Devotionals for December

By Sherry Sweeney

December is undoubtedly the busiest time of the year.
As Christians, we want that month to be especially
meaningful in a spiritual way. Unfortunately, it is so busy
and we are so busy, that Christmas comes and we are just
tired, and hardly inspired! Sherry Sweeney takes a little
time each day to present Biblical Christmas passages
in a new and fresh way. They are designed to stretch us
a little bit in our thinking and be an encouragement and
blessing to our spirits. To get the most benefit, the author
requests that you promise to read only one a day and listen
closely for what God might be trying to communicate to
you.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Oct 31, 2012
• ISBN: 9781479736805

Sherry Sweeney

Sherry Sweeney lives in Michigan where two of her three daughters also live. Passionate about teaching, Sherry has taught Bible studies nearly every year since being a college student at Kent State University. She has had the privilege of teaching Sunday School classes from toddlers to college and career classes. “To make the Scriptures come alive and relatable is the challenge. They must be understandable and accurately presented. That makes it easier for the Holy Spirit to work in the heart and mind of the believer. It is the most satisfying endeavor I can think of. I love it!”

Book preview

December 1 – Matthew 1:1-16

The Genealogy of Jesus the Messiah

1 The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham: 2 Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers. 3 Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez was the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram. 4 Ram was the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon. 5 Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz was the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse. 6 Jesse was the father of David the king. David was the father of Solomon by Bathsheba who had been the wife of Uriah. 7 Solomon was the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asa. 8 Asa was the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah. 9 Uzziah was the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah. 10 Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, and Amon the father of Josiah. 11 Josiah became the father of Jeconiah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon. 12 After the deportation to Babylon: Jeconiah became the father of Shealtiel, and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel. 13 Zerubbabel was the father of Abihud, Abihud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor. 14 Azor was the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud. 15 Eliud was the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob. 16 Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, by whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah.

Who can get excited about a genealogy unless it is one’s own? Ah, but this is a special genealogy about a most special person. Matthew traces the ancestors of Jesus, the God-Man, the long-awaited One, through the lineage of Joseph. He does this to demonstrate Jesus’ claim and legal right to the throne of David because the Me ssiah had to be an heir of King David. What I want you to notice are the four women mentioned: Tamar (a widow who tricked her father-in-law into sleeping with her), Rahab (a Canaanite who was also a prostitute), Ruth (a Moabite, often enemies of Israel), and Bathsheba (who, so far as we know, did not protest when she was seduced by King David although she was married to one of his most loyal men). Wow! What a line-up!

There are two great things about these women. First, they were integral parts to Jesus’ earthly family. All four women had quite the story and a good amount of space in the Old Testament is devoted to them. Secondly, look how God honored each one: Tamar was declared by her father-in-law Judah to be more righteous than he was! Rahab and her family are spared destruction as the Jews destroy her city. An entire Old Testament book is devoted to the story of Ruth and her loyalty not only to Naomi, her mother-in-law, but also to her new God. Bathsheba was not only the mother of one of the most famous and wisest kings of Israel, but it is possible that her words of wisdom to him are recorded in Proverbs 31:2-9. It may even be that the famous Proverbs 31 woman is Bathsheba’s own description of a godly wife that she taught her son, Solomon.

I guess that God can use just about