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Friday, January 2, 2009
To All Nations
This is a record of the ancestors of Jesus the Messiah, a
descendant of King David and of Abraham: Abraham was the
father of Isaac. Isaac was the father of Jacob. Jacob was the
father of Judah and his brothers. Judah was the father of
Perez and Zerah (their mother was Tamar). Perez was the
father of Hezron. Hezron was the father of Ram. Ram was the
father of Amminadab. Amminadab was the father of Nahshon.
Nahshon was the father of Salmon. Salmon was the father of
Boaz (his mother was Rahab). Boaz was the father of Obed (his
mother was Ruth). Obed was the father of Jesse. Jesse was the
father of King David.
-- 1:1-6a (ERV)
KEY THOUGHT:
Matthew's Gospel, while in many ways the most Jewish of the Gospels,
emphasizes God's love and grace for all people. At the beginning of
Jesus' life on earth, he is welcomed by foreigners, Magi, who come from
many miles away to worship him. At the end of Jesus' life on earth, he
challenges his disciples to go tell every nation about him and his good
news, baptizing them and welcoming them into God's family. Even in the
genealogy of Jesus, Matthew prepares us for the fact that, by God's
grace, all people can be included in God's family. In the lineage of
great King David, and the Messiah Jesus, is a Gentile woman. Her name
is Ruth, and her story is a marvelous story of God's grace and the
faithful heart that finds its home in the God of Israel.
TODAY'S PRAYER:
Father God, LORD of all peoples, please use my study of the Gospel of
Matthew this year to awaken my heart to the needs of everyone to know
about Jesus. Please give me more understanding and make me less
judgmental of other cultures and races. Help me see your image in each
person I encounter and see each one's need to know you as Abba Father.
In the name of the Lord Jesus I ask this. Amen.
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>> The WJD! web page has related scriptures and the
>> full text of today's key passage. Read it at:
http://www.heartlight.org/wjd//0102-wjd.html
>> For further study of today's passage, use our
>> online Bible study site: SearchGodsWord.org!
http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=+1:1-6a&sr=1&t=erv
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