Reading for Today: Matthew 1:1-2:23

Matthew 1:18-25
This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place. His mother, Mary, was engaged to Joseph; but before they came together she turned out to be pregnant – by the holy spirit. Joseph, her husband-to-be, was an upright man. He didn’t want to make a public example of her. So he decided to set the marriage aside privately. But, while he was considering this, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared to him in a dream.

“Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “Don’t be afraid to get married to Mary. The child she is carrying is from the holy spirit. She is going to have a son. You are to give him the name Jesus; he is the one who will save his people from their sins.”

All this happened so that what the Lord said through the prophet might be fulfilled: “Look: the virgin is pregnant, and will have a son, and they shall give him the name Emmanuel” – which means, in translation, “God with us.”

When Joseph woke up from his sleep he did what the Lord’s angel had told him to. He married his wife, but he didn’t have sexual relations with her until after the birth of her son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

Have you ever had to make a tough choice between what the world wants you to choose and what God wants you to choose? What was the situation and what did you choose to do? How did it work out for you? In retrospect, would you make a different decision? Why?

Joseph was able to see his situation differently after viewing it from God’s perspective, but it still took a lot of trust and humility to follow God’s will. Where are you on trusting God’s heart? Are you willing to look at the world around you with through the new perspective of God’s word? What would it take to get you to that point?

Join us beginning February 22 as we commit to read Matthew’s gospel for Lent.  Over the course of 40 days, we will read through the entirety of Matthew and interact here.  In addition to the passages, you will find thoughts and comments from others.  Each reading will be listed below.

Lenten Readings for Matthew

• Reading Matthew for Lent
• Matthew for Lent - Day 1

O Lord, let my soul rise up to meet you
as the day rises to meet the sun.

Praise to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever.

Come, let us sing to the Lord : let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.

Shout glad tidings o’er Egypt’s dark sea : Jehovah has triumphed; his people are free!

Psalm 150:1-6
Hallelujah! Praise God in his holy temple : praise him in the firmament of his power.
Praise him for his mighty acts : praise him for his excellent greatness.
Praise him with the blast of the ram’s horn : praise him with lyre and harp.
Praise him with timbrel and dance : praise him with strings and pipe.
Praise him with resounding cymbals : praise him with loud clanging cymbals.
Let everything that has breath : praise the Lord. Hallelujah!

Shout glad tidings o’er Egypt’s dark sea : Jehovah has triumphed; his people are free!

Isaiah 26:1-9
John 8:12-19

O Lord, let my soul rise up to meet you
as the day rises to meet the sun.

Praise to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever.

Come, let us sing to the Lord : let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.

The Lord lifts up the lowly, but casts the wicked to the ground.

Psalm 147:1-5
Hallelujah! How good it is to sing praises to our God! : how pleasant it is to honor him with praise!
The Lord rebuilds Jerusalem : he gathers the exiles of Israel.
He heals the brokenhearted : and binds up their wounds.
He counts the number of the stars : and calls them all by their names.
Great is our Lord and mighty in power : there is no limit to his wisdom.

The Lord lifts up the lowly, but casts the wicked to the ground.

Isaiah 25:1-9
John 7:53-8:11

O Lord, let my soul rise up to meet you
as the day rises to meet the sun.

Praise to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever.

Come, let us bow down and bend the knee : let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.

Listen, Lord; listen, Lord, not to our words but to our prayers.

Psalm 143:7-11
O Lord, make haste to answer me; my spirit fails me : do not hide your face from me or I shall be like those who go down to the Pit.
Let me hear of your loving-kindness in the morning, for I put my trust in you : show me the road that I must walk, for I lift up my soul to you.
Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord : for I flee to you in refuge.
Teach me to do what pleases you, for you are my God : let your good Spirit lead me on level ground.
Revive me, O Lord, for your name’s sake : for your righteousness’ sake, bring me out of trouble.

Listen, Lord; listen, Lord, not to our words but to our prayers.

Isaiah 12:1-6
John 7:37-52

O Lord, let my soul rise up to meet you
as the day rises to meet the sun.

Praise to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever.

Come, let us bow down and bend the knee : let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.

Remember the lives of your little ones, Lord, and break the sword of the oppressor.

Psalm 136:1-3, 23-25
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good : for his mercy endures for ever.
Give thanks to the God of gods : for his mercy endures for ever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords : for his mercy endures for ever.
Who remembered us in our low estate : for his mercy endures for ever;
and delivered us from our enemies : for his mercy endures for ever;
who gives food to all creatures : for his mercy endures for ever.

Remember the lives of your little ones, Lord, and break the sword of the oppressor.

Jeremiah 31:15-17
Matthew 2:13-18

O Lord, let my soul rise up to meet you
as the day rises to meet the sun.

Praise to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever.

Come, let us sing to the Lord : let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.

Overwhelm us, Lord, with the weight of your glory.

Psalm 128:1-6
Happy are they all who fear the Lord : and who follow in his ways!
You shall eat the fruit of your labor : happiness and prosperity shall be yours.
Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine within your house : your children like olive shoots round about your table.
The man who fears the Lord : shall thus indeed be blessed.
The Lord bless you from Zion : and may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life.
May you live to see your children’s children : may peace be upon Israel.

Overwhelm us, Lord, with the weight of your glory.

Isaiah 65:15-25
Luke 4:14-21

O Lord, let my soul rise up to meet you
as the day rises to meet the sun.

Praise to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever.

Come, let us sing to the Lord : let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.

In the morning when we rise, may your image shine in us.

Psalm 119:164-168
Seven times a day do I praise you : because of your righteous judgments.
Great peace have they who love your law : for them there is no stumbling block.
I have hoped for your salvation, O Lord : and I have fulfilled your commandments.
I have kept your decrees : and I have loved them deeply.
I have kept your commandments and decrees : for all my ways are before you.

In the morning when we rise, may your image shine in us.

Isaiah 62:6-7, 10-12
John 3:31-36

O Lord, let my soul rise up to meet you
as the day rises to meet the sun.

Praise to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever.

Come, let us sing to the Lord : let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.

O Word, now wrapped in human skin, speak peace on earth through your children.

Psalm 119:89-93
O Lord, your word is everlasting : it stands firm in the heavens.
Your faithfulness remains from one generation to another : you established the earth, and it abides.
By your decree these continue to this day : for all things are your servants.
If my delight had not been in your law : I should have perished in my affliction.
I will never forget your commandments : because by them you give me life.

O Word, now wrapped in human skin, speak peace on earth through your children.

Zechariah 2:10-13
Luke 2:1-14

O Lord, let my soul rise up to meet you
as the day rises to meet the sun.

Praise to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever.

Come, let us bow down and bend the knee : let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.

O Light that shines in our darkness, come and free us from our sin.

Psalm 118:19-24
Open for me the gates of righteousness : I will enter them; I will offer thanks to the Lord.
“This is the gate of the Lord : he who is righteous may enter.”
I will give thanks to you, for you answered me : and have become my salvation.
The same stone which the builders rejected : has become the chief cornerstone.
This is the Lord’s doing : and it is marvelous to our eyes.
On this day the Lord has acted : we will rejoice and be glad in it.

O Light that shines in our darkness, come and free us from our sin.

Isaiah 59:15-21
Philippians 2:5-11