The Book of Matthew: Chapter 1
Let’s dig into the word of God together. We are starting with Matthew Chapter 1. This is the beginning of the gospels, the good news about salvation in Jesus Christ. As we come into the holiday season, this will be cool. Join me in studying by reading Matthew Chapter 1 and praying through it, asking God to reveal something to you that might stand out. When he highlights an understanding for you, begin to pray about it and how it applies to your life right now.
There are different versions of the Bible. Many people know the King James Version or KJV. I read the New International Version or NIV because that’s what I grew up with and I feel like it’s really approachable. Read whatever version you feel you connect with. The point is to just start reading. Read along with me. Start today by reading Matthew Chapter 1.
Right away, the chapter begins with the genealogy of Jesus. You might think that’s boring or not needed but actually it’s pretty awesome. It shows proof of the exact lineage of Jesus from Abraham and the beginning of God’s people through King David and Solomon and all the way up to Joseph and Mary, the parents of Jesus. If you don’t know who those people are yet, that’s fine. We will get to that. But you probably recognize the name David. He is the guy who is from the famous story David versus Goliath. Yeah, a little while after he fought the giant he became king. There are a lot of great stories in that historical lineage. For now, just understand that the point is that Jesus wasn’t just some random guy that came from some unknown place. No. Jesus had a family line that went all the way back through a documented history of specific people to the beginning. What’s awesome is that history reveals the promise God made to his people way back then. He promised he would bring a savior. That savior was Jesus.
Matthew Chapter 1 explains how Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit as God as the archetype and model that all of us were born to follow. There is no one like him and there never will be. It also showcases the obedience of Joseph who accepted his role as the father of Jesus. Start with that. Ask God to show you something that stands out for you, right where you are. The point of this chapter is that God brought his promise to life for us. This is what God is doing right now for all of us. He is showing us proof of his covenant that now is about to be fulfilled.
What stands out to me is how difficult it must have been for Joseph to accept his role. He was supposed to be married to Mary but she ended up pregnant by the Holy Spirit. Imagine if you were Joseph and you had to explain that one to your friends, family, and the rest of the culture. That probably didn’t feel great. I’m guessing a lot of people didn’t believe him at all. Maybe he struggled with that situation a great deal. We don’t really know. But we can imagine. The point is that despite what everyone around him must have said, Joseph took the opportunity to follow and do what God asked of him. He agreed to faithfully take Mary as his wife and raise Jesus as his own. That faith, despite the challenge, became the foundation of a family that would become the answer for the world. But it took people who had a heart for the Lord.
And that is where we start. Matthew chapter 1. Just one chapter. Read it. Pray about it. Think about it with God during the day. See how you can really apply it to your life and live the hope, joy, and good news about what Jesus has done for all of us. We’ll talk more about that next time.
Sure, maybe God didn’t call you to be like Mary and give birth to Jesus. Perhaps the Lord never came to you and asked you to marry a pregnant woman and love her. But God is calling you. What incredible blessings does he have waiting for you?
Comentarios