Mark -- Day 1

This week we are jumping ahead to the New Testament. We will be reading the book of Mark.
Read Mark 1-3

Today's Devotion -- Mark 1:35-39

35Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. 36Simon and his companions went to look for him, 37and when they found him, they exclaimed: "Everyone is looking for you!"
38Jesus replied, "Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come." 39So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.(NIV)

Taken from www.biblegateway.com

As we have seen before, Jesus often spent time alone early in the morning in prayer. I'm sure this was his way of 'reporting for duty' and learning the specific actions he was to take each day.

On this particular day, crowds were looking for him everywhere. He had been up late the night before at Andrew and Peter's home and the whole town had gathered at the door, brining all their sick and demon-possessed relatives and friends. Jesus healed many of them. Apparently those who had not been able to get close enough were still hoping that he would heal them, too.

Jesus knew they were looking for him and that they were desperate for his help, yet he tells his disciples that they are going somewhere else! Did he not care about the rest of the crowd? Why didn't he just raise his arms and heal them all at once?

Jesus knew that he could be kept busy for the rest of his life healing those who were sick or demon possessed. But God reminded him that it was his message that was key, not the miracles that he did. He wanted us to know God's love and to understand how to be reunited with Him in eternity...even if we weren't made whole here on Earth.

Do you know what your purpose is? Do you keep so busy 'doing' good things that you ignore the task that God really wants you to do? This week in your quiet time, ask God what he thinks about the way you spend your time. Ask for specific areas where you should readjust your priorities...then watch and listen carefully through out the week for his quiet response.

Amos and Jonah - Day 9

Read Jonah 3

Today's Devotion -- Jonah 3:6-9

6 When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. 7 Then he issued a proclamation in Nineveh:
"By the decree of the king and his nobles:
Do not let any man or beast, herd or flock, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. 8 But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. 9 Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish." (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

I don't have any idea how large Ninevah was, but imagine it was the size of Florissant. It's amazing to see the results of Jonah's prophesy. It took three days for Jonah to deliver his message, and everyone responded!

Without newspapers, cell phones, television, or radio, all heard the message. And what's even more amazing, all responded by fasting and wearing sackcloths. These were bag-like garments made of a rough, course cloth (think burlap) -- very uncomfortable and worn as a symbol of mourning or repentance (imagine trying to get your teenage daughter to wear that!).

Ninevah was a pagan city, full of idol worshippers and evil-doers. Yet every one of them turned and repented almost immediately when they heard the message of impending destruction.

How do you think that would work in today's world? Even if we just look at our local population, do you think that ALL people would be willing to fast because they thought the world would end in forty days? How many of us spent a day fasting in response to Steve's request?

I'm not sure we could even get everyone to eat ice cream for dessert on the same day if our mayor, or even the president, insisted it would save us!

Amos and Jonah - Day 8

Read Jonah 2
Today's Devotion - Jonah 2:8

8 "Those who cling to worthless idols
forfeit the grace that could be theirs. (NIV)

8They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy. (King James Version)

8 "People who worship useless idols
give up their loyalty to you. (New Century Version)

8 Those who cling to worthless idols
forsake faithful love, (Holman Christian Standard Version)

Those who worship hollow gods, god-frauds,
walk away from their only true love. (The Message Version)

8 Those who worship false gods
turn their backs on all God’s mercies. (New Living Translation)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

It's amazing to see how different versions of the Bible translate the same passage. The way this verse is interpreted can have a very different impact on us.

For instance, is there a difference between worshipping a false idol and clinging to one? And even the terms idol and god could be perceived differently. Worshipping an idol seems like much less of an attachment than clinging to a god, yet it doesn't matter which way you interpret it, the result is the same.

Let's see if I can put that into terms of today's world. Worship can be seen by the way we spend our time. Think of the pre-teen girls trying to 'be' Hannah Montana, copying her clothing, way of speaking, and activities. They spend a lot of their time thinking about, watching, and emulating her every move. A similar example might be related to sports -- people who spend a lot of time watching the games, memorizing statistics, and arguing about what actions the coaches should take to improve the teams.

On the other hand, clinging to a false god indicates to me that you are placing your hope in something that can't help. Those who desperately try to increase their financial situation through gambling or get rich quick schemes -- they 'know' that just increasing their bank account will resolve all of their problems. Others place their hope in certain people. "If I could just get him (or her) to love me, everything will be ok." They focus all of their attention on that thing they believe will resolve all the problems in their lives.

In the end, though, it doesn't really matter how we interpret this passage -- the result is the same. We voluntarily walk away from the good things (be it love, mercy, or grace depending on the version you choose) that God intends for us to have.

Are there things that are pulling you down to the bottom of the sea, wrapping your head in sea weed just like Jonah? The answer is pretty clear -- if we worship and cling to the true God, he can save us in miraculous ways. And we'll receive the reward of grace, mercy, and love in amounts we can hardly imagine.

Amos and Jonah - Day 7

Read Jonah 1
Today's devotion - Jonah 1:11-12

11 The sea was getting rougher and rougher. So they asked him, "What should we do to you to make the sea calm down for us?"
12 "Pick me up and throw me into the sea," he replied, "and it will become calm. I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you." (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

This is probably one of the best known stories from the Bible -- one we hear early in our lives to warn us against running away from God's will. In fact, it's so familiar that it is difficult for me to read because I want to keep rushing ahead to the end of the story. And it's one of those stories where it's easy to say "I would never do THAT!" instead of trying to see a real relationship to our own lives.

But as I re-read it, I found this passage interesting. If Jonah knew that his actions were the cause of the storm and he knew that the lives of the others on board were at risk, why did he ask them to throw him overboard? Why didn't he just jump?

Even when we know without a doubt how to fix the messes we have created, we still need the support and help of others. Some things are just too scary to do alone. It is important for us to turn to our friends (or even strangers if they are the only ones around) and ask for their help. It may mean having someone who will hold us accountable for staying on the right road, or someone we know will take us to task if we give into temptation.

Left on our own, we will look at the rough sea and seek any other possible way to avoid taking the right, but difficult, action. Who do you have to hold you accountable?

Amos and Jonah - Day 6

Read Amos 9

Today's Devotion - Amos 9:13-15

13 "The days are coming," declares the LORD,
"when the reaper will be overtaken by the plowman
and the planter by the one treading grapes.
New wine will drip from the mountains
and flow from all the hills.
14 I will bring back my exiled people Israel;
they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them.
They will plant vineyards and drink their wine;
they will make gardens and eat their fruit.

15 I will plant Israel in their own land,
never again to be uprooted
from the land I have given them,"
says the LORD your God. (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

Each of us will face difficult times in our lives -- some by our own doing and others that just happen. Illness, financial trouble, death of a loved one, unemployment...they will touch our lives either directly or indirectly at some point.

I read an article this morning entitled Everything Seemingly is Spinning Out of Control, which talks about the record low level of confidence Americans have in our ability to achieve our dreams due to current circumstances.

I imagine the Israelites felt the same way. Everywhere they turned they were either hearing or seeing gloom and doom about their future.

But even when God was foretelling the judgement he planned on the sinning nation, he provided hope for the future. Yes, times were bad and were going to get worse, but He promised that we would restore the land to his people and again they would live in a land flowing with milk and honey. He promised that, in time, the land would belong to them forever.

He gives us that same hope. He promises that all things will work out for the good of those who love him, and that we will have an eternity in paradise...all the troubles of this world will fall away.

Isn't it great to know that he always keeps his promises?

Amos and Jonah Day 5

Read Amos 7-8

Today's Devotion -- Amos 8:11-13

11 "The days are coming," declares the Sovereign LORD,
"when I will send a famine through the land—
not a famine of food or a thirst for water,
but a famine of hearing the words of the LORD.

12 Men will stagger from sea to sea
and wander from north to east,
searching for the word of the LORD,
but they will not find it.

13 "In that day
"the lovely young women and strong young men
will faint because of thirst. (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

It is really hard for me to imagine not having access to the words of the Lord. In Biblical times people were able to hear snippets from the reading of the Torah at the Temple or they could listen to the prophets (if there happened to be one). Beyond that they had to rely on memorized words and guidance passed down through the generations.

Today in many countries it is illegal to have a copy of the Scripture. They sometimes tear a single Bible into many shorter sections to memorize and pass along to others. All while we may have multiple copies (best as I can count, we have at least 9 copies in our house, not counting the internet), but we often don't find time to read any of it until we open them on Sunday.

With such easy access to God's Word, how could we have a famine in our country? What if people no longer heard what was in the Bible, or even had a clue that God's Word held the key to fulfilling the emptiness in their souls?

When I was in high school, I heard a story about a conversation between God and Satan. God was proclaiming the ease with which we could all access his Word. Satan laughed and said that he believed that people owned God's word but wouldn't miss it if it were gone. God allowed Satan to steal Bibles and he could keep the ones that weren't missed by their owners. How many do you think he could collect today?

Amos and Jonah -- Day 4

Read Amos 6

Today's Devotion -- Amos 6:1

1 Woe to you who are complacent in Zion,
and to you who feel secure on Mount Samaria,
you notable men of the foremost nation,
to whom the people of Israel come!(NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

Christians have been called the Moral Majority, but also the Silent Majority. Most of us have grown up in an 'I'm OK, You're OK' world, and we've been taught by our parents, our teachers, and television that we should feel free to be who we are, but to also let others be free in whom they want to be. Which, in reality, means that we are not to tell others that what they are doing or how they are living is wrong.

Which has resulted in legalized abortion, same-sex marriages, distribution of condoms in our schools, inappropriate yet popular tv shows and movies, and the removal of God from school and government offices.

I know that I am guilty of turning my head and pretending not to see these things. Who am I to stand up and tell others that they are wrong when I know that I am still a sinner, too? Doesn't it seem judgmental to look at the speck in anothers eye when I have a plank sticking out of my own?

But there is a difference in being judgmental about a person and telling God's truth about sin. True, those we share this truth with will most likely look at us as hypocrites or zealots, but does that make our responsibility to share any less urgent? And how do we 'love the person/hate the sin' without the person thinking that we are judging them?

I struggle with these things, and so I remain silent...even complacent. It's easy to feel secure in our little Christian cocoon...but I'm not sure that's what God wants.

Woe to us who are complacent and feel secure! I need to pray more about this one...

Amos and Jonah - Day 3

Read Amos 5
Today's Devotion -- Amos 5:14, 21-23

14 Seek good, not evil,
that you may live.
Then the LORD God Almighty will be with you,
just as you say he is.

21 "I hate, I despise your religious feasts;
I cannot stand your assemblies.
22 Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings,
I will not accept them.
Though you bring choice fellowship offerings,
I will have no regard for them.

23 Away with the noise of your songs!
I will not listen to the music of your harps. (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

It had never really occurred to me that God may despise our attempts at worship! Now, I know I'm not a very good singer, but I don't think this passage talks about him cringing when I hit a wrong note (despite the fact that the folks sitting in front of me suffer).

This passage convicts me in a couple of ways. First, how often do I enter into worship without really preparing myself? On Sunday mornings it seems like we almost always rush out of the house at the last minute after dealing with boys who are frustrated by the need to change their clothes, lost keys, missed breakfasts, and running back into the house 2-3 times to get things that we have forgotten. By the time we get to our seats, I sometimes feel like I've put in a full day's work. At that point, the worship that I offer to the Lord is pretty weak and unexalting.

Second, I know that I haven't humbled myself or asked forgiveness for sins that have been committed but are unconfessed. I'm sure God looks at my feeble attempts to worship and wonders how I dare come to his throne dressed in the dirty rags of my sin.

He tells us that all we need to do is focus on doing good and he will be with us. Instead I focus on the easy, restful, and mindless things which may not be inherently evil but are definitely not the best choices I can make.

God doesn't expect us to be perfect, but he does expect us to pay attention. He wants us to make good choices that bring us closer to him, and he expects us to lay our selfishness, laziness, pride, and disobedience at his feet honestly before we attempt to worship him.

Today, take a second to note the choices that you make and consciously choose 'good'. And before going to worship tonight, take stock of your poor choices and present them to God in preparation to fully worship him. I'm sure he'll be tapping his feet along with the beat!

Amos and Jonah -- Day 2

Read Amos 3-4

Today's Devotion -- Amos 4:6-12
6 "I gave you empty stomachs in every city
and lack of bread in every town,
yet you have not returned to me,"
declares the LORD.

7 "I also withheld rain from you
when the harvest was still three months away.
I sent rain on one town,
but withheld it from another.
One field had rain;
another had none and dried up.

8 People staggered from town to town for water
but did not get enough to drink,
yet you have not returned to me,"
declares the LORD.

9 "Many times I struck your gardens and vineyards,
I struck them with blight and mildew.
Locusts devoured your fig and olive trees,
yet you have not returned to me,"
declares the LORD.

10 "I sent plagues among you
as I did to Egypt.
I killed your young men with the sword,
along with your captured horses.
I filled your nostrils with the stench of your camps,
yet you have not returned to me,"
declares the LORD.

11 "I overthrew some of you
as I overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.
You were like a burning stick snatched from the fire,
yet you have not returned to me,"
declares the LORD.

12 "Therefore this is what I will do to you, Israel,
and because I will do this to you,
prepare to meet your God, O Israel." (NIV)
Taken from www.biblegateway.com

God will do what it takes to get our attention. He gave the Israelites all they could possibly need...and many things they didn't need, yet they turned away to other gods.

If we honestly look at our lives, we have received an amazing amount of blessings. Our society tends to make people think that they need 'more' -- bigger homes, better cars, more clothes, larger televisions. But if you compare us with many in the world, we are rich beyond their wildest dreams. We probably throw away more food in a day than many people see in a week. Our pets eat better than many children.

Somehow it is easier to forget about God when life is good, but we turn to him quickly in times of trouble. He wants us to live abundant lives, but we are to remember who provides all those good things. More than anything, he wants us to have a relationship with him that involves thanksgiving, worship, and time in prayer. This passage provides a warning to us that he WILL get our attention one way or another...and it makes me want to be sure to keep that relationship strong in good times and bad!

Amos and Jonah, Day 1

Since we won't have our regular class next week (due to the 50th Anniversary Celebration), we can take two weeks to go through our text for the next lesson. We will be studying Amos and Jonah.

Read Amos 1-2

Today's Devotion - Amos 2:13-16
13 "Now then, I will crush you
as a cart crushes when loaded with grain.
14 The swift will not escape,
the strong will not muster their strength,
and the warrior will not save his life.

15 The archer will not stand his ground,
the fleet-footed soldier will not get away,
and the horseman will not save his life.

16 Even the bravest warriors
will flee naked on that day,"
declares the LORD.

taken from www.biblegateway.com

The first verses of these chapters talk about how God will crush the enemies of Israel. Through a lowly shepherd, He passes along specific sins of the surrounding communities and provides details of their pending demise. I'm sure the Jewish community was thrilled to know that their enemies would soon feel the ominous wrath of God. Can you imagine their excitement as they waited for their evil neighbors to finally get what they deserved.

But then, God continues with his judgment and he turns to Judah and Israel. All of a sudden, the coming tragedy is on their own shoulders. God specifically talks about their sins -- rejection of the law, worshiping false gods, abusing the poor for selfish gain, adultery, and drinking the wine set aside as an offering.

At the end of the prophesy, God must have sensed that his chosen people may have fallen under the assumption that they would be exempt from the destruction -- maybe thinking that they, individually, were too strong to fall when times got tough. So he adds today's passage, warning that regardless of their standing in the community or their expertise as soldiers, they too would fall.

Why is it that we think we are exempt from the consequences of our actions? Despite indisputable evidence showing the negative results, people still smoke, eat the wrong things, and watch another tv show instead of exercising. We rack up credit card bills without believing that we will get into financial trouble like others do. We put off making repairs or doing routine maintenance to our homes and cars, thinking we can eek by without trouble. Then we seem shocked when inevitable results happen and we wonder why God is putting us through such tough times!

Why is it so hard to do the things we know we should do in the first place?

Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon

Sorry I haven't gotten any devotions to you this week. I was in Springfield with my daughter for college orientation and I wasn't able to get wireless connections on campus. Things have been a little crazy with Doug's Dad being sick and Becca's graduation party this week, so I think I'm going to just take the week off.

Please read Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon, and I'll see you on Sunday!

Matthew - Day 4

Read Matthew 17-21
Today's Devotion -- Mt 21:1-11

1As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away."
4This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:
5"Say to the Daughter of Zion,
'See, your king comes to you,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.' "

6The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7They brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them. 8A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,
"Hosanna to the Son of David!"
"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"
"Hosanna in the highest!"

10When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, "Who is this?"

11The crowds answered, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee."(NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

If you lived in Jesus' time, whose side would you be on?

Take a look at your personality, your response to peer pressure, and your dedication to traditional values or rules. How do you think you would have responded to this carpenters' ministry?

Would you have dropped everything and followed him immediately because of the miracles he did?

Would you have listened with a skeptical ear, watching and testing everything he said?

Or would you have believed he was a fake and turned away because that's what your beloved (and very intelligent) priest believed?

Many people fell into each category (and probably a few more!). When Jesus entered Jerusalem for the Passover feast, lots of people came to see his procession. Whether they believed or not, they were caught up in the festivities and they cheered. A few short hours later, many people got caught up in the 'festivities' of his death and jeered. Even most of the disciples, his closest companions, abandoned Jesus after spending three years at his side.

I always wonder -- were those who almost rioted to ensure his crucifixion the same people who cheered earlier? Were they swayed easily by peer pressure? Did they hear things that caused them to change their minds about who Jesus really was? How often are our opinions about people changed because we hear new information (without investigating to see what is really true)?

Matthew Day 3

Read Matthew 11 - 16
Today's Devotion -- Mt 13:18-23

18"Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. 22The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. 23But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown." (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

Usually when I read the parable of the sower, I think about a group of people hearing God's word for the first time. Some 'get it', some don't. And since I have accepted Christ, I presumed (hoped!) I was one of the people who hear the word, understand it, and produce results for the kingdom of God.

But as I read through the chapters for our study today, looking for some verse to pop out as a good devotion thought, I realized that I am any one (or all) four of these types of people on a given day.

Sometimes I'll read a verse that puzzles me. However, instead of reading the text notes at the bottom of the page or doing a little research, I pass it by and hope to understand it in context. Or most likely I just forget about it and I read on. In essence, I've let the evil one snatch that learning opportunity away.

Other times I'll read a verse that really resonates with me and I make a mental note to remember where it is. I might even underline it for future reference. But an hour later I'd be hard pressed to tell you what that verse was about. And the chances of me leaning on it when tough times come is pretty slim. At best I'll remember 'there is a verse in the Bible somewhere about this....' and I won't be able to find it again.

Many days I take my quiet time and read or study with best of intentions for what I'm learning. But pretty soon my kids wake up, the boys fight, we have places to go and things to do...and any peace or knowledge I gained from my morning time seems to have been lost in the midst of life.

I desperately want to be 'good soil'. I want to be able to read, understand, learn, and remember the messages God has to share. But so often time, distractions, obligations, and my increasingly feeble memory seem to win out.

What disciplines have you put in place to ensure that the things you learn are translated into productive actions for God?

Matthew - Day 2

Today's reading -- Matthew 5 - 10
Today's devotion -- Mt 9:18-26

18While he was saying this, a ruler came and knelt before him and said, "My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live." 19Jesus got up and went with him, and so did his disciples.
20Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. 21She said to herself, "If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed."

22Jesus turned and saw her. "Take heart, daughter," he said, "your faith has healed you." And the woman was healed from that moment.

23When Jesus entered the ruler's house and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd, 24he said, "Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep." But they laughed at him. 25After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up. 26News of this spread through all that region. (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

At a women's conference last year I had the privilege of listening to Liz Curtiss Higgs, a Christian author and speaker. She has written some of the funniest books I've read, and she has also written some of the most memorable stories based on Biblical characters.

At this conference, Liz talked about this particular passage. Most of us have heard about the woman who desperately grabbed at Jesus' hem, knowing that if she could just touch him she would be healed from her terrible affliction. Because of her bleeding she was considered 'unclean', and anyone she touched would also be unclean and would be required to provide a sacrifice to be back in good graces.

Jesus has had a very busy week. He just returned to his home town and he's preached to a large crowd, probably at Peter's house. He healed a man whose friends had torn through a roof in order to get him close to Jesus. He called Matthew to join the disciples and he feasted at Matthew's home with many tax collectors and sinners. John's disciples have questioned his practices and he has also been riddled with questions and accusations by the Pharisees. Now, as he is heading toward the ruler's home to heal a child, a woman grabs the hem of his garment in an act of extreme faith.

Liz pointed out a couple of interesting facts about this story that I'd never noticed before. If you look at the account that Mark tells (Mk 5:22-43), we find out that the child Jesus heals is twelve years old. She is brought back to life, ready to move forward into adulthood. And the woman he healed has been bleeding for twelve years...the entire lifetime of the child. She too, is essentially brought back to life and is ready to move forward.

A best I can tell, this is the only time Jesus calls a woman 'daughter'. While the temple ruler, Jairus, is advocating for his daughter in the plea for Jesus to heal her, Jesus puts himself in the position of advocate and father for the woman desperate to be healed.

When there is no one else to intervene on our behalf, Jesus himself will step in and full that spot, even when we are unclean. Amazing.

Matthew -- Day 1

This week we are popping up to the New Testament to give us a balance between the old and new covenants. Matthew has 28 chapters, so that would give us 5-6 chapters per day if we try to finish it all by Friday. Matthew's chapters are quite long, so I'll try to pull out some key chapters for us.

Today, read chapters 1-4. This covers the time from the birth of Jesus until he's called the first disciples.

Today's devotion: Mt 1:1-17

1A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham:
2Abraham was the father of Isaac,
Isaac the father of Jacob,
Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,
3Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar,
Perez the father of Hezron,
Hezron the father of Ram,
4Ram the father of Amminadab,
Amminadab the father of Nahshon,
Nahshon the father of Salmon,
5Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab,
Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth,
Obed the father of Jesse,
6and Jesse the father of King David.
David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah's wife,
7Solomon the father of Rehoboam,
Rehoboam the father of Abijah,
Abijah the father of Asa,
8Asa the father of Jehoshaphat,
Jehoshaphat the father of Jehoram,
Jehoram the father of Uzziah,
9Uzziah the father of Jotham,
Jotham the father of Ahaz,
Ahaz the father of Hezekiah,
10Hezekiah the father of Manasseh,
Manasseh the father of Amon,
Amon the father of Josiah,
11and Josiah the father of Jeconiah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon.
12After the exile to Babylon:
Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel,
Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,
13Zerubbabel the father of Abiud,
Abiud the father of Eliakim,
Eliakim the father of Azor,
14Azor the father of Zadok,
Zadok the father of Akim,
Akim the father of Eliud,
15Eliud the father of Eleazar,
Eleazar the father of Matthan,
Matthan the father of Jacob,
16and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
17Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Christ. (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

Ok, I know, you think I must be crazy to have you read a genealogy! Hey, at least it's in the NIV, so you don't have to worry about all the 'begets'!

While genealogies can be rather boring (and hard to pronounce), it is fascinating to see the characters who were part of Christ's lineage. How many names do you recognize from our Old Testament study so far? A few of the key ones:

Abraham -- father of the Jewish race

Isaac -- the promised one that Sarai couldn't wait for

Jacob -- the one who stole his brother's birthright

Judah -- who sold his brother Joseph to a band of gypsies

Tamar -- who tricked her father-in-law, Judah, into making her pregnant

Rahab -- the prostitute in Jericho, mother of Boaz

Ruth -- the Moabite who followed her mother-in-law back to Israel

David -- the king who sinned with Bathsheba

Solomon -- the wisest, yet he kept many wives and concubines despite God's warnings


In addition, many of the most evil kings in Judean history are included on that list!

Yet from this line of losers came the King of all Kings, our Lord and our salvation.

It is so encouraging to me that God uses real, flawed human beings to do his will. He doesn't want us to be perfect, but he will use our imperfection to achieve great and wonderful things. Even today, he calls on those of us who are weak, selfish, and stained by sin to show his amazing love to others. And he loves us more than we can comprehend... regardless of how we act. Isn't that amazing?