Matthew 1:21 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.
In the first two chapters of the Gospel of Matthew, God unveils His divine plan for the salvation of humanity.
In Matthew 1, we read about the genealogy of Jesus Christ and the extraordinary events surrounding Jesus's birth. Mary, a young woman, was engaged to Joseph, yet she conceived a child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph initially responds with great confusion, but through a dream, an angel of the Lord explains that this child fulfills God's promise of redemption.
In Matthew 2, we read that the Magi followed the star to see Christ, the newborn King. The Magi were foreigners, yet they were among some of the first to recognize Jesus as King. The Magi brought valuable gifts to Jesus, which reflected His identity. They presented gold for His kingship, frankincense for His divinity, and myrrh, pointing to His future death on the cross.
In contrast, King Herod responded with anger and hostility. Herod so desperately wanted Jesus dead that he gave orders to kill all the baby boys in Bethlehem. However, despite Herod's great opposition, nothing would hinder God's great plan of redemption.
Matthew 1-2 teaches us that God’s infinite plan is always bigger than our finite comprehension. Thankfully, His ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9), and He is faithful to fulfill His promises (Hebrews 10:23)! This is the wonder of God’s plan!
As we consider these chapters, take a moment to reflect on these questions:
How does the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1 encourage you to trust God's plan in your own life?
Like Joseph, have you ever faced a situation where trusting God's direction was confusing to you or difficult? If so, how did you respond?
Like the Magi, what steps can you take to seek after Jesus and worship him?
JC Worley
Lead Pastor
I trust God in my own life because I know that whatever happens is God’s will. All things happen for a reason, even if I don’t understand.
I have faced numerous difficult situations but the way I responded was by letting go and letting God. I refrained from negative emotions/actions and seemed understanding.
The steps that I’m taking to seek Jesus to worship him is through obedience, consistency and openness.
I am amazed, but not at all surprised, at the amount of time, prayer, and work that the Go Church staff has put into pulling together our 21 Days of Fasting and Prayer. The book is a wonderful addition this year- a tool to focus us as we move along together. You put this phenomenal amount of energy into EVERY season and experience we are blessed to have at Go Church. It does not go unnoticed, and each one of you is greatly loved and appreciated. I hope you all are encouraged to take time off to have your own cups refilled as you take such good care of us.
As I read the first two chapters of Mark this…