TOPIC: From Ordinary To Extraordinary (DCLM Daily Manna 2 November 2022)
TEXT: Matthew 1:1-17 (KJV)
1 The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
2 Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren;
3 And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram;
4 And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon;
5 And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;
6 And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias;
7 And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa;
8 And Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias;
9 And Ozias begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias;
10 And Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias;
11 And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon:
12 And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel;
13 And Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor;
14 And Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud;
15 And Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob;
16 And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
17 So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.
KEY VERSE: “So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations” (Matthew 1:17)
DCLM Daily Manna For Today MESSAGE:
Known throughout the centuries for its literary excellence, the Holy Bible also has enviable reputation for colourful narrative, impeccable accuracy and detailed precision. Its brief passages can sometimes astonish by capturing events spanning decades in a verse or two. At times, a series of happenings taking place in a bracket of years can be recapitulated in only a verse without the loss of the import of the story.
Following this matchless tradition, Matthew, in only seventeen verses of the first chapter of his inspired gospel, reveals the ancestral identity of Jesus, the prophesied Messiah. His book’s aim was to present our Lord as the promised Descendant of David. To do this, Matthew must link Old and new Testament personalities and references to show how Jesus fulfilled the prophecies of the departed messengers of God. In seventeen verses, the writer brings us close to forty-six people who lived over a period of 2,000 years. And all were ancestors of Jesus Christ.
He mentions illustrious figures like Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as well as Ruth and David. But there are others like Rahab the harlot who made the list because of their rare faith. The log also contains ordinary people: Hezron, Ram and Akim; although, they are not linked to any spectacular act in the Bible’s rich narration of the deeds of the patriarchs in their walk with God.
Being the Creator, God can perform extraordinary feats through those we perceive as ordinary or average. You can be the next the Lord wants to equip to work for Him if you meekly submit to Him.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
In God’s hands, the ordinary becomes extraordinary
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
1 Kings 3-4
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.