Saturday November 27, 2010

Read Matthew 1:18-25

Before you race off with today’s reading, take a few moments to glance back over the week you’ve spent with Isaiah. What have you learnt? What have you discovered? What truths have come to light?

Now as you read about the birth of Christ I pray that the depth and breadth of the history of Isaiah comes to the fore and that you understand more passionately what the coming of the Christ is all about.

The Messiah, the Christ, the Son of God came into a world that was rebellious and rejecting God. He came to that which was His own but His own did not receive Him.  This Baby born in a manger was no ordinary Baby. He was the Immanuel.  He was God with us in a real and physical sense. God has come to us as a man.

And as Joseph is instructed to name the baby Jesus we see why Jesus, the God man, came into our world.  In vs 21 we read:-

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."

Jesus is the Greek form of Joshua - a Hebrew name that means Yahweh saves!  In and through Jesus Yahweh will save us from the condemnation that our sins deserve! The rebellion of the nation of Israel, the rebellion of the world, the rebellion of ‘me’ will be dealt with by a child coming into our world -  a child who brings God to us, a child who brings the salvation of God to us, a child who will suffer the wrath and anger of God as He dies upon a cross. God is with us in the most amazing and gracious way.

Prayer:-

> Spend time praising God for the coming of Immanuel into our world.

> Pray that the bible college students we support in Myanmar will be growing and maturing in their learning. Pray that their knowledge will lead to outreach and discipleship. Pray that we’d see growth in the Lord’s kingdom in this country.