11/08               Matthew 2:16-18 

Herod was furious when he realized that the wise men had outwitted him. He sent soldiers to kill all the boys in and around Bethlehem who were two years old and under, based on the wise men’s report of the star’s first appearance. 17 Herod’s brutal action fulfilled what God had spoken through the prophet Jeremiah: 18 “A cry was heard in Ramah— weeping and great mourning. Rachel weeps for her children, refusing to be comforted, for they are dead.” 

EVIL

Evil comes from many places but it is a product of the chaos and submission to the Evil One in this world.  In this world we will have strife and heartache but one day we will stand in Paradise with Jesus and everything changes.  No more crying, sin, heartache or evil where God lives and we will have life like His. 

11/07               Matthew 2:9-15 

After this interview the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was.  10 When they saw the star, they were filled with joy!  11 They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 When it was time to leave, they returned to their own country by another route, for God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod.  13 After the wise men were gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “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.”  14 That night Joseph left for Egypt with the child and Mary, his mother, 15 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.” 

BIRTH

Just as prophesied the Messiah was born and witnessed by these wise men.  Joseph continued his obedience to the Lord by fleeing to Egypt.  Today, you can testify to the Living Lord in your life if you have made a faith commitment to Jesus:  I believe Lord, thank you for saving me.  Obey the Lord and get to know Him.  He is always with you. 

11/06               Matthew 2:1-8

1 Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking,  2 “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.”  3 King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem.  4 He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?”  5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they said, “for this is what the prophet wrote:  6 ‘And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah, are not least among the ruling cities of Judah, for a ruler will come from you who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.’ ” 7 Then Herod called for a private meeting with the wise men, and he learned from them the time when the star first appeared. 8Then he told them, “Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him, too!” 

JESUS

Jesus the Lord came just as it was predicted by more than sixty prophecies in the Old Testament.  He came for us so that we might have real life like His life.  Claim life from Jesus.  Ask Him to forgive your sin and give you new life.  He says this life is a free gift that no one can boast.  Jesus is light and life and He came to save us from this world of chaos and destruction. 

11/05               Matthew 1:24-25

When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. 25 But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.

OBEY

The road to perdition is paved with good intentions.  Obey the Lord.  Do what He says.  Keep yourself on track by doing the next right thing. 

11/04               Matthew 1:18-23 

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. 19 Joseph, her fiancé, was a good man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.  20 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.  21 And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”  22 All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet: 23 “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.’” 

AFRAID

The Word from Matthew is “Do Not Be Afraid.”  The Lord loves you.  He knows what is going on and His promise to you is do not be afraid because God is with us.  Even in a time when evil is again on the march, we do not have to fear what we are facing for the Lord God Almighty is with us.  DO NOT BE AFRAID.  You are beloved of God!  Jesus is Lord. 

11/03               Matthew 1:17 

All those listed above include fourteen generations from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the Babylonian exile, and fourteen from the Babylonian exile to the Messiah. 

WERE

These were real people who lived real lives.  Many of them believed the Lord and believed He was coming.  By faith they knew Him and by faith they believed Him.  Our faith is the same kind of faith:  We believe that Jesus is Lord, that He died for the forgiveness of our sin and was raised from the dead by the Father, was seen by more than 500 and is seated at the right hand of the Father preparing for His return at this very moment.  Come Lord Jesus. 

11/02               Matthew 1:7-16 

Solomon was the father of Rehoboam. Rehoboam was the father of Abijah. Abijah was the father of Asa. 8 Asa was the father of Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat was the father of Jehoram. Jehoram was the father of Uzziah. 9 Uzziah was the father of Jotham. Jotham was the father of Ahaz. Ahaz was the father of Hezekiah. 10 Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh. Manasseh was the father of Amon. Amon was the father of Josiah. 11 Josiah was the father of Jehoiachin and his brothers (born at the time of the exile to Babylon).  12 After the Babylonian exile: Jehoiachin was the father of Shealtiel. Shealtiel was the father of Zerubbabel.  13 Zerubbabel was the father of Abiud. Abiud was the father of Eliakim. Eliakim was the father of Azor.  14Azor was the father of Zadok. Zadok was the father of Akim. Akim was the father of Eliud. 15 Eliud was the father of Eleazar. Eleazar was the father of Matthan. Matthan was the father of Jacob. 16 Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Mary gave birth to Jesus, who is called the Messiah. 

YES

Yes is the answer in Christ to every need you have.  Few of the these people from Abraham to Matthan ever saw Jesus but many of them were looking forward to the Messiah’s arrival.  Joseph saw it, believed God and lived it and was used by the Father to raise Jesus.  If you will believe God He can use you too!

11/01               Matthew 1:1-6

1 This is a record of the ancestors of Jesus the Messiah, a descendant of David and of Abraham : 2 Abraham was the father of Isaac. Isaac was the father of Jacob. Jacob was the father of Judah and his brothers. 3 Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah (whose mother was Tamar). Perez was the father of Hezron. Hezron was the father of Ram.  4 Ram was the father of Amminadab. Amminadab was the father of Nahshon. Nahshon was the father of Salmon. 5 Salmon was the father of Boaz (whose mother was Rahab). Boaz was the father of Obed (whose mother was Ruth). Obed was the father of Jesse.  6 Jesse was the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon (whose mother was Bathsheba, the widow of Uriah). 

ALL

Note that in this passage some notorious women are listed.  They are part of the lineage from Abraham to Joseph.  God can use anyone that will commit themselves to Him.  He is Lord and is in the business of preparing usable people.  Let the Lord use you and you will be amazed at how He equips you for service.  Praise the Lord. 

10/31          Ephesians 6:23-24 

Peace be with you, dear brothers and sisters, and may God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you love with faithfulness. 24 May God’s grace be eternally upon all who love our Lord Jesus Christ.

PEACE

We need God’s peace and we find it in Jesus.  He will give us His peace, His joy and His power to live a Christian life.  We need the Lord yesterday, today and forever!

Spend time with Jesus.  Care for the hurting.  Take care of widows and orphans. 

10/30          Ephesians 6:21-22 

To bring you up to date, Tychicus will give you a full report about what I am doing and how I am getting along. He is a beloved brother and faithful helper in the Lord’s work. 22 I have sent him to you for this very purpose—to let you know how we are doing and to encourage you. 

CARE

Care for each other.  It’s important that we become better encouragers.  People need to feel value and worth and we can encourage them so that they can develop habit patterns that will give them real value and worth.  Pray for those around you,  those in power over you (government leaders, your boss, team leader, etc.) and especially pray for those who have mistreated you.  Pray for the lost.  Pray.