December 5th - Matthew 3:1-10 Spend some time meditating on this message of repentance. Then, come back and read the commentary, my verse, and my response. Request God's help. Read Matthew 3:1-10 Record a verse that stands out to you. Respond to God. Come back and read the commentary when you're done… John the Baptist prepared a way for the LORD by proclaiming, "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven has come near" (NIV). In essence, he was the one who was blessed with the task of rolling out the red carpet for the King. Understanding his role, John was unashamed of his unconventional presentation and called people to repentance in the wilderness of Judea with boldness. Yes, his appearance and attitude were that of the […] Read more »

December 4th - Matthew 2:13-23 Spend some time meditating on how God works all things for good. Then, come back and read the commentary, my verse, and my response to God. Request God's help. Read Matthew 2:13-23 Record a verse that stands out to you. Respond to God. Please spend as much time as you need with these verses. (It's the most important part!) Then, come back and read the commentary when you're done… Right after the Magi departed, Joseph had another dream. This time, it was a warning from an angel of the Lord to flee Bethlehem because Herod was looking to kill Jesus. God told Joseph where to go and why he had to leave. Once again, Joseph immediately obeyed. In doing so, […] Read more »

December 3rd - Matthew 2:1-12  Spend time meditating on the Magi's visit and the gifts Jesus received. Then, come back and read the commentary, my verse, and my response to God. Request God's help. Read Matthew 2:1-12 Record a verse that stands out to you. Respond to God. Come back and read the commentary when you're finished. Little 'k' king Herod was suspiciously curious when the Magi arrived and enquired about the King of the Jews. Immediately, Herod asks the religious leaders in Jerusalem where the Messiah will be born. "Bethlehem," they answered, quoting Micah 5:2. Then Herod called a secret meeting with the Magi to discover when the star appeared to them. Herod's wicked wheels are turning! "Go and make a careful search for […] Read more »

December 2nd - Matthew 1:18-25 Spend some time meditating on the conception and birth of Jesus. Then, come back and read the commentary, my verse, and my response to God. Request God's help. Read Matthew 1:18-25 Record a verse that stands out to you. Respond to God. Oh my! This never gets old, does it? If you have time, read what God shared with me below. First, three separate miracles are happening within these verses. 1. The conception by the Holy Spirit; 2. Mary believed God and submitted to His plan, even though she had no idea how it would happen, and 3. Joseph believed in God despite the physical evidence in front of him. Granted, both Mary and Joseph were visited by an angel. […] Read more »

Spend some time alone with God as you start this study. Then, come back and read the commentary, my verse, and my response to God. As God speaks to you through His Word, it will become alive and active in your heart. Request God's help. Read Matthew 1:1-17 Record a verse that stands out to you. Respond to God. Now that you have "eaten," let's have dessert together! Because of Matthew's past, he was an unlikely candidate to write one of the Gospels. You see, before following Jesus, Matthew was a tax collector. That is equivalent to being an extortionist for the mafia and getting kickbacks for every cent you extract. Mercifully, Jesus called Matthew while Matthew was still sitting in his tax booth, and […] Read more »