A different direction. (Matthew 2:12)

Matthew 2:12

New Living Translation (NLT)



 

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.



 
After finding Jesus and worshipping Him, the Magi were warned by God not to return through Jerusalem as they had intended. 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?
 



Joe




























 

Who cares what others think. (Matthew 1:24)

Matthew 1:24

New Living Translation (NLT)


 

²⁴ When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife.



 
Joseph changed his plans quickly after learning that Mary had not been unfaithful to him. He obeyed God and proceeded with the marriage plans. Although others may of disapproved of his decision, Joseph went ahead with what he knew was right. Sometimes we avoid doing what is right because of what others might think. Like Joseph, we must choose to obey God rather than seek the approval of others.
 



Joe















 

God uses all kinds of people to acomplish His will. (Matthew 1:1-17)

Matthew 1:1-17

New Living Translation (NLT)

 

The Ancestors of Jesus the Messiah

1 This is a record of the ancestors of Jesus the Messiah, a descendant of David 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).
⁷ 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.
¹⁴ Azor 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.



 
In the first 17 verses of Matthew, we meet 46 people whose lifetimes span 2000 years. All were ancestors of Jesus, but they varied considerably in personality, spirituality, and experience. Some were heroes of the faith - like Abraham, Isaac, Ruth, and David. Some had shady reputations - Like Rahab and Tamar. Many were very ordinary - like Hezron, Ram, Nahshon, and Akim. And others were evil - like Manasseh and Abijah. God's work in history is not limited by human failures or sins, and He works through ordinary people. Just as God used all kinds of people to bring His son into the world, He uses all kinds today to accomplish His will. And God wants to use you.





Joe























 

Are you willing to return to God? (Malachi 3:7)

Malachi 3:7

New International Version (NIV)


 

⁷ Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty.
“But you ask, ‘How are we to return?’



 
God's patience seems endless! Throughout history, His people have disobeyed, even scorned, His laws, but He has always been willing to accept them back. Here, however, the people have the nerve to imply that they have never disobeyed ! Many people have turned their backs on forgiveness and restoration because they have refused to admit their sin. Don't follow their example. God is ready to return to us if we are willing to return to Him.



 
Joe

















 

Let your hands be strong. (Zechariah 8:9)

Zechariah 8:9

New International Version (NIV)


 

⁹ This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Now hear these words, ‘Let your hands be strong so that the temple may be built.’ This is also what the prophets said who were present when the foundation was laid for the house of the Lord Almighty.



 
God had to give the temple workers a little push to get them moving. They had heard the prophets words of encouragement; at this time they needed to stop just listening and get to work. We need to listen to what God says, but after He has made our course of action plain, we need to "be strong" and do what He wants.



 
Joe


























 

We are not trapped by our heredity. (Zechariah 1:2-6)

Zechariah 1:2-6

New King James Version (NKJV)


 

² “The Lord has been very angry with your fathers. ³ Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Return to Me,” says the Lord of hosts, “and I will return to you,” says the Lord of hosts. ⁴ “Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets preached, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Turn now from your evil ways and your evil deeds.”’ But they did not hear nor heed Me,” says the Lord.

⁵ “Your fathers, where are they?
And the prophets, do they live forever?
⁶ Yet surely My words and My statutes,
Which I commanded My servants the prophets,
Did they not overtake your fathers?

“So they returned and said:

‘Just as the Lord of hosts determined to do to us,
According to our ways and according to our deeds,
So He has dealt with us.'


The familiar phrase "Like father, like son" implies that children turn out like their parents. But here, God warned Israel not to be like their forefathers, who disobeyed Him and reaped the consequences - His punishment. We are responsible before God for our actions. We aren't trapped by our heredity or environment, and we can't use these as excuses for our sins. We are free to choose, and individually we must return to God and follow Him.



Joe


















 

God chose you ! (Haggai 2:23)

Haggai 2:23

New International Version (NIV)


 

²³ “‘On that day,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘I will take you, my servant Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you,’ declares the Lord Almighty.”



 
God closed His message to Zerubbabel with this tremendous affirmation, "I have chosen you." Such a proclamation is ours as well - each of us has been chosen by God (see Ephesians 1:4 below). This truth should make us see our value in God's eyes and motivate us to work for Him. When you feel down, remind yourself, "God has chosen me!"
 

Ephesians 1:4

New International Version (NIV)


 

⁴ For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.



 
Joe