Today’s Scripture – July 20, 2016

Matthew 2:1-3 (NIV)

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”

When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.

The star that heralded Jesus’ birth was not visible only in the east, but only those with eyes to see and hearts that were open to what God was doing could really understand the sign that He was giving to the world.

At the time of Herod, expectation of the coming of the Messiah was high, based on the timetable given in Daniel 9:24-25.  The people were not only expecting the Messiah to appear soon, they were praying for His arrival.

Herod knew this, and guarded his throne ferociously.  He was constantly on the lookout for any sign of the rise of the Messiah so that He could be cut off before He got a foothold.  But Herod was looking for a man, a warrior who would march into Israel with His troops as the Great Deliverer.  He wasn’t expecting the Messiah to come as a baby!

Because of Herod’s presuppositions, his eyes were blinded to what God was actually doing.  He, the king of the Jews, could not see at all what these foreign Magi saw so clearly:  God was beginning the process of bringing deliverance, salvation, to His people, and, through them, to the whole world.

Many, many people are blinded by their presuppositions and cannot see the truth that is so evident to others who have eyes to see.  Many let the troubles going on right now so fill their vision that they cannot see God’s hand at work in these present events.

The blessing is that God can open eyes that have been blinded.  He can clear minds that have become overwhelmed by all that is happening around them.  He can help people find hope by showing them His star rising in the east, heralding His approach, His deliverance.

Father, it really is easy to get so caught up in what is going on that I cannot see You clearly.  Open my eyes so that I can see all that You are doing.  Help me not only to see, but to be able to show others as well, so that their hope and faith can be restored, too.  Amen.

Today’s Scripture – July 19, 2016

Matthew 1:18-25 (NIV)

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.  Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:  “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”–which means, “God with us.”

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.  But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

God did not just send Jesus to earth full-grown and in a glorified body, which He could easily have done.  If He had, though, the connection between Him and those He was sent to save would have been tenuous at best, and His followers would never hold any hope of being like Him.  Instead, Jesus was born as a real human being, through a real pregnancy enabled to take place in the virgin Mary through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus was born to righteous parents.  Both Mary and Joseph were completely devoted to God and to His commands.  This was vital, because when Jesus became a human infant, He emptied Himself. (cf. Philippians 2:6-7.)  Even though He was God in the flesh, His parents had to teach Him everything, including how to read the Scriptures and pray.  Half-way devoted parents would not have been able to provide Him with what He needed to establish His own solid connection with God.  In addition to instruction, He needed to see complete devotion modeled faithfully and consistently by His parents to help Him to learn it Himself.  And, empowered and enabled by the Holy Spirit, He did learn it, and re-established the intimate, personal connection He had with the Father since before the universe was created.

Those who are born again, born from above through the power of the Holy Spirit (cf. John 3:3), share this characteristic with Jesus.  When they first come to the Lord, they are spiritual infants who know little of the things of the Spirit, and have to learn them from simple beginnings.  They must be taught everything, including how to read the Scriptures and pray.  Their spiritual parents need to not only teach them these things, but to model them consistently in their own lives.  And, empowered and enabled by the Holy Spirit, they will learn them, and grow into spiritual adults who are able to establish their own strong connection with their heavenly Father, so that they can continue to grow in grace and wisdom.

Father, I had never thought about it that way before, but I can see how this concept has been working in my own spiritual life from the very beginning.  Thank You for providing several good spiritual parents for me who were able to teach me what I needed to know and model it in their own lives so that I could grow in You.  Help me to be that kind of spiritual parent to others – not to try to keep control over them and their spiritual life, but to help them to grow into spiritual adults, showing them how to establish their own vital connection with You.  Amen.