SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: Matthew 5:1-5
1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: 2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, 3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
MORE LESSON: I Timothy 1:12-15
12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; 13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus 15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
Wednesday, 22 October
Memory Verse: This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. 1Timothy 1:15
Sometimes, we wonder if God could ever use people like us. With our flaws, shortcomings, and sins, it seems unlikely, if not impossible. However, one look at the genealogy of Jesus Christ shows that indeed, there is hope. Jesus' genealogy features many unsavoury characters, all of whom demonstrated God's grace and were not flawless men and women. For example, David, though a great king, was guilty of adultery and murder; Abraham, rightly called the father of faith, suffered several lapses, such as the habit of deception. However, God included both David and Abraham in the messianic line.
Matthew's record of the genealogy also calls for attention, especially the list of women. Except for Mary, the other four were of questionable reputations; they were sinful women, not known for their virtue or godliness. They were not even Jewish, yet God included them in the messianic lineage. First, we read of Tamar (Matthew 1:3), whose story is that of deceit and a sordid account of prostitution (Genesis 38); indeed, she was not a godly woman. By the grace of God, she was included in the Messiah's genealogy. Rahab (Matthew 1:5) was a prostitute in Jericho when she met two Jewish spies sent ahead to check out the city before the conquest of Jericho. Rahab's role in saving these men from death secured for her a place among the Israelites when the city fell. God, in His grace, not only spared her. Still, she brought her into the messianic lineage as the wife of Salmon, the mother of the godly Boaz, who was David's great-grandfather. Ruth (Matthew 1:5) was a Moabitess, and her people are the product of the incestuous act between Lot and his daughters. One of the children born of that ungodly union was a man named Moab. Moabites were all idol worshippers! Ruth left her people and returned with her mother-in-law Naomi to Israel, where she met and married Boaz. Ruth became the grandmother of Israel's greatest king, David, and thus was included in the messianic lineage.
The list also includes Bathsheba (Matthew 1:6), the woman with whom David had an adulterous relationship, yet she was included in the messianic lineage. All these prove that when we sometimes ask, "Is there any hope for me? Can God forgive me? Can He use me?" The answer is yes! If God could use all these people to play such a critical role in bringing the Saviour, Jesus, to the world, He will forgive and use all who come to Him for His glory.
Prayer/Action
* Thank God for calling us to himself by his divine orchestration
* Thank God for the sacrifice of Christ
* Ask God for mercy if you have been doubt his forgiveness
TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER: Today, I turn every waste around me into wealth by divine wisdom, in the wonderful name of Jesus.
0 comments:
Post a Comment