58th Week Advent HOPE

 

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Monday, Intro to Matthew
Matthew Intro
Delores Little

THOUGHT

The gospel of Matthew was written by a Jew, Levi, or as we know him better Matthew the tax collector. Matthew presents Jesus as the fulfillment of all Messianic prophecy. In the opening sentence, Matt.1:1 we read: “The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, and the Son of Abraham.”  Matthew identifies Jesus as the Son of Abraham saying, “In you shall all families of the earth be blessed.”  All families of the earth include both Jews and Gentile.

Since the focus of the Old Testament scripture is on the coming of the Messiah and His Kingdom, Matthew used the phrase, ‘Kingdom of Heaven’ more than 30 times, ‘Son of David’ 10 times, and ‘that it might be fulfilled which was spoken’ at least 9 times.  Matthew recorded more than 20 of Jesus’s miracles.  Matthew has more than a 100 references to Christ Jesus and records ten of His parables.

The Sanhedrin kept complete genealogical archives of the descendants of Abraham and David.  These enemies of Christ never questioned Jesus ancestry. Both Joseph’s and Mary’s genealogies are the same from Abraham to David. Then Joseph’s genealogy follows through Solomon while Mary’s traces from Nathan, another of David’s sons.  To remove all doubt as to who Jesus is, Matthew records that, when Jesus was baptized, there was a voice from heaven saying, “This is My Beloved Son, in whom I AM well pleased.” (Matt. 3:17)  

Sometime later Matthew also records the spectacular transfiguration of Christ during a conversation with Moses and Elijah, when a voice out of the cloud said, “This is My Beloved Son, in whom I AM well pleased; hear you Him.” (Matt. 17:2-5) The transfiguration completed Jesus Galilean ministry.  He then traveled south to Jerusalem where He knew He would be crucified, the third day...rise again. (Matt. 20:19)

It was on the Mount of Olives (Luke 24:50), 40 days after His resurrection, that Jesus told His disciples, “Go, teach (disciple) all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.” (Matt.28:19-20)

PRAYER
Father God, how we praise and thank You for sending Your beloved Son Jesus for everyone in the world who will hear and accept Him as the Lord of their life. Help us to openly share Jesus with others in love and a Godly passion. Let Your Holy Spirit open doors for us and put the words in our mouth to share Him. Bless us all every day and what You would have us do. Answer the prayers of the Salt Shakers and those reading our thoughts in what they are doing or going through each day.  AMEN

Tuesday, Matthew Chapter 1

Matthew 1

Delores Little

THOUGHT

I’m doing a Beth Moore Bible study called “Jesus the One and Only”.  As we study Matthew let us see Christ as the One and Only and put Him above everything in our lives truly seeking the Kingdom of God first.  Open our eyes to the truth of Your Word, Lord.

 

Here we have the genealogy of Jesus from verses 1 to 17.  We see 3 women, Tamar, Rahab, and Ruth.  David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife.

The Birth of Jesus Christ came, “Immanuel, God with us”.   Mary is found to be with child by the HOLY SPIRIT.  Joseph was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace; he had in mind to divorce her quietly. Back in those times if a woman was found with child, she could have been stoned and killed.  Since Joseph knew this wasn’t of him, he didn’t want her killed. He would divorce her quietly.

But God sent an angel who appeared to him in a dream.  The angel told him what had happened to Mary.  The angel even shared with him that the baby would be named Jesus. Just hearing Jesus’s name makes me think of the song, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, there is something about that name. Master, Savior, Jesus, like the fragrance after the rain. Don’t you just love saying His name?  Can you hear Mary and Joseph saying it for the first time to the baby?

After the dream Joseph took her, but had no union with her until after Jesus was born.  Luke gives more of the story of Jesus birth in Luke 2 and how He was born in a place where the animals were kept.  Some would say, “Why would God let His only begotten Son be born there?”  The reason is because Jesus became the perfect Sacrifice.  He did it once and for all. 

PRAYER

Father, forgive us daily.  We thank You for Jesus and how He came and told us to live in this world. I think of the 3 gifts given Him when He was a child around 2 and what they mean.  The gold for where He came from, Heaven,  the incense was His walk on earth teaching us the Father’s ways, and myrrh the bitter death He died on the cross for us sinners.   Thank You for all that You have done for us.  AMEN

Wednesday, Matthew Chapter 2

Matthew 2

Verse 13

Jane Jones

Verse 13:  When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up.” he said, “Take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”

THOUGHT

In this chapter it is written that angels appeared to Joseph in dreams giving him directions as to when and where to take his wife and new little baby. Can you imagine how scared Joseph must have been to know that he was being followed?  And once caught, he knew his enemy would kill his little baby boy, Jesus.  What a huge responsibility Joseph had. But he listened to the Lord and followed His directions perfectly.  In such a short period of time Joseph’s plans were changed a number of times.

Finding Jesus may mean that your life must take a different direction, one that is responsive and obedient to God’s Word.  Are you willing to be led a different way?  Joseph remained receptive to God’s guidance.

Sometimes I think that people today are often afraid that Christ wants to take things away when, in reality, he wants to give them real freedom, peace and joy.  Don’t fear Christ!!  Follow His lead and give Him the throne of your life.

Is the Lord speaking to us today in dreams, through family members, through our friends, through our Bible readings, through teachings that we hear on Sunday mornings?  Be on the alert!! He may want you to change directions very soon in life.  Are you ready to go a different way?

PRAYER 

Lord, we praise You for the week that we had.  What a special gift from above.  We thank You for Your guidance and direction.  May we be receptive to You this week as we wait upon Your direction. AMEN

Thursday, Matthew Chapter 3

Matthew 3

Verses 16-17

Jane Jones

Verses 16-17:  As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

THOUGHT

These two verses share with us a true example of the Trinity. The doctrine of the Trinity means that God is three persons and yet one in essence. In this passage, all three persons of the Trinity are present and active. God the Father speaks; God the Son is baptized; God the Holy Spirit descends on Jesus.  God is one, yet in three persons at the same time.  This is one of God’s incomprehensible mysteries.

Can you imagine if you had been an observer on the bank of the Jordan River that day?  There would have been John the Baptist with his camel hair clothing and leather belt.  A ruff man whose food consisted of locusts and wild honey.  This man was asked by Jesus for baptism.

John objected to Jesus when asked to be baptized. John felt he was the one who needed to be baptized.  But Jesus insisted.  So John obeyed.  The moment Jesus came up out of the baptismal waters, the skies opened up, and He saw God’s Spirit. It looked like a dove descending and landing on Him. And along with the Spirit was the voice saying to Jesus, “This is my Son, chosen and marked by my love, delight of my life.”

To be in the presence of the Lord would be such an awe-inspiring, humbling experience. Maybe a lot of you have experienced this with God already.

Have you ever been in the presence of someone important?  It could have been a movie star, the President of the United States or perhaps a musical entertainer.  Take that feeling and multiple it by thousands of thousands. That must be how John, the Pharisees and Sadducees felt.

Jesus must have felt so good to have His Father exclaim the joy of His love and declare that Jesus was the delight of His life.  Jesus, I’m sure, was blown away that day.  What an encouragement for Jesus.

We as parents can take a lesson from this too. Just acknowledging to our children how much we love them, to delight in our children and grandchildren’s lives and to stand in their presence with a light that defines love and acceptance would make our children feel so good. Let’s try it.

Baptism is a renewed cleansing of the body and heart. That day had to have been a memorable day in the lives of John and Jesus. Keep an eye out for your memorable day.

PRAYER

We thank You for the Trinity and for all the avenues You make Yourself present to us. We love You and wait upon You. AMEN

Friday, Matthew Chapter 4

Matthew 4

Verse 21a

Jane Jones

Verse 21a:  Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John.

THOUGHT

First off, I always thought it was so cool that the first four disciples chosen were two sets of brothers.  I think it must have made it easier for Peter and Andrew and James and John to leave their nets and follow Jesus as long as their brother was going as well. I know being close to my sister, it would have made it easier for me to go. Maybe Jesus thought of that.

Secondly, I try to imagine dropping everything immediately, leaving and never looking back. It is said that a Rabbi was very highly looked upon back in Jesus day because he was a very learned man, full of wisdom and knowledge. It was considered an honor just to speak to them. So can you imagine how just a simple, common fisherman must have felt to be asked to follow Jesus?  It was considered an honor.

I can just see myself. I would be saying things like, ‘once I see my children and their families and say goodbye’, and ‘then I need to give my job a two week notice’, and ‘then I need to get the house looking nice to be able to sell’, and ‘then I need to consult with the Salt Shakers to see what they think’.  I could go on and on.

Jesus calls each of us to follow Him.  When Jesus asks us to serve Him, we must be like the disciples and do it at ONCE.

PRAYER

Father God, we pray that each and every one of the Salt Shakers will be ready for You at a moment’s notice.  Jesus, we want to follow You so badly.  May the Lord give us a spirit of bravery.  AMEN

Have some quiet time with a favorite Christmas Carol.