December 15
Scripture of the day: "The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham: Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers. Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez was the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram. Ram was the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon. Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz was the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse ... Eliud was the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob. Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, by whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah." Matthew 1:1-16
Thought of the day: The New Testament begins with the verses of today's Scripture. Matthew records the lineage of Jesus on Joseph's side (his earthly father's side) back to Abraham. That lineage gave to Jesus the legal right to be King. That was important for Matthew's original readers, the Jews. The lineage on Mary's side is traced back all the way through Adam to God, Luke 3:23-38. Jesus was man and God. That was important for Luke's original readers, the Greeks.
Challenge of the day: Both genealogies are important for us today. But have you ever skipped over them? Have you thought that they were irrelevant? God didn't put them there by mistake. They are boring only if we don't understand their significance. The baby born in Bethlehem was the King of Kings ... He was man ... and He was God. He was all of these simultaneously in the body of a newborn baby. You cannot understand that. But during this Christmas season, you can worship Him as your God and your King.
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