Just Checking

If you are reading these posts will you please e-mail and let me know that way I will know which way to go with these or to continue them at all. Even if there is one person who reads them I will continue, but if no one is reading them then we will discontinue them.

phoupt@sbcglobal.net

Also, let me know if you like the direction that they are going or would you like to see it go in another, and if you want to go in another direction please indicate which direction and how often.

Genealogy

This posting isn't going to be some deep doctrinal truth, this is just one of those posts that is there to help you think. As we continue alone the genealogy of Jesus you will notice that in Matthew 1 that the lineage is that of Joseph's, but in Luke 3:23-38 you will notice that Luke focus' in on a very similar lineage; that of Mary's. They both descend from David and in the same number of generations but the common thought is that in Luke you see that Joseph's father is Eli and in Matthew his father is Matthan. In Luke Eli is actually Joseph's father-in-law, Mary's father, remember that they only put the males names in so Mary's wouldn't be listed. This also helps in the completion of the prophecy that Jesus would be in the Lineage of David. I know what you are thinking, Joseph was in the lineage of David so it is ok, right? But we need to remember that if we believe in the virgin birth, as we do, then Mary would also need to be from that same lineage. This is not meant to be used to place Mary any higher than she needs to be, the mother of Jesus. She is not to be worshiped just revered that she and Joseph lived lives worthy of the Lord using them. This is just a thought provoking post.

Everyone Is Worthy

If you start reading through the New Testament you start with a long list of names and like most people I want to skip right on over them. You know and get to the meat of the story. We all want to know what God is doing and how our lives can be affected by His moving. But don't jump to far ahead. As we read in Matthew 1:5 "Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz was the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse." The first seventeen verses of Matthew chapter one is nothing more than a genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, but if you are not paying attention you might miss that little part in verse 5 where it talks about Rahab. SO who is Rahab? Rahab is the prostitute that hid Joshua's spies, as seen in Joshua 6:22-23. The simple point that I'm am making this morning is just this, there are times in everyone's lives that we feel unworthy of our Christian lives. We feel that God somehow made a mistake in letting us into His family. Satan does a great job of making us feel very unworthy. But as we see here, even a prostitute was allowed in. Notice that this is the lineage of Christ and there is a prostitute right smack dab in the middle. God can use anyone that He wants to, us included. So the next time that you are feeling unworthy just remember that even Rahab was included in the family tree!

Leadership and the Coming Election

II Chronicles 7:14
14 and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

As we are fastly approching election day we must remember that we are to humble ourselves before God, we are to pray and seek His face. If we do these things as turn from our wicked ways then He will hear our prayers and forgive our sins and heal our land. In America we have a unique way of life and a unique freedom that no other country experiences, but we are to remember that we are to uplift our leaders in prayer. If you don't like who is in charge, prayer for there change of heart or for their salvation whichever is approiate. But understand that God has placed the current leaders in their respective positions for a reason and we are to respect that.

Romans 13:1
1Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.

Paul goes on in Romans to explain that they are there for a reason and we are to follow their ruling inasmuch as it does not ask us to go against God's will.

Many times we are so caught up in the second part of this posting, arguing that our governmental authorities are wrong that we forget that the first part is to take place. We are to humble ourselves first. You might get a different understanding of leadership if we subject ourselves to Christ leadership. Look throughout the New Testament and see the various types of leadership Christ uses. You might be suprised.