A Not-So Perfect Past.....
Reading Plan: The Book of Matthew
June Memory Chunk: Psalm 23
Prayer Requests go here.
Hello, friends! Welcome to Bible study! Grab some coffee, a blanket, whatever floats your sweet little boat. This is 2014, and we can have a grand ol' time in an online bible study. Who knew?
Computers aren't that bad after all, right? We can study, learn, share, encourage....right in the comfort of our surroundings. {be glad you cannot see me today, you may run for your lives!}
Invite a friend (or two or twenty) along and discuss our reading together. Amazing things happen when our conversations turn to the Bible.
So, let's dive right on in.
Some of you may have already read the book of Matthew one thousand times. Others of you, this may be your first.
In either case, get ready for God to talk to you.
The Bible says: "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." Hebrews 4:12
This scripture translates to: IT'S ALIVE! His Word is Alive!
Because it is alive, each time we read it, God breathes Truth into us.
Hello, isn't that incredible?
Our new plan starts in Matthew, because the book of Matthew is the first to introduce Jesus.
Jesus is the foundation of Christianity.
If you are a Christian, you believe that Jesus is the Son of God, sent from Heaven, to die on a cross and save us from all of our sins.
THIS is where life begins.
THIS is where the old life is dead and the new life begins.
I am not sure about you, but this gives me HOPE. My old life was not pretty. My old life was dead.
Before Jesus transformed my heart, I was useless. Absolutely worthless.
There was no fruit in my life. Nothing that would outlive me if I were to have died.
Since Jesus made His home in my heart, and I have let Him have His way, my life is finally ALIVE. My prayer is that my life will bear fruit long after I am gone.
"This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples." John 15:8
Back to Matthew....
Matthew begins with the genealogy of Jesus. You may have skipped right over this part because it looks, well....boring.
Oh, but hang on, don't miss this!
If you trace Jesus' roots, you will find some very exciting things.
Besides coming from a royal lineage including David, Solomon, and many others....
Jesus came from a prostitute, Rahab, and an adulterer, Bathsheba.
Did I just get your attention?
In my heart, this gives me hope! This gives me major hope.
My line has not been that glorious. My line goes back to adultery, divorce, murder (yes, murder), alcoholism, addictions, molestation, and much much more.
God doesn't have to have a perfect line to create something GREAT.
God doesn't have to have a perfect line to create something GLORIOUS.
The life of Jesus is living proof of this.
Did I just hear you breathe a sigh of relief?
Me too.
Can I just reaffirm this in scripture for you?
"But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God's very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light." 1 Peter 2:9
He called YOU out of darkness into His wonderful light. If I were speaking to you now, you would see my eyes filled with tears, my speech at a whisper. It's almost too much to take in. His love for you. His plan for you.
I will stop here.
I have a feeling many of you need reminding of your heritage today. Many of you need affirmation of who you are in Christ.
Regardless of who you are, what you have done, what your family history shows...
You belong to Christ.
You are a royal priest, clothed in beauty.
"I have received the gift of righteousness and reign as a king in life by Jesus Christ" Romans 5:17
"I am holy and without blame before Him in love" Ephesians 1:4
"I am forgiven of all my sins and washed in the Blood" Ephesians 1:7
If you haven't given your life to Christ, I urge you today to let Him reside in your heart. Ask Him to take over that precious heart of yours, and see what happens! A life given to Christ, is a life that is alive. A life that will bear fruit long after your heart beats its last rhythmic beat.
I am praying for you, each and every beautiful one of you. May the Lord wrap you up in His loving arms as you inhale the aroma of His Faithfulness, Goodness, and Love.
Keep reading the book of Matthew. Let's uncover some more treasures, shall we?
digging deep,
jill
June Memory Chunk: Psalm 23
Prayer Requests go here.
Hello, friends! Welcome to Bible study! Grab some coffee, a blanket, whatever floats your sweet little boat. This is 2014, and we can have a grand ol' time in an online bible study. Who knew?
Computers aren't that bad after all, right? We can study, learn, share, encourage....right in the comfort of our surroundings. {be glad you cannot see me today, you may run for your lives!}
Invite a friend (or two or twenty) along and discuss our reading together. Amazing things happen when our conversations turn to the Bible.
So, let's dive right on in.
Some of you may have already read the book of Matthew one thousand times. Others of you, this may be your first.
In either case, get ready for God to talk to you.
The Bible says: "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." Hebrews 4:12
This scripture translates to: IT'S ALIVE! His Word is Alive!
Because it is alive, each time we read it, God breathes Truth into us.
Hello, isn't that incredible?
Our new plan starts in Matthew, because the book of Matthew is the first to introduce Jesus.
Jesus is the foundation of Christianity.
If you are a Christian, you believe that Jesus is the Son of God, sent from Heaven, to die on a cross and save us from all of our sins.
THIS is where life begins.
THIS is where the old life is dead and the new life begins.
I am not sure about you, but this gives me HOPE. My old life was not pretty. My old life was dead.
Before Jesus transformed my heart, I was useless. Absolutely worthless.
There was no fruit in my life. Nothing that would outlive me if I were to have died.
Since Jesus made His home in my heart, and I have let Him have His way, my life is finally ALIVE. My prayer is that my life will bear fruit long after I am gone.
"This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples." John 15:8
Back to Matthew....
Matthew begins with the genealogy of Jesus. You may have skipped right over this part because it looks, well....boring.
Oh, but hang on, don't miss this!
If you trace Jesus' roots, you will find some very exciting things.
Besides coming from a royal lineage including David, Solomon, and many others....
Jesus came from a prostitute, Rahab, and an adulterer, Bathsheba.
Did I just get your attention?
In my heart, this gives me hope! This gives me major hope.
My line has not been that glorious. My line goes back to adultery, divorce, murder (yes, murder), alcoholism, addictions, molestation, and much much more.
God doesn't have to have a perfect line to create something GREAT.
God doesn't have to have a perfect line to create something GLORIOUS.
The life of Jesus is living proof of this.
Did I just hear you breathe a sigh of relief?
Me too.
Can I just reaffirm this in scripture for you?
"But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God's very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light." 1 Peter 2:9
He called YOU out of darkness into His wonderful light. If I were speaking to you now, you would see my eyes filled with tears, my speech at a whisper. It's almost too much to take in. His love for you. His plan for you.
"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him." 1 Corinthians 2:9
Oh, girls, I have 4 pages of notes just on the first 3 chapters of Matthew. Not only that, but this post just covers the first chapter. Oh my.
I will stop here.
I have a feeling many of you need reminding of your heritage today. Many of you need affirmation of who you are in Christ.
Regardless of who you are, what you have done, what your family history shows...
You belong to Christ.
You are a royal priest, clothed in beauty.
"I have received the gift of righteousness and reign as a king in life by Jesus Christ" Romans 5:17
"I am holy and without blame before Him in love" Ephesians 1:4
"I am forgiven of all my sins and washed in the Blood" Ephesians 1:7
If you haven't given your life to Christ, I urge you today to let Him reside in your heart. Ask Him to take over that precious heart of yours, and see what happens! A life given to Christ, is a life that is alive. A life that will bear fruit long after your heart beats its last rhythmic beat.
I am praying for you, each and every beautiful one of you. May the Lord wrap you up in His loving arms as you inhale the aroma of His Faithfulness, Goodness, and Love.
Keep reading the book of Matthew. Let's uncover some more treasures, shall we?
digging deep,
jill
