Scripture Reading:

Matthew 1

Please comment below with your conversation with God and/or insights from today’s Scriptures.

You can answer the following:

1. What’s your first impressions about this chapter?

2. What’s so important about the genealogy of Jesus?

3. What’s a verse or passage that stuck out to you?

4. What is your prayer to God brought on by this chapter?

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The Promised Messiah | Lemuel Ayudtud

Chapter Notables:

1. Birth of Jesus / Nativity story

2. The “Kingship” per His Jewish genealogy—a must in order to establish Him as a “son” of David

3. The virgin birth—establishes the claim of His divinity as well as His humanity

The opening chapter of Matthew maybe a stretch in reading for most people but it contains some haymakers for what the writer was attempting to achieve. By establishing the genealogy of Jesus, Matthew (as commonly received) declared the right of Jesus to be the “King of the Jews”. Every other claims of this book or our own claims of the messiahship of Jesus is anchored on this genealogy. If Jesus is not in the lineage of David, the whole argument of Him being the promised messiah will fall apart. If that falls apart, then the efficacy of the blood of Jesus at Calvary would be moot.

The link between heritage and promise can lead us to several things for our lives (at least it does for me):

A. What God has promised us (for our family) He will perform even if it takes time

1. It was a multiple of generations before Jesus came into the scene.

2. The timing of God is unlike my timing. He works out the process of people to fulfill His time for people.

3. We can’t jump over process because we so are “ready” for the promise.

4. We have to embrace the timing of God to be patient for the coming promise. Don’t try to rush what God is trying to cook.

B. I should not despise where I came from but celebrate the progress of God’s sovereign purpose for my life.

1. When we view the lineage of Jesus not everything or everyone was perfect. In fact, the opposite is more true: His lineage was a whole lot of mess.

2. God used the mess to bring about the Messiah. And if He did it to meet the promises of the prophecies, then how much more will He use the mess of our past, even of our families, to bring us to where He calls us to be.

3. God uses everything for His glory for our good. Don’t let shame of our past dictate our view and advancement of and into the future.

C. God used a young girl to bring to pass the greatest event in human history EVER!

1. Girl power!! The church has not been the best at celebrating the role of women in the move of God in what we have today or who we are as His Church. Don’t let social stigmas about gender hinder you from being influential or great.

2. Our age is no hindrance to God’s usage. At probably 14 years old, Mary championed what it means to be a servant of God.

3. Our limiting beliefs only affect us. Push through what you may believe you can do into what God sees you’re capable of doing.

4. Social constructs or even personal perceptions are not constructs of God’s movement. He is God—He is sovereign. Though Mary was pregnant “out of wedlock,” God was concerned about His plan over what others think. Remember to never be motivated by how others perceive you. Hear the mission of God for you and receive it like Mary did.

Lastly …

D. Be open to angelic, spiritual experiences.

1. God is a Spirit, He will be supernatural

2. What we can’t, He can. Don’t limit what God can supernaturally do for you or through you.

3. Your faith in God’s supernatural abilities will open you to experience impossibilities.

Lord, thank You for Your amazing promises. Thank you for the fulfilling of Your Word because I know that though things may take time, You have it all planned out. Teach me to learn to surrender to Your timing because in it is where I’ll find my greatest self. In Your Name Jesus I pray, amen.