BIAY - Ministry Beginning
Matthew 1-4, Psalm 60
Welcome to the Bible in a Year for 2025. Intro to this series and resource links available here, plus here’s how I’m approaching this year.
Scriptures for Today:
Reflection:
Moving back to the New Testament, we begin Matthew’s Gospel today. Matthew’s gospel has many famous passages that are distinctive and strongly shape our picture of Jesus and understanding of the Gospel. I look forward to
Immanuel, God with us (1:22-23) - This is the promise of the Incarnation and the hope we have in Jesus. In Christian theology this represents a mysterious synergy of religious perspective and experience. Some religions teach the transcendence of God—that He is high above and completely separate from humanity (Ex: Deism/clockmaker god who created and stepped back from the world). Others teach the immanence of God—that He is intimate, close, and even intertwined with humanity (Ex: pantheistic religions in which god is in everyone and everything—like the Force in Star Wars). Christianity’s theology of the Incarnation basically says that the transcendent Creator God of the Universe chose to come close to humanity in the “God-man,” Jesus the Christ.
Obedience to the Lord’s direction (1:24, 2:12, 2:13-14, 2:19-21) - Joseph, Mary, and the Magi are all responsive to the Lord’s direction and obedient to His leading. One thing I appreciate here is that they all let the Lord interrupt their plans in order to be faithful and trusting of His plan. This is something we all know is the correct answer, but the faith is in the doing.
From Baptism to Temptations (3:16-4:11) - The Father’s words spoken over Jesus are powerful: “This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased.” This is the step that leads to the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. It’s a high and holy moment. Then, immediately following, Jesus is led into the wilderness and tested by the devil. Sometimes a high and celebratory moment is followed by a difficult and trying one. In God’s plan, both of these were vital to Jesus’ preparation to begin his public ministry of preaching, teaching, healing, and working miracles that would reveal His Messiahship and point the people to God.
Questions:
How hard is it to lay down you plans when you gain a conviction that God has different plans for you?
When have inspiring and trying experiences prepared you for something important?
What else might the Holy Spirit be speaking with you about in the text today?
Prayer: Lord, help me to hear your call to discipleship and to respond faithfully with my whole life. Amen.
“But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” (Matthew 13:23)
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