Reading Reflection from Matthew 1-28

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (OVU) as a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible]

[9:19 pm, 01/01/2022] S.R: 𝕄𝕒𝕥𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕨 𝟙:𝟚𝟙

"She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins."

This Child has a name: Jesus. According to my Bible Reading Plan, I am also reading Hebrews1, today. What a great connection that ℍ𝔼𝔹ℝ𝔼𝕎𝕊 𝟙:𝟜 declares that this Child has a better name even than the angels, "inherited a more excellent name." Rightly so, that we pray in His name!

May we spread the fame of His name much more than last year!

 

𝕄𝕒𝕥𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕨 𝟚:𝟙𝟛

"Now when they had gone, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him."

If (since) even the earthly parents of Jesus had to endure threats, chaos, and trouble, what makes us think we will have a smooth life even if your pastor made a special prayer for you this New Year Or today? 😬😎

Also, ℍ𝔼𝔹ℝ𝔼𝕎𝕊 𝟚:𝟙𝟠 reminds us that Christ knows temptation more than any human being, and therefore we can rest assured that He knows all about our struggles and is interceding for us!

 

𝕄𝕒𝕥𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕨 𝟛:𝟙𝟙

"As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire."

May we, evangelicals, have this attitude of John in presenting Christ! That there's nothing in us, but power in Christ.

True Conversion and true transformation are the works of the Spirit of Christ. This, shall we remember too, we are just earthen pots with heavenly treasures.

 

𝕄𝕒𝕥𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕨 𝟜:𝟚𝟘

"Immediately they left their nets and followed Him."

There are some pastors and preachers who failed to distinguish between the disciples and the apostles. Every one of us, all Christians are called to be the disciples of Jesus Christ, but not as apostles.

We don't need to be like Andrew and Simon who immediately left their nets and followed after Christ to be Christ's disciples. We can still be His disciples and be fishermen, tentmakers, centurions, policemen, lawyers, tax collectors, teachers, etc.

While if we are called to be an apostle (missionaries), we may have to leave behind our profession. Or we can still be missionary doctors, missionary teachers, etc.

And there's also a difference between a (capital A) Apostles and (small a) apostles. The first ceased to exist!

 

[3:16 pm, 05/01/2022] S.R: Guys, let's read our Bible every day and meditate upon it. I hope I have demonstrated that it's not that difficult to do.

I shall stop putting up updates/reflections in this group. There's a time for everything! Good day!

 

[14:20, 16/09/2022] S. R.: 𝕄𝕒𝕥𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕨 𝟝:𝟙𝟞

"Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."

Our good works are to be seen by others so that they will glorify God. Not for self-promotion to be accepted, appreciated, or applauded. May they see God's grace in you! When they see your good work, they should be thinking, "There's God in heaven."

 

𝕄𝕒𝕥𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕨 𝟞:𝟛𝟙-𝟛𝟚

"Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?' For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things."

If we trust God, we will not be worried about food, shelter, and clothing because trust involves knowing God is good and going to do only good things for us.

The way you can be different from the non-Christian is to not worry for such things!

 

𝕄𝕒𝕥𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕨 𝟟:𝟙𝟙

"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!"

Who is the nicest person you ever know in person or even from a story? God is much nicer than that person. Because goodness is the attribute of God. We are just imperfect reflections of Him.

 

𝕄𝕒𝕥𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕨 𝟠:𝟛

"Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, 'I am willing; be cleansed.' And immediately his leprosy was cleansed."

I guess there were times we all have thought of God and have prayed like that. If not, maybe we should. We can try/ taste God.

 

𝕄𝕒𝕥𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕨 𝟡:𝟚𝟙

"for she was saying to herself, 'If I only touch His garment, I will get well.'"

Faith is not only affirming the fact, but it also is hopeful. It has good expectations.

 

𝕄𝕒𝕥𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕨 𝟙𝟘:𝟚𝟚

"You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved."

The world never gives up nor does it change. Many professing Christians are becoming like the world. Will we endure?

 

𝕄𝕒𝕥𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕨 𝟙𝟙:𝟛𝟘

"For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

Jesus also has a yoke and burden for us. But His are easy and light.

We are either slaves of sin or of Christ. We aren't the master of our destiny.

 

𝕄𝕒𝕥𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕨 𝟙𝟚:𝟛𝟘

"He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters."

No neutral ground. You are working for Christ or Satan unwittingly.

 

𝕄𝕒𝕥𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕨 𝟙𝟛:𝟚

"And large crowds gathered to Him, so He got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd was standing on the beach."

In our time, we have a building, chairs, AC, and even good music and refreshment. We travel by vehicle. Still, churches are not overflowed with people.

No surprise why only a few are saved from this generation.

 

𝕄𝕒𝕥𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕨 𝟙𝟜:𝟚𝟛

"After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone."

Sunday night is a very relaxing night for me, but if I read Jesus correctly, I think I shouldn't be that relaxed but be vigilant in prayer

 

𝕄𝕒𝕥𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕨 𝟙𝟝:𝟝

“But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, "Whatever I have that would help you has been given to God,"’”

Don't use the name of God to abuse or take advantage of anybody.

 

𝕄𝕒𝕥𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕨 𝟙𝟞:𝟚𝟚

"Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, 'God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You.'"

Zeal devoid of truth is dangerous.

 

𝕄𝕒𝕥𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕨 𝟙𝟟:𝟚𝟘

"And He *said to them, "Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you."

Let’s learn to trust God!

 

𝕄𝕒𝕥𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕨 𝟙𝟠:𝟙𝟝

"If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother."

Don't gossip; rather confront or rebuke one another privately.

 

𝕄𝕒𝕥𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕨 𝟙𝟡:𝟚𝟚

"But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property."

What an irony! He was grieved by His riches. After all, money cannot buy all happiness.

 

𝕄𝕒𝕥𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕨 𝟚𝟘:𝟙𝟝

"Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with what is my own? Or is your eye envious because I am generous?"

This story is more about God's goodness (generosity) but the other theme about the jealousy of man is very compelling and applicable in my life as well.

 

𝕄𝕒𝕥𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕨 𝟚𝟙:𝟚𝟚

"And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive."

The importance of believing while praying.

 

𝕄𝕒𝕥𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕨 𝟚𝟚:𝟜𝟞

"No one was able to answer Him a word, nor did anyone dare from that day on to ask Him another question."

Jesus outsmarted them. Jesus is the best in everything He does. We must be gentle but also be wise to shut off (wicked) people's mouths.

 

𝕄𝕒𝕥𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕨 𝟚𝟛:𝟛

"therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them."

At least, the Pharisees tell the people good and right things even if they do differently. That's why Bible teachers also need to teach accurately even if they are a hypocrite. It's worse to adjust doctrine to accommodate one's sin.

 

𝕄𝕒𝕥𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕨 𝟚𝟜:𝟚𝟜

"For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect."

Let's not undermine false teachers and teachings.

 

𝕄𝕒𝕥𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕨 𝟚𝟝:𝟚𝟡

"For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away."

No matter whatever our job is let's be faithful in whatever we do to the pleasure of God.

 

𝕄𝕒𝕥𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕨 𝟚𝟞:𝟜𝟙

"Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."

Always be Alert and in Prayer.

 

𝕄𝕒𝕥𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕨 𝟚𝟟:𝟛𝟜

"they gave Him wine to drink mixed with gall; and after tasting it, He was unwilling to drink."

Jesus didn't want a painkiller. Certainly, no wine.

Don't even think of using wine to ease your mental trouble.

 

𝕄𝕒𝕥𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕨 𝟚𝟠:𝟙𝟟

"When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful."

If people would doubt even after seeing the risen Christ, they would doubt our faith, our sincerity, our commitment, but there will be some who believe. Even if there's none to believe we must keep holding to our faith.