one step: Matthew 2.0

The account of the Magi coming to worship the baby king Jesus includes one insidious character: Herod.

Herod, king at the time of the birth of Jesus, carried a reputation of control, violence, and murder. Through these means, Herod arose as the only ruler of Palestine to keep the peace and bring order to the disorder of the area during that time.

On the surface, ignoring the means with which Herod worked, he qualified as a great leader.

Never mind that Herod killed his own sons to protect his throne. Never mind that he ordered all male children in Bethlehem under two years old to be killed. Never mind any of that. He kept the peace. He was great. His exploits of leadership earned him the title of Herod the Great.

Scholars believe that despite his actions of manipulation and murder, Herod was aware of many of the details of the coming of Christ. The response of his advisors upon the arrival of the Magi indicate some prior knowledge to the event of the arrival of Christ. Nevertheless, the response of Herod was self protection; he sought to protect his own throne.

One scholar says that Herod showed more interest in saving his throne than saving his soul.

It’s easy to read this account in Matthew 2 and think of all of the leaders around us that killed dreams, manipulated others, and even rejected what was good and holy to protect their own little kingdom. We even heard others call these leaders “great” because of the positive results of their hurtful efforts. The clarity with which we see this in others seems to come naturally.

The hurt and damage caused by such leaders requires honest conversation with the Lord and with trusted others. It is a healing that takes time and care. This healing is necessary and wholesome, and the heart of God yearns to do this work in each of our hearts.

But what about in ourselves? Can we see the efforts we make to protect our own little kingdoms? Do our efforts to self-protect cause harm to those around us? Might the means we use to hold onto our peace, our stability, and our order cause us to miss the work of Jesus in our lives?

Today, take just one step.

Maybe today you need to take a step of asking God what He wants to do to protect His work in your life. Maybe today you need to ask the Holy Spirit to serve as your source of peace and stability while giving up whatever mechanisms you have attempted to use to hold onto control. Maybe you and I need to repent for unwittingly acting as the Herod in others lives, if even we were unaware. Maybe your step today is to invite God to begin, continue, or complete the long-awaited healing work in your heart.

Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Invite Him to speak. He will.

Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus. Take a step today… just one is fine.

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*Insights on the names of Jesus from: Morris, Leon. The Gospel According to Matthew. Pillar New Testament Commentary. Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1992.

one step: Matthew 1.1

Knowing your name is important. It helps you to know when someone needs or wants your attention. It indicates to others to whom they refer. A name brings clarity beyond the generic pronouns of they, him, or her.

For Jesus, His name also spoke of His purpose and destiny.

Joseph is instructed in Matthew 1:21 to name the baby that sits miraculously in Mary’s womb, Jesus. The angel says, “he will save his people from their sins.”

In this moment, the purpose and destiny of Jesus is revealed to Joseph and to us as readers of God’s Word. But, there is one more name of interest for Jesus.

Matthew 1:23 references the prophesy about Jesus in Isaiah 7:14 saying: “they shall call his name Immanuel (which means God with us).”

This name proves interesting as there is no historical indication that anyone called Jesus Immanuel at any point. Scholars believe that the name Immanuel stood as a promise of all that was to be fulfilled in Him. Indeed, Matthew ends his Gospel in Matthew 28:20 with the echoing words of Jesus: “behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

God has given you a name. It speaks into your purpose and destiny. The world may attempt to put labels and names on you that sound like failure, weakness, shame, or worthlessness. God has given you a name that speaks a better word.

God has given you a name, though no one may use it in words, that describes all that He desires to fulfill in you.

Today, take just one step.

Maybe today you need to take a step of asking God what His name is for you. Maybe you need to take the step of rejecting the names given to you from any source other than God. Your name may be Jason, Amanda, Lindsey, Patrice, or Michael. Maybe your name is Jennifer or Benjamin. No matter your name, there are names like stupid, unreliable, weak, and insufficient that need to fall away.

Traditional Jewish custom tells us that when Joseph named the baby growing in Mary, Jesus, he officially adopted Jesus as his own. God has adopted you as His own through the work of Jesus Christ. Ask God the name He gave you to do that. That one step could change a lot in your story.

Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Invite Him to speak. He will.

Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus. Take a step today… just one is fine.

sign up just below for a daily reminder of the one step devotional. click here to return to devotional list.

*Insights on the names of Jesus from: Morris, Leon. The Gospel According to Matthew. Pillar New Testament Commentary. Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1992.

one step: Matthew 1.0

The Good News of Matthew begins with a genealogy of Jesus the Savior. The way that these names were communicated and the inclusion of certain individuals meant something particular to the original readers that can help us understand what God wanted us to know through His Word.

In this genealogy, we see the names of four women: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba. These four women differed dramatically from the four women most commonly listed in Jewish texts: Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah. The four that Matthew listed most likely were all Gentiles, contrasting the women commonly listed who were Jewish. One of the women (Ruth) was a Moabite, which Scripture indicates would not be allowed into the congregation up to the tenth generation (Deuteronomy 23:3). Plus, three of the four women made morally questionable decisions in their life and were known for them in Scripture.

Why would Matthew highlight these names? Surely a book written to provide credibility to the Savior of the world would attempt to hide such blemishes in the genealogy of the Christ?

Through this genealogy, Matthew communicates that the Good News of Jesus comes to all people, not only Jews. He kindly lets us know that the Gospel extends beyond the walls of perceived religious perfection and to the hearts of sinners.*

What does that mean for you and me? If we are honest, we are sinners. We engage in all sorts of evil in our hearts. Perhaps you are reading this and envy, lust, fear, or hate have enslaved your soul at some time. Perhaps you have acted unjustly, unkindly, or have lied to secure your own advantage. Whatever the case, you have sinned and so have I.

No matter if you can trace your genealogy to Jewish roots or not, you need the Savior.

The Good News is that Jesus has come for all. Matthew wanted his readers to know this, and today, God wants you to know this.

Today, take just one step.

Maybe your step is to admit that you are a sinner. Maybe today you need to admit that you have been hiding behind the perceived and false perfection that religious adherence provides. Maybe your step today is to allow God to show His love through you to the morally questionable. Maybe you need to take a step and show love to yourself.

Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Invite Him to speak. He will.

Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus. Take a step today… just one is fine.

sign up just below for a daily reminder of the one step devotional. click here to return to devotional list.

*Insights on genealogy from: Morris, Leon. The Gospel According to Matthew. Pillar New Testament Commentary. Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1992.