My church is on a 28 day journey through the book of Matthew. I decided to listen to the pastor and take on the challenge. When he announced it on Sunday, Hiram and I were actually excited about doing it. So as I do with all my “stuff” I’m putting my reflections out into the blogosphere, I am letting you in on what I’m doing and how this journey will impact me. There will be a format to all this as was given to us.
Day One
Read: Matthew 1
What verse stood out to me? Beside the wonderous birth of Jesus, what stood out to me was what I usually would find boring, the genealogy –this person begat that person and so on verses 1-17.
Why it spoke to me and how it relates to me: As a mom it made me think about legacy and how everything matters especially how I raise my children because I don’t know who I gave birth to nor do I know who they will bring into this world and what impact the future generation of the Rios lineage will in this world. None of the people in the verses above gave thought to the mundane act of having kids, raising kids, teaching kids yet after generations that family tree produced the savior of the world. So I thought to myself, what will our family tree produce?
My prayer: Lord, help me take my role as mom as the most important role on this side of heaven. When I want to pull my hair out as I homeschool my son, let me remember that I have the honor and awesome privilege of pouring Jesus into everything I teach him and do with him. Remind me that there is also purpose in lineage. Me being mom to Sam was no accident Lord, help me to remember I could be raising a boy that will stand up against darkness one day.
Side note: This kind of reminded me of the new series The Terminator. The mom in the show Sarah Connor has to do all she can to make sure her son learns and lives because in this show, the mom is the warrior and her son will be a hero in the future.
Day Two
Read: Matthew 2
What verse stood out to me? 2:14, 2:21
Why it spoke to me and how it relates to me: Those verses state that “Joseph obeyed.” He didn’t ask questions, he didn’t think about comfort, he just did what he was told. I think of the many times I rather choose to obey only those things I feel the Lord is telling me to do that I actually like. It’s never easy to say yes, to do something that looks absolutely crazy because most people don’t understand obedience.
My prayer: Lord, help me to be obedient all the time not just when I like what you are telling me to do. Help me to not ask a million questions (I usually do) or think through possible ramifications (I usually do that too). Help me to learn from Joseph’s example. That my life story could also be one that shouts and “Liz obeyed.”
What a noble prayer to pray for the legacy you will leave for your son and your son’s children and down through the future family tree. I know God will honor that prayer in your and your son’s lives.
p.s. It also reminds me of a Sarah Groves Song “Generations” Look up its lyrics or download it….its a good one.
What I love most about Matthew’s genealogy are the three women it mentions. Ordinarily, the moms were omitted from official lineages back then, but Matthew mentions three women in particular as especially significant to Jesus’ birth. All came from scandalous backgrounds, and included a prostitute, an incestuous affair, and a foreigner. Each back story is so filled with richness and significance.