi’s redemption. She had lost her husband and both of her sons and was left alone with only her daughter-in-law to support her. Knowing that the Christ child was to be born in this family lineage, consider the powerful words of these unsuspecting women as they speak a blessing on Naomi and her descendants.

“Praise the Lord, who has now provided a redeemer for your family! May this child be famous in Israel. May he restore your youth and care for you in your old age. For he is the son of your daughter-in-law who loves you and has been better to you than seven sons!” Naomi took the baby and cuddled him to her breast. And she cared for him as if he were her own. The neighbor women said, “Now at last Naomi has a son again!” And they named him Obed. He became the father of Jesse and the grandfather of David. – Ruth 4:14-17

So Ruth was the great-grandmother to David, the first King of Israel and the one whose lineage would produce the Messiah. From the union of Boaz and Ruth, the ultimate Family Redeemer would be born. Because of our own sinful choices, we were slaves to our sin, but Jesus paid the debt and rescued us from slavery with the shedding of his scarlet blood.

“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” – Matthew 20:28

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. – Romans 3:23-25a

He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. – Ephesians 1:7

This is the story of how Ruth came to be in the lineage of Jesus. Though others saw her as less because of where she came from, God saw her as more because He knew where she was going. God’s plan of redemption was not only for Tamar, Rahab and Ruth; God’s plan of redemption is for us. No matter who we are or what we have done, Jesus is our Family Redeemer. Though we are poor and have nothing of earthly value to offer, He has paid our debt and delivered us from slavery to sin.

Let us worship our Family Redeemer — the One who was born and then died to offer us eternal life. Let us humbly bow down and offer to Him all that we are, along with all of our past regrets, so that we can walk into His future and thankfully accept His gift of salvation.

Today’s Reading: Joshua 2, John 8:1-11

There are five women in the genealogy of Jesus – five women with stained reputations but also five women whom God chose to bless by placing them in this royal lineage. As Jesus was growing up, I am sure his parents taught him the stories of his ancestors. He would have known Rahab’s story – a story that includes prostitution, deceit, dishonesty and finally REDEMPTION and a new life.

Salmon was the father of Boaz (whose mother was Rahab). – Matthew 1:5a

Tamar had disguised herself and acted as a prostitute one time in an act of deceit, but Rahab made a living from prostitution. Rahab opened her home to strangers as an inn or hotel in the walled city of Jericho. It was common for women who owned this kind of business to also offer more than just a place to sleep for the night, but to also offer their body to the strangers passing through town.

But this night was different. Her guests served the God she had heard so much about, the God who drew her to Himself in a way that perhaps made her feel loved and worthy for the first time. So when she received orders from the king of Jericho to bring out the spies, Rahab lied and said the spies were no longer there. To protect these godly men, she hid them beneath bundles of flax she had laid out on the roof and lied about their whereabouts. She lowered them to the ground out her window using a scarlet rope in order to help them escape safely.

Rahab’s desire was to live. But beyond the idea of escaping death, Rahab desired to REALLY live – to experience the kind of life the God of Israel could give her. She had heard the stories and her heart longed to be a part of what God was doing. This foreign prostitute had developed a faith in God in the midst of a pagan world.

So Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute and her relatives who were with her in the house, because she had hidden the spies Joshua sent to Jericho. And she lives among the Israelites to this day. – Joshua 6:25

This is the story of how Rahab came to be in the lineage of Jesus. In this story, Rahab risked her life in order to spare the life of two men of God. She walked away from everything she had ever known – the sin, the shame, the regret, the scarlet rope – and began worshiping the God who had always loved her.

A man named Salmon (a descendant of Tamar’s son Perez) looked beyond Rahab’s past and gave her a future as his wife. Perhaps Salmon remembered the redemption of Tamar when he looked at Rahab and was willing to offer her the same grace that had been extended to his ancestor. Together they had a son and they named him Boaz. All three of these names can be found in the genealogy of Jesus Christ.

What would the young man, Jesus, have to say of this woman in his family story? What would Jesus have to say of this woman with a history of sexual immorality? Perhaps Jesus’ thoughts went to Rahab when he knelt down and wrote in the sand:

“Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?”

They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” Then he stooped down and wrote in the dust.

When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”

“No, Lord,” she said.
And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.” – John 8:4-11

Perhaps there is a “scarlet rope” in your past that has kept you in bondage when God wants to use it for your escape. Just like Tamar and Rahab, God’s perfect plan for you includes redemption and forgiveness – new life in Christ. Or perhaps there is someone in your life for whom God intends deliverance but you are using the “scarlet rope” to keep them in bondage, unwilling to forgive or forget the sinful decisions they have made.

Jesus is stooping down and writing something in the sand. Listen closely. He is saying something. “But let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” Let’s put down the stone in our hand, unwrap the scarlet rope from around her reputation and offer her the same thing that God offers her — redemption, forgiveness, and a new life in Christ.

Today’s Reading: Genesis 38; John 4:1-42

There are five women in the genealogy of Jesus – five women with stained reputations, but also five women whom God chose to bless by placing them in this royal lineage. As Jesus was growing up, I am sure his parents taught him the stories of his ancestors. We know that Jesus was well studied in the law and history of the Israelites. He would have known the stories of all the names in his genealogy – both the family lineage of the man who was known as his father, Joseph, and the family lineage of his mother, Mary.

Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah (whose mother was Tamar). – Matthew 1:3a

What would Jesus have said regarding Tamar, the first of the women in his paternal genealogy? Let’s consider her story – a story that included grief, abuse, rejection, abandonment, prostitution, deceit and finally redemption.

God had a plan – the Messiah would be a descendant of Abraham and a descendant of Judah and a descendant of Perez. But Judah married a Canaanite woman, whose influence on his sons caused them to be evil in the eyes of the Lord. In spite of all of this, God continued to work out his plan. In spite of Judah’s sins of selfishness, God took the unholy union of Judah and Tamar and made a beautiful thing. Tamar was pregnant with twin boys. Zerah began to come out first, but God’s plan was for Perez to be the firstborn, so he caused Zerah to pull back and Perez to be born first.

When the time came for Tamar to give birth, it was discovered that she was carrying twins. While she was in labor, one of the babies reached out his hand. The midwife grabbed it and tied a scarlet string around the child’s wrist, announcing, “This one came out first.” But then he pulled back his hand, and out came his brother! “What!” the midwife exclaimed. “How did you break out first?” So he was named Perez. Then the baby with the scarlet string on his wrist was born, and he was named Zerah. — Genesis 38:27-30

This is the story of how Tamar came to be in the lineage of Jesus. In this story, Tamar is first a victim of the sinful choices of three men in the lineage of Jacob, but Tamar did not remain innocent in this story. Desperate for love, she devised a plan of deception that included sexual immorality. Instead of trusting God to take care of her, Tamar stepped out of His plan and created her own. What would the young man, Jesus, have to say of this woman in his family story? What would Jesus have to say of the man, Perez, whose birth was the result of a crisis pregnancy?

Perhaps Jesus’ thoughts went to Tamar when he met the Samaritan woman at the well – a well that was near the field that Jacob gave his son Joseph. Perhaps he was thinking of Jacob’s daughter-in-law who would have perhaps drawn water from this same well at one time.

The story of the Samaritan woman had some resemblance to the story of Tamar – multiple husbands and then union with a man who was not her husband. Her story might have included the same elements as Tamar’s — grief, abuse, rejection, abandonment, prostitution, and deceit. What we know is that her story was one of redemption.

If you have some of these same elements in your story, perhaps these words of Jesus are for you today: “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water…Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” – John 4:10, 13-14

God’s perfect plan for your life did not include a lot of the pain that makes up your story, but His plan for you has always included redemption. He created you and now wants to make something beautiful out of your broken pieces. He sent His son to be born of a woman pledged to be married to Joseph – whose family story was far from perfect. That same son died on a cross in order to complete your story – to forgive you of your sins, to redeem your past, and to plan your eternity. He is offering living water to you so that you will never thirst again.

Let us worship the One who was born and who died in order to offer us eternal life. Let’s humbly bow down and offer to Him our past so that we can walk into His future.

Today’s Reading: Isaiah 9, 11, Psalm 45, 66

Asa was the father of Jehoshaphat.
Jehoshaphat was the father of Jehoram.
Jehoram was the father of Uzziah.
Uzziah was the father of Jotham.
Jotham was the father of Ahaz.
Ahaz was the father of Hezekiah.
Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh.
Manasseh was the father of Amon.
Amon was the father of Josiah.
Josiah was the father of Jehoiachin and his brothers (born at the time of the exile to Babylon). – Matthew 1:8-11

Although his father committed the same sins that his grandfather had, Asa did what was pleasing in the sight of the Lord. He banished the prostitutes from the land, got rid of all the idols, and even deposed his grandmother as queen mother because of the obscenities she had set up. Asa’s heart remained faithful to the Lord throughout his life (1 Kings 15:14b). God’s people experienced peace during the 10 years of Asa’s reign, which allowed them to fortify their cities. They built walls, towers, gates, and bars, while King Asa built up two armies of well-trained fighting men.

Asa led the people of Judah in renewing their covenant to seek the Lord, the God of their ancestors, with all their heart and soul. The decision his forefathers had made to serve God was now impacting the entire nation as their example was followed and God was worshiped. They had set an example of what it looks like to fully follow God and their descendants were experiencing the joy of living in a right relationship with God — when someone seeks God and God faithfully responds.

All in Judah were happy about this covenant, for they had entered into it with ALL their heart. They earnestly sought after God, and they found him. – 2 Chronicles 15:15a

But when things started to heat up between the people of Judah and the people of Israel, Asa called upon the King of Aram for help instead of trusting in God. He missed his chance to experience victory and the time of peace ended as Judah went back to war.

The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. – 2 Chronicles 16:9a

Jehosophat sought after God, as his father had at the beginning of his reign. He was deeply committed to the ways of the Lord, and he became very wealthy and highly esteemed. 1 Kings 22:43 says he followed the example of his father, Asa. But his son, Jehoram, made the decision to follow after the examples of the kings of Israel and was wicked. The next few generations of kings rejected God and are not mentioned by Matthew in this genealogy — Jehoram, Ahaziah, Joash, Amaziah.

Uzziah was a successful king but gave himself the credit instead of God. He did not recognize God’s generosity, nor was he thankful for it. Jotham did what was pleasing in the eyes of the Lord, but his son Ahaz was a very wicked king. It was during this time of darkness and despair that the prophet Isaiah cast hope for God’s people that a Messiah would come.

“The people who walk in darkness will see a great light.
For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine…
For a child is born to us, a son is given to us.
The government will rest on his shoulders.
And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
His government and its peace will never end.
He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity.
The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!” – Isaiah 9:2,6-7

We can all probably look back at our own genealogy and see examples of those who made good decisions and those who made bad decisions. We can see the evidence of pride and self-reliance, but we can hopefully also see the evidence of those who followed God. We all have a choice to make — what legacy will we leave behind for those who come after us?

May Jesus, our Wonderful Counselor, guide our hearts toward him. Like Hezekiah, may it be said of us that we trusted in the Lord and remained faithful in everything we did. May it be said that we sought after God wholeheartedly. We have a choice to make. Like Manasseh, will we have a repentant heart and take the new start God has given us to make some major life changes? Or like Amon, will we refuse to humble ourselves and follow the Lord’s ways? I pray that it can be said of us that we had a heart like Josiah’s:

Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem for thirty-one years…He did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight and followed the example of his ancestor, David. He did not turn away from doing what was right. – 2 Kings 22:1-2

Today’s Reading: Matthew 1:1-7, Isaiah 11

Jesse was the father of King David.
David was the father of Solomon (whose mother was Bathsheba, the widow of Uriah).
Solomon was the father of Rehoboam.
Rehoboam was the father of Abijah.
Abijah was the father of Asa. – Matthew 1:6-7

As we continue through the genealogy of Jesus, we see several familiar names — people we have studied over the last 10 months of reading through the Old Testament. Of all the names, David might be the most significant. David was the first king of Israel and it was his son, Solomon, who built the Temple in Jerusalem, which became known as the City of David. Most of the songs or psalms in the bible were written by David, words we continue to use today to sing praises to our God.

There was a reason why Matthew started his gospel with the paternal genealogy of Jesus. The prophet Isaiah had prophesied that the Messiah would come from David’s family, so it was significant that Jesus was born in the lineage of David — both on his mother’s side and his father’s.

ISAIAH TAUGHT THAT THE MESSIAH WOULD COME FROM DAVID’S FAMILY.

Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot— yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root. – Isaiah 11:1

In that day the heir to David’s throne will be a banner of salvation to all the world. The nations will rally to him, and the land where he lives will be a glorious place. – Isaiah 11:10

Then God will establish one of David’s descendants as king. He will rule with mercy and truth. He will always do what is just and be eager to do what is right. – Isaiah 16:5

I will give him the key to the house of David—the highest position in the royal court. When he opens doors, no one will be able to close them; when he closes doors, no one will be able to open them. – Isaiah 22:22

JESUS WAS RECOGNIZED OFTEN AS THE SON OF DAVID.

The angel referred to Joseph as the son of David when he told him not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife (Matthew 1:20). Two blind men followed after Jesus shouting “Son of David, have mercy on us!” (Matthew 9:27). A crowd was amazed when Jesus healed a demon-possessed man who had been blind and couldn’t speak. They asked, “Could it be that Jesus is the Son of David, the Messiah?” (Matthew 12:23)

A Gentile woman who lived there came to him, pleading, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! For my daughter is possessed by a demon that torments her severely.” – Matthew 15:20

Two blind men were sitting beside the road. When they heard that Jesus was coming that way, they began shouting, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” “Be quiet!” the crowd yelled at them. But they only shouted louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” – Matthew 20:30-31

Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting, “Praise God for the Son of David! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Praise God in highest heaven!” – Matthew 21:9

The leading priests and the teachers of religious law saw these wonderful miracles and heard even the children in the Temple shouting, “Praise God for the Son of David.” But the leaders were indignant. – Matthew 21:15

“What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?” They replied, “He is the son of David.” – Matthew 22:42

DO I TRULY RECOGNIZE WHO JESUS IS IN MY LIFE?

So many people recognized who Jesus was — that he was the one they had been waiting for, the one who would bring salvation. The question for us is whether or not we truly recognize who Jesus is. We are surrounded by those who deny His supremacy. We are bombarded with arguments that he was just a good man. Many see the bible as simply a history book with no authority for how we live our lives today. But who do you believe him to be? Are you allowing this Son of David to be the Lord of your life?

Lord Jesus, as we begin our study of your earthly life, we want to start by recognizing where you came from and why you came. Help us to recognize you as clearly as the blind man did; may we acknowledge your power like the demon-possessed man did. Give us eyes to see you at work in our lives today. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Joshua 6, Ruth 4, 1 Samuel 16

Ram was the father of Amminadab.
Amminadab was the father of Nahshon.
Nahshon was the father of Salmon.
Salmon was the father of Boaz (whose mother was Rahab).
Boaz was the father of Obed (whose mother was Ruth).
Obed was the father of Jesse. – Matthew 1:4-5

We have very little information about Hezron, Ram, Amminadab, or Nahshon except to know that they were leaders of the tribe of Judah and faithfully gave their offerings to the Lord. There is not much said about Salmon and yet he is one of my favorites.

Meanwhile, Joshua said to the two spies, “Keep your promise. Go to the prostitute’s house and bring her out, along with all her family.” The men who had been spies went in and brought out Rahab, her father, mother, brothers, and all the other relatives who were with her. They moved her whole family to a safe place near the camp of Israel. Then the Israelites burned the town and everything in it. Only the things made from silver, gold, bronze, or iron were kept for the treasury of the Lord’s house. So Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute and her relatives who were with her in the house, because she had hidden the spies Joshua sent to Jericho. And she lives among the Israelites to this day. – Joshua 6:22-25

SALMON WAS THE KIND OF MAN WHO WAS WILLING TO LOVE A WOMAN WITH A PAST.

Rahab, the hero in the story of Israel’s defeat of Jericho, was brought into the family of God. She had been a prostitute and yet God used her in a mighty way to fulfill His promise to Abraham. Her courage and her willingness to serve the God of the Israelites not only gave her a place in the tribe of Judah, it gave her a place in the lineage of Jesus. This woman was rescued through the love of her husband, forgiven by the grace of her God and redeemed by the blood of her descendant — Jesus.

The Lord blessed the union of Salmon and Rahab, and they gave birth to a son whom they named Boaz. Just as Salmon had been the Family Redeemer for a woman named Rahab, Boaz was the Family Redeemer for a woman named Ruth.

BOAZ WAS THE KIND OF MAN WHO WAS WILLING TO LOVE AND CARE FOR A WIDOW AND HER MOTHER-IN-LAW.

This Moabite woman, who was raised by her family to worship false idols, made the choice to walk away from everything she knew and serve the God of her mother-in-law. Her dedication to care for Naomi and to worship the God of the Israelites led to her own journey of redemption. Ruth was embraced through the love of her husband, cared for through the compassion of her God and redeemed through the blood of her descendant — Jesus.

The Lord blessed the union of Boaz and Ruth, and they gave birth to a son whom they named Obed. Obed’s claim to fame is that he was the father of Jesse, whose story is told in 1 Samuel 16. As an obedient response to God’s direction, Samuel went to Jesse with a flask of olive oil and the intent to anoint one of Jesse’s sons as the new king of Israel. So in the small town of Bethlehem, the future birthplace of the Messiah, Jesse lined up his seven sons for Samuel to choose from. One by one, Samuel recognized that the Lord had not chosen any of these brothers to be king.

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” – 1 Samuel 16:7

He asked Jesse if he had any other sons and Jesse sent for his youngest who was out in the fields watching the sheep and goats. David was dark and handsome, with beautiful eyes. The Lord said, “This is the one; anoint him” (16:12).

JESSE WAS THE KIND OF FATHER WHO WAS WILLING TO LET GO OF HIS SON AND ALLOW HIM TO PURSUE GOD’S CALL ON HIS LIFE.

These men and women in the genealogy of Jesus were not perfect, but they were chosen by God. They were unaware that the Messiah would come through their direct line of descendants, but their influence was passed down from generation to generation. Have you considered what God has ahead for those in your family line? The decisions we make today have the potential to influence their story. What will they say about us? What story will be told about our faith?

Father God, we submit to your plans for our life. We let go of our own dreams and allow you to weave our stories into your story. Even though it is a harder decision to make, we also trust you with our family, and we look forward to watching as you make something beautiful out of the lives of those we love most. Thank you for this morning’s reminder that you love us regardless of our past, that you are our family Redeemer, and that you are asking us to give our loved ones space to pursue all that you have for them. Amen.