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We're beginning the second month. My prayer is that you are gaining new understanding from God's Word and that the Holy Spirit is speaking to your hearts.
Matthew chapter one is mailing the genealogy of Jesus. One of the things I love about the chapter is the fact that new non-Jewish WOMEN are mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus, the Messiah. I think it reminds us that although the Jews were God's chosen people, we were always part of His plan. There is a passage in Genesis where God tells Abraham that all people will be touched through him. (Sorry I don't remember the exact chapter and verse).
Also love that every woman named in the lineage of Christ would have been guilty of immorality in the eyes of man--but God judges differently.
ReplyDeleteI've heard people ask why Matthew traces the lineage of JOSEPH, when he's not Jesus's actual father. But I read a year or so ago where someone compared the begots in the multiple Gospels and realized that both Mary and Joseph are of the house of Joseph, and that in fact one of the lists that names Joseph names his father-in-law, not his father--but it's the same word. If I were more awake, I'd look up what it was . . . LOL.
In Bread of Life on Sunday morning before church, my notes say, "Abraham--not that far from the flood! tracing a lineage--a particular line of people--one line to Mary, one line to Joseph...." Hmmm... If I'd known we were going to be discussing it today, I would have written down more!
ReplyDeleteMatthew 1:5,6a. And Boaz' mother was Rahab who concealed Joshua's spies because she believed God! [Joshua 2:11b "...for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath."] let down the scarlet thread in Joshua 2:18,21 and was spared when the walls of Jericho came down, in Joshua 6:17,23,25, and Boaz marries Ruth, who obeyed her mother-in-law in gleaning and lying down at his feet; she is King David's great-grandmother. Wow!
Rahab, Ruth, Mary, all believed God. And it was counted unto them as righteousness!! Hebrews 11. And Joseph! Matthew 1:24 did as the angel of the Lord told him ~*~
By faith.
Hebrews 12:1,2 "...let us run with patience/perseverance the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of OUR faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising/discounting the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." Revelation 22:17,20b Okay I'm ready to preach now!