Blogging Through the Gospels: Matthew 1

This is your devotional guide for reading Blogging Through the Gospels on Monday, April 4.

Read through Matthew Chapter One on Monday, but first pray, asking God to guide your reading. You might consider a prayer like this one:

Heavenly Father,

Please guide my reading today. Help me to keep my mind and heart focused on your Word and keep it from wandering to other things. I want this time to be for us alone. Guide me in hearing not only all the words on the page, but especially those messages you have specifically for me today. Thank you, Lord, for this opportunity to learn and to be with you. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen

As you are reading, think about what God is specifically sharing with you so that you can journal about it using SOAP.

Here is what I heard after I read, prayed some more, and then listened some more:

Scripture: Matthew 1:24

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.

Observation:

Joseph had other plans, which were probably well thought out, yet when he heard the instruction given him by the angel of the Lord he followed them directly. He didn’t question or wrestle. He just did as he was instructed.

Application:

This scripture strikes me for two reasons:

1. Joseph had a such a clear instruction. So often I wish I had such clear communication with God. But then, perhaps if I spent more time listening, really listening, I would.

2. I’m amazed that Joseph had the discipline to then just do as he was told. No questioning, no whining, no half-way following. Joseph just did as he was told. I could do a better job of following that example, as well. Perhaps that comes from better listening.

If I was sure that what I was hearing was from God and was meant for me, then I think it would be a whole lot easier to follow those instructions. And I would know better if I spent more time focused on listening.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank you so much for opening your Word to me. Please, Lord, guide me in becoming a better listener of you. Guide me in setting aside time for us and not breaking our dates. I want to study your word and then listen to your insight and your messages for me. Please guide me in doing that.

After SOAP

Consider if you have more to learn or if your study time is up. Are there any questions that came up in today’s reading or any a-HA moments?

I especially enjoyed reading the Genealogy of Jesus today, especially after having read the entire Bible in 90 Days. I am beginning to feel like I understand so much more about those people. They are becoming much more than a list to me.

 

What about you? What did you hear today, SOAP or otherwise? Please share with us in the comments.

Feel free to leave a link to your own blog post about Matthew One, provided you link back to this post, as well.

If you are reading and/ or Blogging Through the Gospels with us, please consider leaving a comment on the general Blogging Through the Gospels post so we can see who else is reading and pray for each other. Thanks.


Comments

27 responses to “Blogging Through the Gospels: Matthew 1”

  1. Obedience! http://www.bethsfaithwalk.com/2011/04/05/obedience/

    Immediate obedience to God’s revealed will for me even when it doesn’t fit with cultural norms.

  2. Amy, I purposely did not read your post first as I tend to be swayed by the thoughts of others, but found it interesting that after I journaled that you had picked the same verse.

    Joseph’s unflinching obedience amazed me. To be so clear in God’s voice and so faithful and trusting that God’s way is the best way, even when it isn’t easy, is what I seek.

  3. Lou-Ann Avatar
    Lou-Ann

    I’m so excited for this study! and I love reading everyone’s SOAP devotionals. I hope to be more confident in writing out SOAP as well. I’m scared of being ‘wrong’ so I’m hoping that at the end of this study, I can get better at journaling which is definitely a weak area for me :(

  4. Julie C Avatar
    Julie C

    I too thought of the legacy I want to leave to my family. I was struck by 1:22 “and all of this happened to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet….” Just how much actually did happen from the genealogy through to Joseph’s obedience. I want to be intentional and participate.. I don’t want to be watching from the sideline. The Lord will have His way.. how much better to be intentional about how we raise our family, use our words, spend our money and use our resources to bring Him glory. Lord, I need you and want you in my life.

  5. I loved this whole process. It was wonderful. Thank you so much for your excellent devotional guide!!

    Here is the link to my SOAP post!

    http://realfaithjourney.blogspot.com/2011/04/blogging-through-gospels-matthew-1.html

  6. I found myself comparing my obedience to that of Joseph’s. His attitude was much different than mine frequently is. He obeyed without the whining and complaining that I can find myself doing. Definitely an area that I need to work on.

    1. Just read your blog post Mary :) I cannot leave comments on homeschoolblogger.com but I like your point that Joseph didn’t procrastinate. Often I pride myself on taking direction from God, and I give thanks acknowledging what He has done for me but I haven’t stopped before to admit that I do often procrastinate after I know what He wants. Definitely an area that I need to work on too. Thanks for sharing.

  7. That Joseph so easily and readily believed and then immediately obeyed has always amazed me. I am more like Moses. I often hear God loud and clear, yet even knowing what is expected of me I try to argue my way out. It never works of course. God can be very stubborn. ;)

  8. I was really struck today by the name Immanuel which means God is with us. There are no stipulations in this statement. It doesn’t say “God is with us if we do X, Y, or Z.” Instead, God is with us always, no matter our actions or our circumstances.

    I am definitely a perfectionist, and many days I find myself only reading my Bible because I feel like God would be disappointed if I didn’t. But, I am reminded by today’s reading that God is not anymore with me if I read my Bible or not. INSTEAD, reading my Bible draws me closer to him.

    I need to radically change my perspective. I need to approach reading the Bible with joy and expectation not because it will make God “happy” but because I should be about taking advantage of each and every opportunity to grow closer to my Lord and Savior.

    Amy, thank you so much for leading this study. I’ve learned so much, and it’s only Day 1!

  9. Shonda Avatar
    Shonda

    Here’s my SOAP for today: http://jsknowlton.blogspot.com/2011/04/blogging-through-gospels-day-1.html.

    I want to carry out the important tasks with responsibility just as God gave to Joseph.

  10. As I read today, I reflect on my family tree and the legacy I want to leave…

  11. Thanks for starting Blogging Through the Gospels. I think It’s going to be very good for me. :)

    I blogged about todays reading:

    http://lindaslunacy.blogspot.com/2011/04/blogging-through-gospels.html

  12. Verse 18, …….The picture of Mary becoming pregnant with the SON of GOD by the HOLY SPIRIT reminds me that it is NOT us but God in US that accomplishes anything. Read all my thoughts in my first days soap devotion http://theonethingps274.wordpress.com/2011/04/04/blogging-through-the-gospels/

  13. I was struck by Matthew 1:6b
    I followed the Soap and wrote about it on my blog,

    But I just want to say Praise God that he will take our screw ups and make them benefit His Plan.

    Penny Lane

  14. Here is mine for today. I like how every name for God has a very specific meaning and application. There were three in today’s chapter!

    http://www.cassandraland.com/2011/04/blogging-through-gospels-matthew-1.html

  15. I was struck by, Matthew 1:24, Joseph’s instant obedience; No questions asked. I’m sure Joseph had his praying done. I would love to be that obedient. It’s not always easy. After reading other posts, I see more clearly Joseph’s character. I would have missed that, if I wasn’t doing this with ya’ll. Thanks.

  16. I observed that what God asked Joseph to do was not easy. God does not promise us an easy life, but He gives us the strength to do what He call us to do. And it’s not always a big thing like Joseph was called do. For me, it’s daily responding with love, patience and gentleness when my husband is grouchy or the baby is fussy or the meal I spent so much time on is a complete flop. I constantly need God’s strength to do what He’s called me to do in this season, to be a wife and mother.

  17. Thank you for this website Amy, it is a wonderful resource.

    Surprisingly today’s reading had an important message for me. I have read Matthew 1 plenty of times before but never using the SOAP method, I think I may have much deeper conversation with God with this approach to his word.

    Today’s blog post is up, it’s a bit personal but I decided to publish it anyway.

  18. Here’s my SOAP for today’s reading:

    http://livingoutsidethestacks.com/2011/04/blogging-through-the-gospels-matthew-1/

    I was struck by Joseph’s obedience and his faith.

  19. Matthew 1:20 Joseph is told “Have no fear.” If it was me, I’d be saying “Yeah, right!!!!!!!!” He had to be scared and embarrassed and angry, I’d think. But he listened, and obeyed.

    God doesn’t call us to understand, just to listen and follow. My prayer is that I will do just that, especially when it’s confusing and hard!

  20. Just what I needed to start my day.
    Thank you so much for hosting!

  21. Wonderful job picking a study Amy. Are you going to do a button? I used the SOAP button for my post today.

  22. I, too, was struck by verse 19 where it says that Joseph was a righteous man. I thought it interesting that when Joseph–a righteous man–was going to do something that God did not want him to do, God sent an angel to give Joseph specific instruction. Joseph was not left to think he was doing the right thing, and in reality not. So. We may not get an angel sent to us in a dream (I kind of wish we did!), but guess that does not keep us from looking around to see how God IS communicating with us. And we already know that His main way of doing that to us is through His word, the Bible.

    http://www.tnquiltbug.blogspot.com

  23. As I was reading, I was picturing the movie “The Nativity Story”. I thought that was such a wonderful illustration of what might have been back then.
    The thing I really picked up in this passage was that Mary was carrying the son of God and that she must’ve trusted Him–I mean, she was carrying His son! What could man do to her? That doesn’t mean it was an easy calling, by any means. But she could still trust.

  24. Although I was leary of journaling through the gospels, I can see already how God wanted to speak to me. Matt 1:19 really spoke to me ….Joseph was a righteous man but still thought to divorce Mary. So many times in a day, I feel like I fail at living daily for God. This passage shows me that I am righteous (as God’s child) and yet human. Beating myself up over my mistakes only hinders my walk with Him.

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