From: March 19, 2015
the son of Joseph, the son of Heli…” (Luke 3:23 NKJV).
Some point to the differences between the two genealogies found in Matthew and Luke as evidence of error in the Bible. However, the better explanation is that Matthew and Luke were writing from different perspectives. Matthew’s gospel presented Christ as King, while Luke’s presented him as Son of Man. Matthew followed the line of Joseph (Jesus’ legal father), through David’s son Solomon, while Luke followed the line of Mary (Jesus’ blood relative), though David’s son Nathan. Since there was no Greek word for “son-in-law,” Joseph was called the “son of Heli” by marriage to Mary, Heli’s daughter. Through either Mary’s or Joseph’s line, Jesus is a descendant of David. Tracing a genealogy through the mother’s side is unusual, but so was the virgin birth. Luke’s explanation is that Jesus was the son of Joseph, “as was supposed.” Matthew’s genealogy started with Abraham and ended with Jesus, showing his legal right to the Davidic throne, while Luke began with Jesus and traced his humanity all the way back to Adam and to God.
From: March 19, 2014
Reading through all the instructions concerning offerings and festivals in the Old Testament is pretty overwhelming. It seems impossible to keep up with them all. Yet, God was teaching His people to remember Him and what He had done for them. These holy-days/holidays were meant for remembrance, worship and to remind them of their identity as one people belonging to God. In Numbers 28, the following holiday/festivals are mentioned:
– Passover (Hebrew: פסח Pesach): Which commemorates the story of the Exodus, also called The Feast of Unleavened Bread. Begins on April 14th at sundown this year.
– Festival of Harvest (Hebrew: שבועות Shavuot): Also called The Festival of Weeks and The Festival of Pentecost. It commemorates the anniversary of the day God gave the Torah. This year it begins at sundown on June 3rd.
– Festival of Trumpets (Hebrew: ראש השנה Rosh Hashanah, literally “head of the year”): is the Jewish New Year. It is celebrated by the sounding of the shofar (trumpets). This year it begins at sundown on Sept 24th.
– Day of Atonement (Heb: יום כפור Yom Kippur): It is the holiest day of the year for the Jews. Its central themes are atonement and repentance. This year it begins at sundown on Oct 3rd.
– Festival of Shelters (Heb. סוכות Sukkot): Also called The Feast of Booths and The Feast of Tabernacles. This year it begins at sundown on Oct. 8th.
From: March 19, 2013
David knew how to get alone with God and find hope and encouragement from Him. He was careful to silence his own self-talk and listen for the voice of the Lord. When we allow the voice of worry (anxious self-talk) to fill our heads, discouragement abounds. At times like this we can say to ourselves, “Be quiet soul, wait and listen for God to speak.”
From: March 19, 2012
David trusted God for the victory in his life. How do you define victory or success? How could waiting quietly before God possibly have anything to do with succeeding? Only those who recognize that knowing and pleasing God is the highest success will understand David’s prayer.
From: March 19, 2011
Even our work should come from a place of rest knowing that Christ has finished the work of our salvation. All is well. Rest in Him.