KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Tuesday, October 04, 2016
Chapters: Matthew 2, Luke 2:39-52
Message: What’s In The Word of God
Hello My Friend,
The Bible, God’s Holy Word, people read the Bible every day, but that does not mean they believe it, there is always someone set on trying to prove they are lies. Not everyone who believes the Bible follows it either, the devil himself knows the Scriptures, yet he will never follow them. Then there are those who create other versions as though they are trying to help explain it more clearly. Let me tell you, we do not need someone to rewrite the Bible to explain it to us. Yes, we do need some help sometimes in understanding the Scriptures, but that comes with time as we study His Word, and hear it spoken to us from those whom have studied it. As we learn of and walk with Christ our only help to keep growing in Christ is God’s Word.
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” – II Timothy 3:16-17.
I get it, I too have read the chapters and wondered what I read, I can recall when I was younger I would start at Genesis, read the first few chapters and quickly lose interest in it. Why? It was not a priority in my life, I was content to only know God from a distance, which is why it took me until I was thirteen before I even had a recollection of what Jesus had done for me. You see, I was brought up in religion, I knew Jesus died, but had no idea that it was for my sins that He died. The news of the Saviour and King being born traveled quickly, people from all over the world came to witness this miracle birth, but not everyone was happy to hear this. Kings started pouring into Jerusalem trying to get a glimpse of the child who would one day give His life to save man.
“Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.” – Matthew 2:1-3,7-8.
“he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.” For the first time ever all these stories written in the Scriptures from the prophets are coming to pass and these people are horrified at the thought. Their first thought, get rid of this child before He has a chance to tell the truth. This is the thought of every religion that does not tell the truth. Why do you think they are so quick to push away those who know the Scriptures and follow them? If people knew what is really in them they might just reject the religion and turn to Christ. It was not until first, I got saved, second, got baptized, professing my faith, and third, got into a Bible preaching and teaching church that I began taking interest in what God has to say. It was only when I took these steps that the Bible had true meaning and I saw the truth. We cannot receive the blessings of God if we do not know how to get them.
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.” – II Timothy 2:15-16.
The wise men found Jesus, about two years later. Since God was pointing that star I image He made it such a length of time so that it would not be so easy for those who wanted Him dead to find Him. God sent Joseph a message to take his family to Egypt and remain there until Herod died. A few years later they returned and were led by God to dwell in Nazareth.
“But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child’s life. And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee: And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.” – Matthew 2:19-23.
“He shall be called a Nazarene.” Nazarene, meaning He will be despised and rejected, a mark of public contempt and reproach. Its application to Jesus, in which the promised Messiah is described as a netser, that is, a shoot, sprout, of Jesse, a humble and despised descendant of the decayed royal family. The term throughout the New Testament was applied to followers of Christ, by way of contempt, but was later adopted and gloried in by the disciples as one of Christ’s. The name still exists in Arabic, as the ordinary designation of Christians. Since we belong to Christ we too are going to be despised and rejected, but just like Jesus overcame, we will too.
“If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation. For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.” – I Timothy 4:6-10.
We must realize that as we read the Scriptures they do not all pertain to us today. Why do we read them all? To give us a better understanding of why we now are under the law of grace today. The entire Bible has been given to us so we can learn what God despises and loves and how He dealt with man over the years. He is the same God and never changes, but that does not mean we are not to respect what He believes and how He wants us all to be. Each year Joseph would bring Mary and Jesus into Jerusalem for the passover, they would travel together as a group with friends and family. And although Jesus was the Son of God He still had respect for His mother and Joseph, and followed the law just as they did.
“Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business? And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.” – Luke 2:41-43,46,48-51.
“behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.” Mary did the same thing any mother does when their child gets lost, she panicked then scolded him for not staying with them. She really had nothing to worry about because it was Jesus, He knew better than to get himself into trouble, and the time certainly did not come yet that the rest of the people would find out that He was and try to kill Him, as far as they were concerned He was Joseph’s son. Mary does call Joseph his father, though she knew he was not, in a proper sense, but because he was his father by the law of marriage, and she might call him so because of his paternal care. This is a good reminder that we must make sure our eyes are on Jesus at all times so we do not lose sight of Him and panic. Let us never suppose that we are in the company of Jesus, when, in fact, we may have lost Him. Never rest until you and He have found each other!
“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” – Hebrews 12:1-2.
Jesus Christ Magnified: “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.” – Luke 2:52.
Today’s Prayer: God, I want to walk in the wisdom of Your Word as I make choices today, You have given me the freedom to choose how to live my life and I choose to live it in Your will. I know I will not always be in Your will, but I do know that Your mercy and grace is sufficient enough to get me back in it every time and as I live in subjection to Your Word and keep it deep within my heart. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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