Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Matthew+008

 

MATTHEW 8 (ESV)

¹ When he came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him. ² And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” ³ And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. ⁴ And Jesus said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a proof to them.”

⁵ When he had entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him, ⁶ “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly.” ⁷ And he said to him, “I will come and heal him.” ⁸ But the centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. ⁹ For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” ¹⁰ When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith. ¹¹ I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, ¹² while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” ¹³ And to the centurion Jesus said, “Go; let it be done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed at that very moment.

¹⁴ And when Jesus entered Peter’s house, he saw his mother-in-law lying sick with a fever. ¹⁵ He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she rose and began to serve him. ¹⁶ That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick. ¹⁷ This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.”

 

REFLECTION

• Jesus displays a royal power over all forces in natural and supernatural worlds. King Jesus is willing and able to heal all kinds of illness and suffering.
• The leper realizes that Jesus has the power as God to heal sicknesses and to correct evils that torment mankind. But the leper also realizes that Jesus has a choice about whether to heal or not.  Again and again Jesus exercised His power as God, and each time it was to help or heal a human being in need.  Christ is willing.  And He is able too.
• Recall a time when you were touched by the loving hand of God. What was it?  How did you feel?
• What did your past experience of God’s touch and healing teach you about God’s power and His love? Spend a few moments conversing with God and listening to what God is trying to tell you.

 

PRAYER:

Loving Father, You are the God of mercy, of healing, and of salvation. You came to the world to see the sufferings of the world, You healed people’s bodies, You also saved their souls, and saved the world from the bondage of sin. Lord, please increase my faith and let me look up and pray without ceasing in my daily life. Let me move forward firmly in the storm of life. Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, press on toward the goal. Amen!

 

HYMN:

Healer – youtu.be/L3Z2JshTkIs

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Matthew+007

 

MATTHEW 7 (ESV)

¹ “Judge not, that you be not judged. ² For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. ³ Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? ⁴ Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? ⁵ You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

⁶ “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.

⁷ “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. ⁸ For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. ⁹ Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? ¹⁰ Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? ¹¹ If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

 

REFLECTION

• Kingdom citizens have an “in-secret” relationship with God (6:1-4). Therefore, we do not judge others, and we consciously depend on our Father, and choose His “narrow gate”. As we do, God’s power is exhibited in our good lives and in our obedience.
• Each of the images of prayer – ask, seek, knock- suggests persistence. Each also conveys a promise.  Ask, it will be given; seek, you will find; knock, the door will be opened.  What encourages us to be actively involved in prayer, and to claim these promises, is the certainty that God is our Father.  Our Father loves us.  He provides what we need, not because we bother Him, but because He cares.  And He is eager to give us good gifts.
• When you pray to make a request to God, do you rely on your persistence to “persuade” God? Or do you rely on God’s pervasive love and rest assured of the good gifts He’s going to give you?

 

PRAYER:

My Lord, my God, please grant me a meek and humble heart, let me see and learn the merits of my brothers and sisters, and not judge others. Examine my sins, and let my faith be built on the solid rock, not loose sand. Please allow me to bear good fruit that matches my identity as a child of God. Please give me the wisdom to understand Your Word and open the door for me when I knock and seek You so that I can find it. Please increase my faith in the pursuit of truth. Amen!

 

HYMN:

Goodness of God – youtu.be/-f4MUUMWMV4

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Matthew+006

 

MATTHEW 6 (ESV)

⁵ “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. ⁶ But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

⁷ “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. ⁸ Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. ⁹ Pray then like this:

“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
¹⁰ Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
¹¹ Give us this day our daily bread,
¹² and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
¹³ And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

¹⁴ For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, ¹⁵ but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

 

REFLECTION  

Prayer is an expression of intimate relationship with God. Here Jesus invites us to explore what prayer is, and what it can mean to us.

Lord, I cannot say “Our”…
if my faith has no room for other people and their needs.

Lord, I cannot say “Father”…
if I fail to resemble You in the way I live my daily life.

Lord, I cannot say “Who are in Heaven”…
if my attention is focused only on earthly things.

Lord, I cannot say “Hallowed be Thy name”…
if I, who am called by your name, am not holy.

Lord, I cannot say “Thy Kingdom come”…
if I fail to acknowledge your sovereignty in my life.

Lord, I cannot say “On earth as it is in Heaven”…
unless I am truly ready to serve You here and now.

Lord, I cannot say “Give us this day our daily bread”…
without doing an honest day’s work, and
without considering the needs of those less fortunate.

Lord, I cannot say “Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors”…
if I harbour a grudge against my brother or sister.

Lord, I cannot say “Lead us not into temptation”…
if I deliberately choose to remain in a situation
where I am likely to be tempted.

Lord, I cannot say “Deliver us from evil”…
if I am not prepared to take a stand against injustice in my society.

Lord, I cannot say “Thine is the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory”…
if I do not submit to Christ as King,
if I fail to trust You to act in my life,
or if in pride I seek my own glory.

Lord, I cannot say “Amen”…
unless I can honestly say, “Come what may, this is my prayer.”

(Author Unknown)

 
PRAYER:

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.

Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever.

Amen!

 

HYMN:

Our Father – youtu.be/Scbo47yerDs

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Matthew+005

 

MATTHEW 5 (ESV)

¹Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.

² And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:

³ “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

⁴ “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

⁵ “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

⁶ “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

⁷ “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

⁸ “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

⁹ “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

¹⁰ “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

¹¹ “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. ¹² Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

 

REFLECTION

• Jesus spoke as King with absolute authority in His kingdom. And He spoke as God, not abolishing, but reinterpreting the meaning of biblical words whose implications had long been lost. He announced blessings for citizens of His kingdom and expects them to do good deeds, for He requires a righteousness that surpasses that of even the zealous Pharisees.
• Jesus is contrasting the two ways to blessedness: (1) the kingdom way of pure gift from God, and (2) the worldly way of human attainment. Jesus takes those people ordinarily thought to be unblessed or unbless-able and shows that there is something about life in the kingdom of God that makes these people blessed.
• Are you a blessed person according to Jesus’ teaching here? Why?
• How would you allow God’s blessing flow from you to your community and people around you?

 

PRAYER:

Loving Heavenly Father, thank You for the blessings of the kingdom of heaven, and please keep my eyes fixed on heaven and on that better country. Father God please give me strength and wisdom. Let me learn the likeness of Jesus Christ and love my neighbor as myself. Let me have His fragrance in me. Attract people to you. Allow me to be salt and light for You in the world, illuminating those around me so that they can see Your glory. Amen!

 

HYMN:

Make Me a Blessing – youtu.be/lMSZCCS0QJ0

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Matthew+004

 

MATTHEW 4 (ESV)

¹ Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. ² And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. ³ And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” ⁴ But he answered, “It is written,

“‘Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

⁵ Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple ⁶ and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written,

“‘He will command his angels concerning you,’

and

“‘On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”

⁷ Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” ⁸ Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. ⁹ And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” ¹⁰ Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written,

“‘You shall worship the Lord your God
and him only shall you serve.’”

¹¹ Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.

 

REFLECTION

• After Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist, the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness where He overcame Satan’s temptation and demonstrated His commitment to God. Thus prepared, Jesus began to preach, called His first disciples, and demonstrated His God-given authority by miracles of healing.
• If Jesus had turned stone into bread, thrown Himself down from the pinnacle of the temple or worshiped Satan, in order to feed Himself, prove Himself to the crowds, or gain His kingdom without dying for it, He would no longer have been the obedient Son of God worthy of our imitation.
• However, Jesus didn’t take the shortcut to glory, but followed the hard and long path of obedience, lived by God and resisted temptation by relying on God’s word. God’s wisdom isn’t just for us to know the truth, but to obey it.
• What’s your attitude toward God’s word? How do you resist when temptation comes?

 

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, in these last days, the devil is walking around like a roaring lion, always trying to devour us. We live in the temptation of the world all the time. Please let me understand that man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes out of the mouth of God. Let my heart pant for You like a deer pants for streams of water. Let me live in Your Word every day, fill me with the Holy Spirit at all times, and let me follow You closely to serve You, not to follow and serve the world. Amen!

 

HYMN:

Thy Word – youtu.be/kI1ABsX4Fgo

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Matthew+003

 

MATTHEW 3 (ESV)

¹ In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, ² “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” ³ For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said,

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
make his paths straight.’”

⁴ Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. ⁵ Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, ⁶ and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

⁷ But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? ⁸ Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. ⁹ And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. ¹⁰ Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

¹¹ “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. ¹² His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

 

REFLECTION

• Before Jesus began His ministry on earth, John the Baptist prepared Judea for His appearance. Religious leaders believed they were saved by righteous living. When John told them to bear fruit in keeping with repentance (v8) he was telling them to change their mind about their need for a saviour and teach others to do the same.
• Salvation is not a fruit bearing event.  When Jesus enters someone’s life by his faith, he does a fundamental transformation of heart and behaviour. Salvation goes hand in hand with actually living it out.  Bearing fruit comes after we’re saved as we influence others through our changed attitude and behaviour, and by implementing the Lord’s plans for our life.
• How many times have you tried to change and only to be back at the same old habits and lifestyle as before? Quit what you’re doing and look at what God is doing inside and out; and choose to rely on the Holy Spirit to transform you.

 

PRAYER:

The kingdom of heaven is near, and we must repent. Loving Father, I have been baptized into Jesus Christ as Your disciple. I am an unworthy sinner, yet You baptized me with the Holy Spirit and made me holy. Lord, please remind me of Your Holy Spirit, enlighten me, and cleanse me. Align my actions with my identity of being saved. Please prune my branches and leaves so that I can always be connected to You, learn obedience in love, and bear spiritual fruit commensurate with my repentance. Amen!

 

HYMN:

Holy Spirit Living Breath of God – youtu.be/8nbMfLQd2P4

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Matthew+002

 

MATTHEW 2 (ESV)

 ¹ Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, ² saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” ³ When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; ⁴ and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. ⁵ They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:

⁶ “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

⁷ Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. ⁸ And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.”⁹ After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. ¹⁰ When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. ¹¹ And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. ¹² And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

 

REFLECTION

• Even though the nation of Israel waited for centuries for God’s anointed King to be born, Jesus’ birth, however, was not greeted with royal gladness by the nation and its leaders. Instead, there was intrigue and conflict. The political and religious establishment felt threatened by the coming of the Messiah. It was left to foreign leaders (the wise men from the east) to welcome the newborn King.
• The wise men knew Jesus as “the one who has been born king of the Jews”. They not only found Jesus, but worshiped him and witnessed to the entire city of Jerusalem concerning his birth (vv. 2-3).
• In what ways has your search for the Lord resulted in worshiping him and telling others about him?
• Spend time worshiping the King of kings. Then ask God to help you tell others about him.

 
PRAYER:

Dear Lord Jesus Christ, You were born in a manger so humble. You were born suffering, persecuted and being hunted. Your birth is like a bright morning star, which illuminates this dark and sinful world and points us the way. You are the God who created the heavens, the earth and all things, and the God who exists and lasts forever. You are the only way, truth and life, worthy of our great honour and praise! Amen!

 

HYMN:

Offering – youtu.be/sW2yaIT2u2Y

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Matthew+001

MATTHEW

Introduction

Matthew’s purpose is to show that God has kept his ancient promises to Israel through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus the Messiah. The long-expected reign of heaven is now coming to earth, bringing the Jewish story to its climax. Matthew begins by highlighting that Jesus was the son of David, Israel’s most famous king, and the son of Abraham, Israel’s founding patriarch. Jesus is the true Israelite and God’s promised Messiah.

The Messiah is shown as reliving the story of Israel—going down into the Jordan River, facing temptation in the wilderness, gathering twelve disciples as twelve new tribes, ascending a mountain to deliver a new Torah, etc. The author highlights the idea of Jesus as a new Moses by collecting his teachings into five long speeches. These are marked off by some variation of the phrase “When Jesus had finished saying these things”. Just as the Torah had five books, Matthew presents five major sections.

The book concludes by telling how Jesus brought about the great new act of redemption for his people. As in the story of Israel’s Exodus, a Passover meal is celebrated and then deliverance comes. Jesus gives his life for the sake of the world and is then raised from the dead. At the beginning of the book, Jesus is given the name Immanuel, meaning “God with us.” At the end, Jesus sends his followers into the world with the promise that surely I am with you always.

www.bible.com/zh-TW/bible/111/MAT.INTRO1.NIV

 

MATTHEW 1 (ESV)

1 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham…

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,

and they shall call his name Immanuel”

(which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

 

REFLECTION

• Matthew invites us to look beyond the scenes of history’s most crucial birth. What he shows us is that Jesus had His origins in God’s eternal plan, and that the Babe of Bethlehem embodies that plan’s fulfillment. Jesus’ genealogy established His descent from Abraham and David. His virgin birth fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy.
• Joseph is a righteous man, faithful to God’s law (v19). Even though he may think Mary had treated him badly, he determined to treat her well. He feared that Mary would be subject to a public disgrace, and perhaps even stoning for immoral sexual activity.  God directed Joseph through an angel in a dream.  He obeyed and took Mary home as his wife.
• The angel quoted Isaiah 7:14 to tell Joseph “the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (v23). Joseph accepted the message of the angel that Mary (a virgin) was pregnant by the Holy Spirit. And Christians throughout the ages have accepted this message too. The name “Immanuel” is God announcing to the world that the Child conceived by the Holy Spirit is Himself God: God, come to be “with us”. The name “Jesus” means “deliverer” or “saviour”. It expresses the purpose of His coming. God became one of us in order to “save His people from their sin”.
• At what point in your life have you most felt Jesus’ presence? How have you experienced Jesus as “Immanuel” in your life lately?

 

PRAYER:
Compassionate and merciful Father God, when human beings were still living in sin and transgression, You prepared a plan of redemption for us. Thank You for giving us Your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, who came into the world as a human being, and since then He has borne the pains and sorrows of the world and washed away the sins of the world. His name is Emmanuel, and thank God that You have promised to be with us until the end of the age. Amen!

 

HYMN:

God With Us – youtu.be/udJjT-LMnIs

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Genesis+050

 

Genesis 50 (ESV)

¹ Then Joseph fell on his father’s face and wept over him and kissed him. ² And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father. So the physicians embalmed Israel. ³ Forty days were required for it, for that is how many are required for embalming. And the Egyptian swept for him seventy days.

⁴ And when the days of weeping for him were past, Joseph spoke to the household of Pharaoh, saying, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, please speak in the ears of Pharaoh, saying, ⁵ ‘My father made me swear, saying, “I am about to die: in my tomb that I hewed out for myself in the land of Canaan, there shall you bury me.” Now therefore, let me please go up and bury my father. Then I will return.’”⁶ And Pharaoh answered, “Go up, and bury your father, as he made you swear.” ⁷ So Joseph went up to bury his father. With him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his household, and all the elders of the land of Egypt, ⁸ as well as all the household of Joseph, his brothers, and his father’s household. Only their children, their flocks, and their herds were left in the land of Goshen. ⁹ And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen. It was a very great company. ¹⁰ When they came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, they lamented there with a very great and grievous lamentation, and he made a mourning for his father seven days. ¹¹ When the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning on the threshing floor of Atad, they said, “This is a grievous mourning by the Egyptians.” Therefore the place was named Abel-mizraim; it is beyond the Jordan. ¹² Thus his sons did for him as he had commanded them, ¹³ for his sons carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave of the field at Machpelah, to the east of Mamre, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite to possess as a burying place. ¹⁴ After he had buried his father, Joseph returned to Egypt with his brothers and all who had gone up with him to bury his father.

God’s Good Purposes

¹⁵ When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him.” ¹⁶ So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this command before he died: ¹⁷ ‘Say to Joseph, “Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.”’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. ¹⁸ His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” ¹⁹ But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? ²⁰ As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. ²¹ So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.

 

REFLECTION

• Read the passage slowly and pay special attention to a word or phrase that touches your heart. Search for how forgiveness is illustrated in the text.
• Joseph received permission from Pharaoh to bury Jacob in Canaan as he had requested. He then assured his brothers of his favor in spite of how they had treated him and testified that God would fulfill His promises.
• Joseph’s response to his fearful brothers reveals his attitudes toward God and them (vv. 18-21; cf. 27:41). He humbled himself under God’s authority. He regarded God as sovereign over him and the One who had providentially guided all the events of his life. He knew that God’s purposes for him, his family, and all people were good. Consequently he behaved with tender compassion toward his brothers.
• Think about what it feels like to be the forgiver, as well as what it feels like to be the forgiven. How is this expression of love meaningful to you?  Briefly note your thoughts.
• Read the text one more time, then stop and listen for what God is inviting you to do or to become this week. Perhaps His invitation will have to do with a new perspective on who you are in His eyes, or maybe you sense an action He is calling you to take.  After prayer, write down what you feel invited to do. And plan to do it.

 

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, forgiveness is a lifelong lesson for me! The Lord Jesus personally taught us that for brothers and sisters who have sinned against us, we should not forgive them seven times, but seventy times seven! Father, I know this is difficult, but please give me the strength to try to do the same! Especially to those who keep offending me, even hurting me, please let me treat them with tenderness and kindness. Please teach me to see him from Your perspective, because Your will is good for everyone. You love me, You love those who hurt me, and those who are hurt by me. Yes, Father, I hurt others too often, and I need to forgive and be forgiven, Father, please make each of us more humble, see Your power in our lives, and obey Your authority, forgive each other, love each other. Amen!

 

HYMN

Speak, O Lord – youtu.be/my90e3a_nlM

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Genesis+049

 

Genesis 49 (ESV)

Jacob Blesses His Sons

¹ Then Jacob called his sons and said, “Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you what shall happen to you in days to come.

² “Assemble and listen, O sons of Jacob,
listen to Israel your father.

³ “Reuben, you are my firstborn,
my might, and the firstfruits of my strength,
preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power.
⁴ Unstable as water, you shall not have preeminence,
because you went up to your father’s bed;
then you defiled it—he went up to my couch!

⁸ “Judah, your brothers shall praise you;
your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies;
your father’s sons shall bow down before you.
⁹ Judah is a lion’s cub;
from the prey, my son, you have gone up.
He stooped down; he crouched as a lion
and as a lioness; who dares rouse him?
¹⁰ The scepter shall not depart from Judah,
nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet,
until tribute comes to him;
and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.
¹¹ Binding his foal to the vine
and his donkey’s colt to the choice vine,
he has washed his garments in wine
and his vesture in the blood of grapes.
¹² His eyes are darker than wine,
and his teeth whiter than milk.

²² “Joseph is a fruitful bough,
a fruitful bough by a spring;
his branches run over the wall.
²³ The archers bitterly attacked him,
shot at him, and harassed him severely,
²⁴ yet his bow remained unmoved;
his arms were made agile
by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob
(from there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel),
²⁵ by the God of your father who will help you,
by the Almighty who will bless you
with blessings of heaven above,
blessings of the deep that crouches beneath,
blessings of the breasts and of the womb.
²⁶ The blessings of your father
are mighty beyond the blessings of my parents,
up to the bounties of the everlasting hills.
May they be on the head of Joseph,
and on the brow of him who was set apart from his brothers.

²⁷ “Benjamin is a ravenous wolf,
in the morning devouring the prey
and at evening dividing the spoil.”

²⁸ All these are the twelve tribes of Israel. This is what their father said to them as he blessed them, blessing each with the blessing suitable to him.

 

REFLECTION

• Read this passage slowly. If possible, read the whole chapter once.
• Jacob, enabled by God, looks ahead and in his blessing makes oft-obscure predictions about the future of each family group, based in part on the character of each of his sons (v28).
• What is more important to us, however, is a phrase found in the blessing given Joseph. The phrase is, “by the God of your father who will help you, by the Almighty who will bless you, … The blessings of your father are mighty beyond the blessings of my parents, …” (vv25-26).
• The deep faith in God that Joseph displayed blessed his sons, and remained a vital influence even on distant generations. If we want to be a blessing to our children’s children, there is no surer way than for us to live as close to God as Joseph did. When we are faithful and obedient, our “blessings are greater”.
• What blessings have you received from your parents? What has that impacted you?
• How is the interaction you have with your children or someone very close to you? Does that show that you are passing blessing or curse to them?
• Ask God to help you be a blessing transmitter. Is there anyone you can bless?  How could you bless him/her today?

 

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, help me to be the one delivering blessings! We have all received many blessings from our own parents, and I am especially grateful to You today for my parents being my parents. You have taught me many good qualities through them, and You have passed on Your blessings to me and led me in the path of righteousness. However, each of us, including our parents, have many weaknesses, and we will get some negative influences and even hurts from our parents more or less. Today, I ask Heavenly Father to comfort me and heal me, so that I will no longer remember the pain of the past, but only appreciate the love of my parents for me, and thank them for their hard work in raising and nurturing me. I also ask Heavenly Father to teach and inspire me every day, so that I can be more wise and able to teach and inspire my own children. Throughout the years of my life, make me continue to increase my faith in You, build a closer relationship with You, and lead my children to do the same. This is the best example to set for my children and the best way to pass on Your blessings. Amen!

 

HYMN

Let Your Kingdom Come – youtu.be/9kjMaYqhQnw