Bible Devotion

Day 1

Read slowly and reflectively the assigned passage twice at least and consider the questions below.

Scriptural Reflection
Matthew 1:1–17

Many scholars opine that Matthew was writing to primarily a Jewish audience. In fact, it is likely that Matthew originally wrote in Hebrew and it was later translated into Greek. In any case, with the many references to the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies, Matthew was trying to prove to his readers that Jesus Christ is the Messiah. For more detailed background information on Matthew, consult a good commentary or a study Bible.

1. Why did Matthew, as inspired by the Holy Spirit, begin his gospel of Christ with a detailed genealogy? (Note that “son of David” is a special term that the Jews would understand as referring to the Messiah. See Matt. 20:30, for example.) How important was it to his immediate audience, especially the non-believing Jews?

2. Why did Matthew squeeze Jesus’ genealogy into three distinct phases?

3. What makes each of these phases so distinct, in terms of spiritual and political regression?

4. As you reflect on the above questions, have you paid attention to the following uniqueness of the genealogy?
a. Rarely in the old Oriental culture did women count in terms of genealogy, but Matthew chose to highlight a few of the women, and yet ignore important figures like Sarah, the wife of Abraham. Why?

b. Who were these women? What can you say about their racial background? Is there any infamous past related to them?

c. What is the ultimate message given by including them in the genealogy of Jesus Christ?

5. What is the main message to you today and how can you apply it to your life?

Meditative Reflection
This is Why the Birth of Jesus Christ Came About

During the Christmas season, I have the habit of preparing my heart through the daily reading of a short passage from the Gospel. One particular year, I was reading the Gospel of Matthew. I was greatly touched by how Matthew divided the genealogy of Jesus into three distinct phases, in that the history of the people of God began, in the first phase, with the glorious father of faith in Abraham and ended with king after God’s own heart. Then the second period began with the reminder of David’s infamous moral failure with the mother who bore Solomon, she whom the Bible referred to as being somebody’s wife; the period ended in not only a divided kingdom, but the beginning of the exile of God’s people. The third period began with the post-exilic kingdom crumbling and it ended with the people under total foreign occupation, without any king, any nation, and any prophet. But just as all hopes were gone, came the birth of Jesus Christ. God had not forgotten His promise. God had not forgotten His people.

It was during that Christmas, that I had a dream one night. Well, I had a nightmare in which I dreamt of a past event of my life, one that I was not proud of. In fact, simply with it resurfacing in my dream, I was very embarrassed and as I woke up, I felt totally defeated. “Lord,” I said, “I am not worthy to be your servant.” Just as I felt discouraged and hopeless, God reminded me of the lesson I learned from the reflection of the genealogy of Christ and a strange and powerful warmth descended upon my troubled heart. Yes, the past is the past, all has been forgiven. Christ has come and been born into my heart. The old has gone, and I have been renewed.

Right there and then, I worshipped the Lord with tears of joy and thanksgiving because just as the shameful past of Israel as depicted in the genealogy has totally been reversed by the birth of Christ, so has my past and the past of all those who put their trust in Christ.

Day 2

Read slowly and reflectively the assigned passage twice at least and consider the questions below.

Scriptural Reflection
Matthew 1:18–25

1. This small section explains “how” the birth of Jesus Christ came about. Therefore we shall spend some time reflecting on the following “how” and “why”, based on the first two verses:
a. Do you know why Jesus Christ has to come as a human being?

b. If so, could He not just appear as an adult? Why should He take on the entire human process: conception, birth, growth and death?
2. If Joseph was a righteous man, why would he want to divorce Mary?

3. Even a “quiet divorce” in those days would have meant shame, disgrace and ruin for the rest of Mary’s life. What price for obedience! What do you think about Mary’s obedience?

4. Of course, if something is of God, He will see us through. But why did God choose to reveal to Joseph in a dream, and not in a personal appearance? How would Joseph be sure that it came from God?

5. What is the significance of the message from the angel, especially
a. In addressing Joseph as the “Son of David”?

b. In naming the son, Jesus?

c. In linking Jesus’ name to deliverance? In the Old Testament, salvation or deliverance refers sometimes to the deliverance from neighboring enemies, but here with the name of Jesus, how is the emphasis of deliverance being made clear?
6. Matthew seized the opportunity to prove here that Jesus’ birth is a fulfillment of OT prophecy. Which prophecy did he highlight? How important is this particular fulfillment in terms of:
a. Virgin birth?

b. Immanuel? How did God’s presence in the Old Testament differ from that of “Immanuel”?
7. From Joseph’s response to the angel’s command, how did he demonstrate that he was truly a righteous man?

8. What is the main message to you today and how can you apply it to your life?

Meditative Reflection
Calling

I used to wonder why God would only appear to Joseph time and again in a dream, while others connected with the birth of Christ, like Zechariah and Mary apparently met with God’s messenger face to face. I also wondered how Joseph could be sure that the dreams (of the virgin’s birth, of having to flee to Egypt etc.) were truly of God.

But I also read of Joseph’s instant submission in each case. Obviously, he knew and he obeyed.

It reminds me of how, before I received God’s call into full-time gospel ministry, I often heard from godly pastors that it was imperative for us to receive a clear call into full-time ministry from God and that when God somehow calls us, the question will not be, “Was it really from God?”, but “Am I willing to obey?”

Indeed, the righteous man, Joseph, gave us such a good example. For someone who is obedient, when God calls, the focus is not so much on if it is from God (because our inner spirit will be the witness), but on whether we are willing to obey.

The way God chooses to reveal Himself is far less important than an honest and obedient spirit.

Day 3

Read slowly and reflectively the assigned passage twice at least and consider the questions below.

Scriptural Reflection
Matthew 2:1–12

1. Take a minute to recount what had happened to Mary and Joseph since the end of the last chapter to the visit of the Magi (when Jesus was likely a child between one to two years old).

2. What had the long journey back to Bethlehem, the anxiety of not finding any room in the inn, the delivery of the baby in a manger, the visit of the shepherds with their story of the angelic proclamation and the surprise words from Simeon and Anna in the temple — meant to both Mary and Joseph?

3. What might this visit by the Magi mean to them?

4. Star gazing which often was used as a form of omens was a pagan practice which was not in tune with the Law of Moses (Lev. 19:26; Deut. 18:10). Why would God use, of all people, Magi for His purpose?

5. Why would they come a long way, spend so much time and money, and risk the danger of bringing their expensive gifts, all to worship a foreign king?

6. What had these particular gifts meant to Jesus, and also to Mary and Joseph (especially given their subsequent journey to Egypt)?

7. It should not be a surprise that King Herod was disturbed, but why would the people of Jerusalem also be? Were they not looking forward to their Messiah? Did any of the priests and scribes who knew the Scripture so well accompany the Magi to find Jesus? Why?

8. What is the main message to you today and how can you apply it to your life?

Meditative Reflection
Discrimination of a Different Kind

I often read the story of the “three kings” with great interest. Although painting after painting depicts three wise men riding on their camels to look for Jesus, the Bible never says there were three of them. Simply because there were three different kinds of gift, we automatically assume that there had to be three magi.

Whether there were two, three or even more magi is not really important; the important point of the story is that they were magi from the East. Whether they were from Iran or Babylon, they were following a star which actually was used by God to guide them to find Jesus.

Star gazing as an omen was absolutely forbidden by God. To think of God using such pagans to find the Messiah is mind boggling! But even more puzzling is the fact that the star was really a star that led them to find Jesus.

No wonder, none of the scribes or priests wanted to join them in the search for the Messiah. They were pagans. Their practice was against the Law of God.

Yet, the magi were the blessed ones, not the religiously correct scribes and priests.

This is always how God works. Although the Magi were pagan and adopted practices forbidden by God, they did it out of their ignorance. But they did have a genuine heart in their search for God. Seek and ye shall find. That is God’s promise.

Of course, we do not follow or condone practices that God has forbidden, including palm reading, star gazing, or any other form of divination or seeking omens. Our trust in God, like the three friends of Daniel, does not depend on our fortune. However, we do not despise those who follow such practices out of ignorance, knowing that Christ has come and died for them as well. If they have a sincere heart to seek the Truth, they will find Christ.

Day 4

Read slowly and reflectively the assigned passage twice at least and consider the questions below.

Scriptural Reflection
Matthew 2:13–23

1. It appears that the toughest part of being the parents of the Messiah is over. If you were Mary and Joseph, what would you expect or focus on next?

2. But lo and behold, they now find out from the dream that it is just the beginning of an even longer journey.  What did the next phase of their life involve?  How would you greet it, if you were Joseph?

3. Matthew told us that it was, again, a fulfillment of prophecy, and this time, it’s from Hosea 11:1. Read this prophecy, and see how you would interpret it before the birth of Christ. What does this show you about divinely inspired prophecies in the Bible?

4. Hebrews 4:15 tells us that Jesus has gone through all the temptations (which is the word for trials) that we face.  What has Jesus become as they fled to Egypt?  With what kind of people is Jesus identifying?

5. From the action taken by King Herod, what has the birth of Jesus led to?

6. With, perhaps, a smaller population in those days, maybe a few hundred children of two years and under were killed.  Do you know how many unborn children are being killed each year, just in North America?

7. Matthew, again, tells us that it was a fulfillment of Jeremiah 31:15.  Read what the Lord says in 31:16-17.  How has the birth of Christ made God’s promise possible?

8. Can you list all the miracles that God has performed in the land of Egypt?  As much as Egypt is very much an Islamic country, how would you understand Isaiah19:25, especially in light of the fact that Jesus must have lived there for a number of years?

9. What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?

Meditative Reflection
The Land of Egypt

I had the opportunity to visit Egypt some years ago.  I was excited about the trip, because I always wanted to see the pyramids, to ride along the Nile River where Moses was found by the princess, and to see the famous Egyptian mummies.

The trip turned out to be everything I expected and more.  We were most fortunate to have a government archeologist (inspector) as our guide.  I learned a lot about many of the archeological relics, and I also learned a few things that I was not aware of before, like the custom of putting coals on one’s head in order to keep oneself warm in the cold of the desert’s night.

One of the pleasures was meeting and talking to some of the Coptic Christians.  At Eastern Baptist Seminary, I had the chance of meeting one of the Coptic priests who came all the way from Egypt to study, so I had some idea about the Coptic Christians in Egypt (who make up 10% of the total population).  But the real highpoint was the realization that Jesus had actually set foot in Egypt, and probably was there for a number of years.  We learn from the Bible that Egypt is the land that God has chosen to perform some of the most spectacular miracles, but to know that this land has also provided a safe haven for the Christ child in His time of trouble is precious.  This reminds me of the amazing words from Isaiah 19:25 that the Egyptians are called God’s people.

Yes, Egypt is still a very much Islamic country, but there is hope indeed.  One day, they will turn to Christ too and become God’s people!    

Day 5

Read slowly and reflectively the assigned passage twice at least and consider the questions below.

Scriptural Reflection
Matthew 3:1–12

1. Now, Matthew introduces his audience to John the Baptist:
a. Who was he as foretold in Isaiah 40:3?

b. What were his role and his ministry?
2. What kind of a person did he appear to be based on where he lived, how he dressed and what he ate?  Why was it necessary for his role and his ministry?

3. What was his message?  How did the people respond to his message?  Why?

4. Who were the Pharisees and Sadducees?  Why was John so harsh on them? 

5.  In what way was John preparing the way for Jesus with his warning and confrontation with these important religious leaders?

6.  In his testimony for Jesus:
a. Who is Jesus?

b. How different would Jesus’ ministry be from his?

c. In his description of Jesus, what was John’s emphasis - salvation or judgment?  Why so?  In what way was he preparing the way for Jesus?
7. What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?

Meditative Reflection
The Pharisees and the Sadducees

The Pharisees and the Sadducees were the ruling class of Israel in Jesus’ time. The former probably dominated the ruling Council, and the latter were priests who controlled the temple and the religious life of the people.

Jesus launched some of His most severe attacks on the Pharisees, calling them in one sermon, white-wash tombs.  He also ridiculed the Sadducees on another occasion.  But some of them did venture out to the desert to hear John preach, and some were willing to be baptized.

As much as John called them vipers and serpents, I believe some of them got baptized by John, and some, as we learn from the Acts of Apostles, eventually turned to Christ and became Christians.

I believe there is a lesson for us to learn.

We tend to sugar-coat our gospel in such a way that seeks to appease non-believers.  We even bend over backward and tone down some of the more offensive teachings in the Bible, so that we can be accepted by the world.  We do all this with the guise that it is a prudent way to evangelize the non-believing world.  But often we end up preaching a gospel that does not involve repentance, radical changes in our worldview, nor a giving up of our sinful lifestyle and choices.

No, I am not advocating the preaching of fire and brimstones.  But we have to understand that the power to convert remains the work of the Holy Spirit, and our role is to present the gospel as it is, calling sin by its true name, sin!  Without the realization of one’s sinfulness and eternal, grave destiny, there is no true conversion.

Day 6

Read slowly and reflectively the assigned passage twice at least and consider the questions below.

Scriptural Reflection
Matthew 3:13–17

1. Why did John try to prevent Jesus from being baptized by him?  How does it give us insight into the meaning of John’s baptism?

2. Jesus gave a rather profound answer:
a. If Jesus was referring to the fulfillment of all righteousness, what did He mean?  How would His baptism fulfill it?

b. If Jesus was referring to the fulfillment of all rituals (of the Law of Moses), was He not basically referring to the same thing?
3.  Read John the Baptist’s personal testimony about this particular incident in John 1:31-34.  What is the significance of this event to John and all who witnessed this baptism?

4. What did God say?  Why did He choose to speak?  Based on what He said, what did this baptism mean to the Father?

5. Have you been baptized?  If so, what did it meant to you, to those who witnessed it and to the Father?

6. If you have not been baptized, why should you be?   

7. What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?

Meditative Reflection
Baptism

One of my preacher friends likes to say, “even if you have been baptized so many times that your skin is soaked through, you will not be saved.”

His point is that baptism itself cannot save; faith in Christ does!

He is correct theologically, but because of such a theological angle, many Christians take baptism as superfluous and will not entertain the idea of being baptized.  

We need to ask three questions:

1. Why did Christ purposely go through baptism himself?
The fact is that His baptism aroused such excitement in the Father to the point He had to exclaim in heaven that “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.”  Jesus used His public baptism to express His commitment to obey His Father’s will to take the sin of all mankind and complete His plan of salvation even unto death.
2. Why did Christ command us to baptize believers?
Although belief in Christ is a matter of the heart, it is God’s will that we be born again into His family. A public act of commitment is an appropriate expression of true believers not only to God, to Satan, to the world, but also to the family of God that we now live for God and for one another in Christ.
3. Apart from the issue of obedience, why did Christians in the first century follow the command of Christ to baptize and be baptized?
In the first century, a public baptism was a bold way of identification with Jesus Christ which, more than likely, would invite persecution, and thus it became the best way to test the genuineness of one’s faith in Christ.
Therefore, baptism is never meant to be a mere ritual, but a very appropriate way of expressing a public commitment of our belief in Christ and our resolve to follow Him till death.


Day 7

Read slowly and reflectively the assigned passage twice at least and consider the questions below.

Scriptural Reflection
Matthew 4:1–11

The temptation of Jesus, which took place shortly after His baptism, marked the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry.

1. Why did Jesus need to go through this process of being tempted? What difference did it make?

2. What might be the significance of its timing?

Try to approach reflecting on the three temptations afresh without being preconditioned by any prior perception:

3. The first temptation
a. What precipitated the opportunity of the first temptation?

b. Why did the tempter seem to emphasize —“If you are the Son of God”?

c. What would turning the stones into bread accomplish?

d. What in essence was Jesus’ reply to the tempter with what He said?

e. What then would you label this first temptation as?
4. The second temptation
a. This time, the tempter created the situation for Jesus to be tempted.  What setting did the tempter create to tempt Jesus?

b. Why did the tempter repeat with his emphasis, “If you are the Son of God”?

c. What would the throwing of Himself down from the highest point of the temple accomplish?

d. What in essence was Jesus’ reply to the tempter with what He said?

e. What then would you label this second temptation as?
5. The third temptation
a. Again, what setting did the tempter create in order to tempt Jesus?

b. Now, the tempter did not repeat the previous emphasis, except to demand His worship:
  1. Did he seriously think that Jesus might bow and worship him?
  2. In his mind (and the tempter is not exactly stupid), what might sway Jesus to actually bow and worship him?
c. What might the bowing down to worship the tempter accomplish for Jesus?

d. What in essence was Jesus’ reply to the tempter with what He said?

e. What then would you label this third temptation as?
6. What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?

Meditative Reflection
The Temptation of Jesus

Many fine commentaries and articles have been written about the temptation of our Lord and I do not think I have too much to add.  But of the many commentaries and articles I have come across on the subject, I am still deeply impressed with Henry Nouwen’s point about what he perceived in the first temptations of Jesus, and that point was the temptation of relevance.

Jesus knew full well who He is and He really had nothing to prove.  So, in spite of the pressing need to resolve the issue of hunger, He would not yield to the tempter’s challenge to turn the stone into bread.

These days, the pressing need seems to be to resolve many issues in society, not for our own sake, but for that of others.  Still the real issue is relevance.  We do not want the world to think that we are so heavenly minded that we are of no earthly good.  We sense the need to prove to ourselves that we are relevant, we can solve problems, and we can deliver!

But Henry Nouwen was so right!  We have nothing to offer the world, except our own brokenness.  But that’s so inapt, so weak, and so un-Evangelical!  We belong, we have influence, even political influence.  We have answers!

Really!  If we follow the footsteps of Jesus, we can only offer our brokenness, our weakness, our prayer, our inapt presence, a broken vessel.  But within our brokenness, our weakness, our prayer, our inapt presence and our broken vessel is our treasure, the Lord Jesus Christ.  It is in our brokenness that we find wholeness in Him.  It is in our weakness that we find strength in Him.  It is in our desperate and helpless prayer that we find hope in Him.  It is in our inapt presence that we find Immanuel.  It is in our broken vessel that we find great treasure in Him.

We can offer the world nothing, except Christ.  But anytime we offer the world our pretended wholeness, our own strength, our eloquent prayer, our social influence and our charisma, we leave our treasure, Christ, behind.

Sadly, this temptation of relevance may not be an outside force, but oftentimes, it comes from within the church.
   


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