KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Monday, October 03, 2016
Chapters: Matthew 1 Luke, 2:1-38
Message: Making Choices From What Is Predestined
Hello My Friend,
Most people that believe in God make Him up to be what they believe Him to be, some believe everything from birth to death has been determined already by God, and we just play it out. Others believe that everything is by chance, and God picks and chooses the things that happen in our lives. And then there are others that believe everything is by choice, we choose God, we make our own choices and just deal with it. When you stop to think about it, God takes great care in every person He creates, not one of us is the same, but every one of us has been conceived for a reason. We may not understand why we are born into the life we are given or why God even chose a life to be conceived from the most inconceivable circumstances, but we all have a purpose, and until we figure out what purpose God is, we will continue to struggle.
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.” – Romans 8:28-30.
“he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son,” Predestinate, To predetermine or foreordain. Many people misunderstand this verse, which is why they believe that everything has been predetermined for us already. Yes, some things are predetermined, but there is a flaw in this reasoning. God sent Jesus for all, not just some, but all lives, which means all lives do matter, and God does not choose which who He wants to save, He wants all to be saved, but that is a choice each one of us has to make on our own. One thing that was predetermined was the birth of Christ, first, we must understand that Jesus has always been, this was just the time that He would descend in the flesh of man. Through Matthew an account is given on the lineage of Judah.
“The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren; And Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob; And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.” – Matthew 1:1-2,15-17.
“And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus,” It was important that Jesus descend through Judah, keep in mind it does not say that Joseph is His father, but that He was born of Mary. God could have chosen any other way to redeem man, He chose to do it in the form of man, He could have used anyone, but He chose Judah, the lineage of David because one, He promised He would, and two, it would make Him an earthly king. Now, many things that are predetermined in life can be questionable, I mean, why God chooses how we come into this earth is beyond me, but if we choose to trust Him when it is questionable, great things will come. When Joseph found out that Mary was pregnant, he did the same thing anyone else would do, he questioned her faithfulness, and wanted to divorce her, and they were not even married yet.
“But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.” – Matthew 1:20-25.
“Now all this was done,” Our lives are a book, waiting for the blank pages to be filled in, some things are predetemined no matter what choices we make, while others are determined by the choices we make. While we can alter God’s plan to some extenet, we can never alter Him. Remember, Jonah, he thought he could run from God in the opposite direction and got swallowed by a whale until he understood that God had a purpose for Him. What purpose does God have for what He is doing in your life? To reveal Christ in you.
“But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.” – Acts 26:16-18.
“To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light,” There are so many great verses in the Book of Acts and I never use them as much as I ought to. Sometimes it takes the darkest situations for Christ to be revealed, no matter what we are going through someone else is going through much worse and needs to see that if we can get through our stuff with Christ they can get through theirs with Him. Now, God could have sent Jesus into a wealthy family, but God chose to bring Him into the world through one of the poorest. He could have also chosen to reveral the birth to the highest authority, but He chose the shepherds first. Shepherds were known as the lowest people in Israel. These lowly men awaited their Messiah, and as soon as the angels, who about scared them to death told them Him He arrived, they went immediately to find him.
“And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.” – Luke 2:15-20.
“and pondered them in her heart.” I imagine Mary was a little overwhelmed, not only was she holding the Son of God in her hands, after all, her first child was born so that He would die for her sins. Whenever God places great responsibility in our lives we must not take it lightly, He knows what we are capable of, or else, He would not have put us where we are. Even though Mary knew that she had the Son of God in her hands and could have taken great advantage of that fact, she still followed the law of purification as any godly Israelite woman would, Jesus was circumcised eight days after he was born, and they were now about to enter the temple to offer the required sacrifices. While there, a man names Simeon approached her and Joseph, he picks up Jesus and says something above the normal blessings that they were getting.
“Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him. And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” – Luke 2:28-35.
“this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel;” When Simeon spoke to them they were astonished by what he was saying, after all no one knew they were raising the Son of God. Jesus, the anointed one, sent from God to be the Saviour of all mankind, will be the fall of unbelievers and the raising again of believers, meaning many will not taste death until they meet Him face to face. When a soul is introduced to Christ one of two things happens, it is convicted, believes in, and receives Him, receiving life through Him or it is convicted, despises, and rejects Him, receiving death through their their hardened hearts. We do have a choice whether to live or die when we leave this earth, only those who know Christ will live. “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” – I John 5:11-12.
Jesus Christ Magnified: “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” – Luke 2:11
Today’s Prayer: God, It is predetermined for man to die once, but You have given us all a choice on whether or not we die a second time, and that is Your Son, Jesus. We understand that only through Him can we be saved from death, hell, and the lake of fire. Thank You for giving us a way to permanent salvation, and for sending Your Son to die for us. As much as we would like to change the fate of all, it is up to each person to make that decision. Lord, lead me and guide me, give me Your power, wisdom, guidance, mercy, and grace to follow Your will and make the choices You want me to make. Open my heart and let Your Word be a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path, let me know Your purpose and understand that everything I go through will work together for good. I ask these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Are You 100% Sure You Are Going To Heaven?: http://imfollowingjesus.com/follow-Jesus.html
Receive The KJB Daily Devotions In Your Email: http://eepurl.com/2WMzT
Missed A Message: https://imfollowingjesus.com/Biblestudy/
Visit I’m Following Jesus: http://imfollowingjesus.com/index.html
Like I’m Following Jesus On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/byhisstrength
Copyright © 2016 I’m Following Jesus, All rights reserved.