Today’s Reading: Matthew 4:18-25

Jesus traveled throughout the region of Galilee, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. News about him spread as far as Syria, and people soon began bringing to him all who were sick. And whatever their sickness or disease, or if they were demon-possessed or epileptic or paralyzed – he healed them all. Large crowds followed him wherever he went – people from Galilee, the Ten Towns, Jerusalem, from all over Judea, and from east of the Jordan River. – Matthew 4:23-25

This is a great description of the kind of impact Jesus had on those who were living while he walked the earth. They had never heard anyone speak like he did or heal like he did. They would travel long distances to see this man from Nazareth who could free people of their demons and diseases. They would follow him wherever he went. Among those followers were Simon, Andrew, James, and John.

And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” They immediately left their nets and followed Him.

Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him. — Matthew 4:18-22

Simon Peter and Andrew were casting their net into the sea. This was how they provided for themselves — by catching fish to sell or trade. They were working hard doing what they did every day. James and John were mending their nets. Their means for catching fish was broken and in need of repair. They were working hard doing what they had been raised to do.

But this day was different. This day a man named Jesus invited them to put down their nets and follow him. Something about this man compelled them to walk away from everything they knew and begin a new journey of following Jesus.

The first song in my 2022 playlist is Wherever You Lead by Kristen DiMarco of Bethel Music. As I read through the fourth chapter of Matthew, the lyrics of this song wash over me once more.

Wherever You go / Wherever You lead / That’s where I’ll go / That’s where I’ll be / The moment You call / The second You speak / That’s when I’ll go / Step out and believe / And I’m gonna fix my eyes on Jesus / Walking with the One who walks on the sea / Oh, I’m gonna give my life to follow / Speak to me and I’ll go / Wherever You lead / Wherever You lead [Wherever You Lead lyrics © Bethel Music Publishing, Essential Music Publishing, Integrity Music]

Many of us have heard this story of following Jesus over and over again throughout our lifetime — so much so that the reality of the disciples’ decision is somehow lost on us. Do we fully understand what they were willing to walk away from in order to follow Jesus? Maybe they were content, successful, and pleased with their routine. What prompted them to let go of everything they knew to walk into the unknown.

So much of my life has been spent watching my father say yes to the next direction from God, and then joining my husband in responding to what God is calling us towards. Each chapter has brought joy, and we have quickly settled into our new home and our new life. God has been faithful, and God will continue to be faithful.

When Jesus calls us to follow Him, He requires us to step out of our comfort zone and believe that His ways are greater than our own. We daily choose to give our lives to whatever He has for us and we follow wherever He leads — eyes fixed on Jesus and ready to say yes to the next invitation. This is the kind of impact Jesus wants to have on each of us; this is the life of obedience Jesus is calling us to.

Today’s Reading: Matthew 4:12-22

When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he left Judea and returned to Galilee. — Matthew 4:12

It was time for Jesus to start his ministry. With John no longer available to preach the message of repentance to a lost and dying world, Jesus picked up where John had left off with the same message — “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near” (Matthew 4:17).

The impact of Jesus’ presence and his message of repentance was significant. As the prophet Isaiah had said hundreds of years before: “In the land of Zebulun and of Naphtali, beside the sea, beyond the Jordan River, in Galilee where so many Gentiles live, the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light. And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow, a light has shined” (Matthew 4:15-16).

I believe there is significance in where Jesus chose to begin his ministry. He went first to Nazareth, his hometown. Then he traveled to Capernaum and became a light for those who had been sitting in darkness for so long — the Gentiles. His message of repentance and hope was not just for the Jewish people, but also for the Gentiles. Throughout his life, Jesus would continue to show that he had come to save ALL people from their sins, both Jews and Gentiles. His gift of salvation was for me and for you.

WHERE DEATH CASTS ITS SHADOW, A LIGHT HAS SHINED.

Have you ever experienced the shadow of death? Have you been close to death but survived to tell the story? Have you sat by a loved one and watched them slowly slip from this world into the next? Have you experienced the darkness of death’s shadow?

Today is the anniversary of our last day on earth with my father. All the memories of those last few days have been vivid this week, taking me back to the room where we gathered together in anticipation of his last breath. As we sat in the shadow of death, we spoke of the hope of eternal life. We grieved our loss while celebrating that my father would no longer be confined to a body devastated by Parkinson’s. The light of Jesus filled our hearts as we sang around his bed and released our patriarch into the hands of God.

Where death casts its shadow, a light shines. As a young man, my father had received the message of salvation and gave his life to the Lord. He walked away from his career in library science, put down all the work he had done on his dissertation, and began to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to others — “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”

And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” They immediately left their nets and followed Him.

Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him. — Matthew 4:18-22

My father experienced the light of Jesus when he recognized his need for a Savior and asked for his sins to be forgiven. My father testified of this light to others, bringing countless people to a place of repentance and hope. And even during his 15 year battle with a cruel and debilitating disease, he walked in the light. Where death casts its shadow, a light shines.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. — Psalm 23:4

Lord, thank you for bringing your light into the darkness of this broken world. Thank you for your comfort when we find ourselves in the valley of the shadow of death. I pray for those who have just received a cancer diagnosis, who are still grieving the loss of their loved one, or the loss of their marriage, job, or identity. I pray you give hope to those who are walking that journey of loss even now, and replace their sorrow with a peace that can only come from you. May our prayer this morning be that we are willing to go wherever you lead, even when death has cast its shadow.

Today’s Reading: Matthew 4:1-11

The Lord has been working with me on my relationship to food, pointing out how often I seek food for comfort and coffee for energy. He challenges my way of thinking about food, reminding me to start eating to live instead of living to eat. So what would it look like if I cut back on my caffeine intake and started saying no to the sweet temptations of this world? What if I focused on what was good for my body rather than on what foods bring me joy? I am inspired by the way Jesus handled temptation and appreciate today’s reminder that it is God’s word that brings lasting satisfaction.

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry. – Matthew 4:1

Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted. God was not tempting Jesus but He was allowing Jesus to go through a time of temptation, just as He allows us to experience temptation.

When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. – James 1:13-14

By fasting through this time of temptation, Jesus was showing his intention to depend on God and God only for his strength. He was giving God his full attention, away from the distractions of his daily life and away from the satisfactions of the earth’s nourishments.

Jesus was able to say no to temptation because his focus was on God. Knowing Jesus would be hungry, Satan tried to play on this weakness in order to take advantage of his vulnerability, just as Satan tempts us where we are the most vulnerable or weak.

During that time the devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.”

But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” – Matthew 4:3-4

Jesus’ response to each of the temptations was to quote Scripture, a great model for how we can handle temptation. So if God’s word sustains us through the difficult times, shouldn’t we spend time in His presence soaking in what He says? Shouldn’t we study the word and be prepared by knowing the Scripture in order to be equipped to use them when the moment of temptation arrives?

“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” – Matthew 26:41

Father God, we ask that your Spirit would lead us through the times in our lives when we are tempted to find satisfaction in the things of this world. As we soon celebrate Christmas with the tradition of giving and receiving gifts, bring us back to the true meaning of your birth. Remind us that the things of this world can only sustain us for a short time. Help us to rest in the knowledge that your living water can quench our thirst so that we never go thirsty again. Give us eyes to see the areas of our life in which we are focused too much on the taste of earth’s pleasures. Fill us with the sweet aroma of your presence and satisfy us with the taste of your scriptures. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Matthew 3:13-17

God had a magnificent plan for John the Baptist, yet John remained humble. He was given the role of preparing Israel for the coming of their Messiah, he was given the honor of seeing Jesus revealed as the Son of God, and he was given the privilege of introducing the Lamb of God to the very people whose sins Jesus would die for.

John could have thought too much of himself but he knew he was also one who needed a Savior, and that knowledge kept him humble. He could have said, “Jesus is my cousin! God has chosen this relative of mine to bring salvation!” But instead he left himself out of the introduction and simply said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

It seems to me that John told half the story of Jesus’ baptism and Matthew told the other half. Therefore, I am going to combine both passages so that we can get an idea of how this took place:

John told them, “I baptize with water, but right here in the crowd is someone you do not recognize. Though his ministry follows mine, I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandal.” – John 1:26-27

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! He is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘A man is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’ I did not recognize him as the Messiah, but I have been baptizing with water so that he might be revealed to Israel.’” – John 1:29-31

Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. But John tried to talk him out of it. “I am the one who needs to be baptized by you,” he said, “so why are you coming to me?” But Jesus said, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.” So John agreed to baptize him.

After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.” – Matthew 3:13-17

Then John testified, “I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him. I didn’t know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the Chosen One of God.’” – John 1:32-34

The study Bible I use points out that the language John the Baptist used when he referred to Jesus as “the Chosen One of God” and the language God used when He said “This is my dearly loved Son” is the same language used in Isaiah 42:1: “Look at my servant, whom I strengthen. He is my chosen one, who pleases me. I have put my Spirit upon him. He will bring justice to the nations.”

Just as God had a plan for John the Baptist, who remained humble in carrying out God’s will for his life, we should also remain humble. What God calls us to do, the position He places us in and the things He calls us to, NONE OF IT IS ABOUT US. It’s about Him – the Chosen One of God, the Dearly Loved Son. It was for our sins that Jesus died, and so we come to Him as a humble servant, ready to be used however He desires — for His glory and not ours.

Thank you for dying for my sins.
Thank you for carrying my weaknesses and my sorrows,
for being pierced for my rebellion, crushed for my sins.
I am whole because you were beaten;
I am healed because you were whipped.
There have been so many times I have gone astray and left your path to follow my own, yet you willingly bore my sins and interceded for my rebellious heart. This morning I submit to your path and give you all the praise and glory for where this path takes me. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Matthew 3:1-12

And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River. – Matthew 3:6

John the Baptist was called by God to prepare the way for the Lord by preaching a strong message of repentance. He baptized men and women who confessed their sins and repented of their ways. The purpose of baptism wasn’t just to experience a spiritual moment of cleansing, it was to proclaim that this individual was dying to their old way of life and ready to turn to God in submission.

I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am — so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. – Matthew 3:11

John the Baptist preached a message of repentance, calling people to make changes in their lives. He was preparing the way for Jesus, who would baptize with the Holy Spirit. With the Spirit’s involvement, life changes do not have to be manufactured by our own human effort. The Spirit comes in and begins to change the desires of our heart. This change in our heart creates a change in our behavior and others begin to notice.

Then John went from place to place on both sides of the Jordan River, preaching that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven. – Luke 3:3

The physical act of baptism is a symbol of the spiritual transformation that takes place when we repent and seek forgiveness. There is nothing about the water that changes us, but baptism is a symbolic way of testifying to the change that has taken place. It is meant to be a genuine reflection of our changing behavior and Christlike attitudes.

But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to watch him baptize, he denounced them. “You brood of snakes!” he exclaimed. “Who warned you to flee the coming wrath? Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. 9 Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones. – Matthew 3:7-9

Authentic life transformation is evident by the fruit produced in our lives by the Spirit. We then become useful for building God’s Kingdom and responding to what He is calling us to do, just as John the Baptist lived out his call in obedience.

Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire. – Matthew 3:10

WHAT SHOULD WE DO?

The people responded to the message of John the Baptist with hearts willing to change. Now what should we do? How can we show that our hearts are open to whatever God has for us. John the Baptist responded by describing the physical actions that would reflect the heart transformation (Luke 3:10-14):

If you have more than you need, give your excess to the poor.
If you have food, share it with those who are hungry.
Stop taking more than you need.
Be content with what you have instead of craving more.

Lord, we thank you so much for the changes your Spirit made in our lives when we made the decision to repent of our sinful ways and turn fully to you. We rejoice over the transformation you have made and give you the glory for the fruit that is being produced in our relationship with you. Lord, we give you this day and we invite you to continue to make changes in us. We love you! Amen.

Today’s Reading: Matthew 2:13-23

When he learned of Mary’s pregnancy, Joseph planned to divorce Mary quietly. If he did not draw attention to the situation, perhaps he would be spared the embarrassment and she would be saved the shame. Joseph was a good man and did not want Mary to be publicly disgraced.

An angel appeared to Joseph in a dream telling him not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife. This child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit and would save his people from their sins. Joseph was to marry her and name the baby Jesus. When he woke up from the dream, Joseph chose to believe and do everything the Lord had commanded him to do. He respectfully cared for her and faithfully obeyed the instructions he had been given (Matthew 1:18-25).

An angel appeared to Joseph in a dream again after the wisemen came to visit Jesus.

“Get up! Flee to Egypt with the child and his mother,” the angel said. “Stay there until I tell you to return, because Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” – Matthew 2:13b

Joseph was not just told to move to another home, he was told to flee — to run away from the danger that was headed their direction. There was a sense of urgency and a strong need for Joseph to respond without delay. The same man of God who woke up and did exactly what the Lord had told him to do when he took Mary as his wife was now responding again in obedience.

That night Joseph left for Egypt with the child and Mary, his mother, and they stayed there until Herod’s death. This fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: “I called my Son out of Egypt.” – Matthew 2:14-15

At times God calls us to respond without delay. Not tomorrow, not next week, not whenever you get around to it. This moment requires an undelayed response. Joseph left Egypt that night. He took only the time needed to gather together his family and then quickly moved them to safety, just as the angel had commanded them to do. And then he stayed.

Just as easily as he had responded to God’s command to flee, Joseph obediently stayed where God had told him to stay. To stay is to remain where you are; to stay is to stand firm, to take residence, and to wait. The same strength that equipped Joseph to run to safety also equipped him to rest where God had placed him.

What is God telling you to do right now? Is He telling you that it is time to move on in an area of your life? Or perhaps there is a sense of urgency and you are hearing the Lord tell you to flee — to run away from a situation or to move away from a dangerous environment or a toxic relationship. Will you respond without delay even if it is the hardest thing you have ever done?

Or perhaps God is giving you permission to stay; perhaps God is telling you to remain where He has you and rest in His perfect plan. His timing is always what we need, even when it challenges our patience. So stay…take residence…rest. Be still and wait until you hear Him telling you differently.

When Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt. “Get up!” the angel said. “Take the child and his mother back to the land of Israel, because those who were trying to kill the child are dead.” So Joseph got up and returned to the land of Israel with Jesus and his mother. But when he learned that the new ruler of Judea was Herod’s son Archelaus, he was afraid to go there. Then, after being warned in a dream, he left for the region of Galilee. – Matthew 2:19-22

Lord, we sit before you quietly this morning and wait on you. We pray that you will direct us in the way we should go. Give us a heart that responds in trust with a willingness to go if you call us to go and stay if you ask us to stay. May our response to you be undistracted and undelayed — both today and tomorrow. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Matthew 2:1-12

Have you ever set out to do something, but lost track of what you were doing or became distracted by something else before you could accomplish your task? Have you ever made a trip to the grocery store to buy something and came back with ten other items, forgetting the item you set out to purchase? Have you ever walked across your house and then became so entranced in a different thought that you could not remember what you came into the room to do?

We live such busy lives that it is incredibly easy to become distracted or to lose course. Life becomes routine and we start going through the motions, forgetting what life is really about or what is most important. In fact, Sunday mornings can become so routine that even church becomes about something other than worshiping God.

GIVE GOD YOUR FOCUS

God wants us to purposefully focus on Him every day, to live our lives with our eyes fixed on Him. Every day of our lives can become about how we worship our King — how we spend time seeking Him and entering into His presence to give Him praise.

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.” – Matthew 2:1-2

We have come to worship him. What a great reminder for me this morning to check my intent when I enter into my quiet time or go to a service at church. I think there are a lot of times when I am going through the motions instead of sincerely entering into God’s presence to worship Him. When I wake up, grab a cup of coffee and open my Bible, it would be helpful to pause and consider that this time is not about me but about Him. When I walk into the Church, it is not about the people I get to see, or whether or not I am going to like the song selection. I am there to worship God and to learn.

DISTRACTED ALONG THE WAY

The wisemen could have easily been distracted on their journey. The wisemen came to Jerusalem intently looking for the King of the Jews. This was not something they were doing halfheartedly. They had spent years studying for this journey and their hearts were committed to this search. But there was one who tried hard to distract them – to make this search about him instead of about the newborn King.

When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him…Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I may go and worship him.” – Matthew 2:3-8

This was the moment when the purpose for their search could have changed. This is the person who could have distracted the wisemen from their calling. This is the time in which their quest could have become about earthly success or acclaim, but the wisemen stayed focused on their original purpose — to find and worship the King of all Kings.

After they heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. – Matthew 2:9-11a

The Message says the wisemen were overcome when they saw Jesus; the NLT says they were filled with joy. When we enter into God’s house or enter into His presence during our daily quiet time, we can experience what it means to be overcome with joy if we have truly come to worship Him. We can bow before Jesus, open up our hearts to Him, and sincerely worship Him. Then we can empty ourselves and offer Him everything we have to give.

Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. – Matthew 2:11b

THE GIFT OF YOUR ATTENTION

What gift can you offer to Jesus today? I can tell you what gift He wants. He wants YOU – all of you, focused on Him and entering into His presence sincerely intent on worshiping Him. Oh how I need that this morning! I want to cherish this quiet start to my morning and rest in His Word undistracted — to soak in the presence of Jesus and allow God to make today exactly what He wants it to be.

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.