Sunday Scripture

 

 I'll be posting  Sunday Scriptures on both of my blogs this December, taken from an Advent study I did in 2013 with Good Morning Girls.  The study, Keeping Our Hearts Focused on Jesus, is still available as a free download.  Scroll down and click on the book-like image, and the pdf should open right up.  More than just a Bible study, this is an ebook that includes recipes, Advent activities, and more.  I think it will be a blessing to you.

I've mentioned before that I like to use the SOAP method of Bible study, and the studies from GMG use a very similar one.  I find this method a real blessing whether I am studying shorter passages or longer ones, so I hope you'll give it a try if you haven't ever done so. Just a reminder that the S is for Scripture -- just write it out -- and the O is for Observation, the A is for Application and the P is for prayer -- concerning how you'll apply this verse or passage,  or praise for what it means to you.

This week's verses are focused on Love.  If you downloaded the study and are following along with it, this (interestingly enough) is the one from December 14.

S= "Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod, the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

"Saying, Where is He that is born King of the Jews?  For we have seen His star in the east, and are come to worship Him."  (Matthew 2:1-2)

O= The Gospel of Matthew, as C.I. Scofield explains, "was written originally for the Jews" and "presents Christ as the Son of David and the Son of Abraham.  Because He is portrayed as King, His genealogy is traced to King David; and the place of His birth, Bethlehem, the home of David,  is emphasized. 

Verse 2 is considered the key verse in the book of Matthew.  It emphasizes Jesus as King -- and King of the Jews, at that.  It's interesting to me, also, that these wise men, obviously Gentiles, came "to worship" this King.

As one scholar noted, "They had come to bow down in adoration and reverence to the King of kings. How is it that these Gentiles recognized what His own people refused to accept?"

A= Is Jesus King of my life?  Am I acknowledging Him as sovereign over every aspect?   I think of the hymn which begins, "King of my life I crown Thee now; Thine shall the glory be".  Is that my mindset?  It should be!

Someone has written, "Jesus is King of our lives, so we must serve Him all of our lives."

P= "Lord, I thank You for the amazing way in which Your Word fits together, the way in which You inspired the various writers to share information that would target different aspects of the Bible for specific purposes.  It's also a blessing to see how accurately prophecy has been fulfilled.  

I praise You for the privilege of owning multiple copies of the Bible in my own language.

And Lord, You know the desire of my heart that I would have You to be King of my life.  Thine shall the glory be!

In Jesus' name, Amen."

That's the very simple Sunday Scripture for this week!