Today we start the New Testament! After four hundred years of prophetic silence, God breaks through with the long-awaited Messiah—the gospel! Matthew 1 opens with the genealogy of Jesus, showing that God is writing a story far greater than any one life, using ordinary, flawed, and even messy people to accomplish His purposes. Every name points to Jesus, reminding us that God’s providence weaves all our lives into His plan of redemption.
Before you begin
Ask the Lord to give you a fresh sense of wonder as you read His Word. Pray for understanding and for an open, humble, obedient heart to receive what He wants to say to you.
Read
Review
Write a sentence or two about what you've just read. This could be a summary of the passage or an observation or highlight that stood out to you.
Reflect
How does knowing that your story—even with mistakes and struggles—can play a part in God’s greater story encourage you today? In what areas of your past or present do you need to trust God to redeem and use them for His purposes?
The person who has never acknowledged Christ’s right to rule over his life has no basis for assurance of salvation. He may be heavily involved in Christian activities; but if he thinks he can have a relationship with God by retaining control over his life and somehow trying to fit Jesus in with everything else, he is deceived and is still at war with God. —Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth1
Respond
Write a short prayer, based on today’s reading. This could include praise, gratitude, personal confession, agreement with the truth, or a request for yourself or someone else.
1Surrender, p. 54, Chapter 2
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Takeaway Thought
What key verse or insight will you take with you into your day?