Today’s reading: Genesis 1-2; Matthew 1

And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. Genesis 1:31
She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. Matthew 1:21

Reflections
As you read today, consider the God of creation presented in Genesis 1-2. He shows His care for the universe and for Man. The Creator makes the first human couple in His image with an implied purpose to reflect His glory. He gives them a very good world with meaningful work.

When we turn to Matthew, it’s obvious that something has gone wrong with the world. Sin has intruded into the life of the first humans. The birth of Jesus is surrounded with scandal as his mother, Mary, turns up pregnant. Her husband-to-be, Joseph, knows he could not be the father. He would not shame her publicly, but he was about to divorce her when an angel appeared to him. The angel tells him that Mary’s baby, a son, was conceived not by any immorality of Mary but by the power of the Holy Spirit. The pregnancy is miraculous. Moreover, Mary’s son will save His people from their sins.

More to come
Tomorrow we will learn in Genesis how sin entered into human history making necessary a Savior. For now please note that in Matthew 1 there are four mothers mentioned in the genealogy, besides Mary. We will meet them all later in our Old Testament readings and learn details of their lives that show the grace of God to each of them. Even in the lineage of Jesus there was a need for deliverance from the ravages of sin.

The God of the Bible is one of power, love, and justice. His Word shows the urgency of understanding how He has acted to create us and to save from the devastation of sin all those who trust in Him. Before we finish, we will see that He will restore all things and establish a new heavens and earth in which righteousness dwells forever (2 Peter 3:13).

Think about it
How would greater trust in Him change your outlook right now?

© 2017 John A Carroll Used by permission.