Today's Reading:
- Matthew 1:1-2:12
- Psalm 1:1-6
Matthew 1:1-2:12
Let me start by saying that I can’t believe I haven’t never attempted a bible reading plan before. All of my other attempts have been to read straight through, and I’ve never made it further than Leviticus. Therefore it was so exciting to read part of Matthew. I actually got to read about the birth of Jesus on my second day of bible study.
I was dismayed when I immediately came to a generation list, but all that changed when I realized I recognized so many of the names in that list. Jesus came from the noblest of lines! I guess I should have realized that, and I know that I’ve heard it, but I just hadn’t seen it for myself. Another thing that amazes me when I read these lists is that they could even keep track of 42 generations. These days one has to really dig back to get their lineage, but I guess back then they kept that information going forward instead of trying to trace their way back.
The second chapter told about the virgin Mary and the angel appearing to Joseph. I have heard the story over and over again, but what I failed to realize was that Joseph had decided to break off the engagement directly before he was spoken to. I had always heard stuff like “he had his doubts,” but I didn’t know he had called the whole marriage off.
It's hard to even imagine how an unwed pregnancy would affect anyone back then when we live in such different times now. I wonder about the events that led up to that point. How many people knew she was pregnant? What happened to women back then who became pregnant, yet had no one to marry?
I was dismayed when I immediately came to a generation list, but all that changed when I realized I recognized so many of the names in that list. Jesus came from the noblest of lines! I guess I should have realized that, and I know that I’ve heard it, but I just hadn’t seen it for myself. Another thing that amazes me when I read these lists is that they could even keep track of 42 generations. These days one has to really dig back to get their lineage, but I guess back then they kept that information going forward instead of trying to trace their way back.
The second chapter told about the virgin Mary and the angel appearing to Joseph. I have heard the story over and over again, but what I failed to realize was that Joseph had decided to break off the engagement directly before he was spoken to. I had always heard stuff like “he had his doubts,” but I didn’t know he had called the whole marriage off.
It's hard to even imagine how an unwed pregnancy would affect anyone back then when we live in such different times now. I wonder about the events that led up to that point. How many people knew she was pregnant? What happened to women back then who became pregnant, yet had no one to marry?
Psalm 1:1-6
1 Oh the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers.The closer I try to become to God, the more I realize how just being in sinful situations tears me away from his presence. It seems I don’t have to “join in with mockers”, because just “stand[ing] around with sinners” is enough to bring me down. I am working at tearing myself away from these situations, but I still surround myself with people and situations that I just shouldn’t be in. I am getting better and I shall continue to work on it.
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