Category Archives: Infinite / Without Limit

Father / Yahweh, His Timing Not Ours, His Ways Are Not Our Ways, Infinite / Without Limit, Jesus Christ / Yeshua, Prophecy

Divine Threads: Tracing God’s Work Across Generations (Luke 3:23-38)

Have you ever marveled at how God weaves His redemptive plan across generations, orchestrating events and fulfilling His promises through the tapestry of time?

In Luke 3:23-38, we encounter a genealogy that traces the lineage of Jesus, offering a glimpse into God’s intricate work spanning multiple generations. Join us as we delve into this passage and uncover the significance of Jesus’ ancestry.

Reconnect: Luke 3:23-38 presents a detailed genealogy tracing Jesus’ lineage back to Adam, the first man. While genealogies may seem mundane, this list of names holds profound significance, showcasing God’s faithfulness to fulfill His promises and establish His redemptive plan through generations. Let’s explore the layers of meaning embedded within this genealogy and discover the rich tapestry of God’s providence.

(Summarized and continued after scripture)

Luke 3:23-38

Genealogy of Jesus

     23When He began His ministry, Jesus Himself was about thirty years of age, being, as was supposed, the son of Joseph, the son of Eli, 24the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph, 25the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Hesli, the son of Naggai, 26the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda, 27the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, 28the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er, 29the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, 30the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim, 31the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David, 32the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon, 33the son of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Ram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, 34the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, 35the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Heber, the son of Shelah, 36the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, 37the son of MethuSelah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan, 38the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.

Summary Key Points:

  1. A Genealogy of Hope: The genealogy in Luke’s Gospel serves as a testament to God’s faithfulness throughout history. By tracing Jesus’ lineage back to Adam, Luke emphasizes Jesus’ humanity and His connection to all humanity, presenting Him as the fulfillment of God’s promise to send a Savior.
  2. Inclusion of Gentiles: Unlike Matthew’s genealogy, which emphasizes Jesus’ legal descent from David through Joseph, Luke’s genealogy highlights Jesus’ universal mission by including Gentile ancestors. Through figures like Adam, the ancestor of all humanity, and Noah, the survivor of the global flood, Luke underscores Jesus’ role as the Savior of all people, Jew and Gentile alike.
  3. Fulfillment of Prophecy: The genealogy culminates in Jesus, the Son of God, whose birth fulfills the Messianic promises of the Old Testament. As the descendant of David, Jesus embodies the fulfillment of God’s covenant with David, promising an eternal kingdom ruled by the Messiah.

Call to Action:

  1. Reflect on Your Spiritual Heritage: Take time to reflect on your spiritual lineage and the faithfulness of God throughout generations. Consider the ways in which God has worked in your family’s history to bring about His purposes and extend His grace.
  2. Embrace Your Identity in Christ: Just as Jesus’ genealogy anchors His identity and mission, let your identity be rooted in Christ. Recognize that as a follower of Jesus, you are part of God’s redemptive plan, called to live out His purposes and share His love with others.
  3. Share the Good News: As heirs of God’s promises through Christ, embrace the responsibility to share the gospel with others. Like the generations before us who faithfully passed down the message of salvation, let us boldly proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ to a world in need of hope and redemption.

4. Trust in God’s Providence: Reflect on the truth that God’s plans for your life may extend far beyond your own view or even your own lifetime. Trust in His providence and sovereignty, knowing that He orchestrates events across generations to fulfill His purposes. Surrender your plans to His perfect will, seeking to align your life with His greater redemptive plan.

Closing Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we thank You for the rich tapestry of Your providence displayed in Jesus’ genealogy. Help us to appreciate the significance of our spiritual heritage and to live out our identity as Your children with boldness and conviction. May we faithfully carry forward the message of salvation to future generations, declaring Your faithfulness and love to all. Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

All Knowing, All Powerful / King of All, Idols / False Gods, Infinite / Without Limit, Protector / Deliverer, Salvation

God Deserves the Top Spot in Your Heart and Mind

Often when reading about idolatry in the Bible, Christians can easily convince themselves to dismiss it as no longer relevant since it is not commonplace anymore to literally have false idols representing gods and worship them.  However, I challenge you to think of it slightly differently. An idol can also be a job, a house, money, a hobby, or even a person. An idol is anything you put in that central place in your heart that takes the place or priority of God. God should be first in your heart. That should be reflected not just in empty words, but in our time, energy, and money in how we live. It should be reflected in how we speak and how we treat people. If there is anything that you are putting at the top of your priority list and focus, you need to ask God to help you put Him above it!

Isaiah 46

Babylon’s Idols and the True God

1Bel has bowed down, Nebo stoops over;
Their images are consigned to the beasts and the cattle.
The things that you carry are burdensome,
A load for the weary beast.

      2They stooped over, they have bowed down together;
They could not rescue the burden,
But have themselves gone into captivity.

      3“Listen to Me, O house of Jacob,
And all the remnant of the house of Israel,
You who have been borne by Me from birth
And have been carried from the womb;

      4Even to your old age I will be the same,
And even to your graying years I will bear you!
I have done it, and I will carry you;
And I will bear you and I will deliver you.

      5“To whom would you liken Me
And make Me equal and compare Me,
That we would be alike?

      6“Those who lavish gold from the purse
And weigh silver on the scale
Hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god;
They bow down, indeed they worship it.

      7“They lift it upon the shoulder and carry it;
They set it in its place and it stands there.
It does not move from its place.
Though one may cry to it, it cannot answer;
It cannot deliver him from his distress.

      8“Remember this, and be assured;
Recall it to mind, you transgressors.

      9“Remember the former things long past,
For I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is no one like Me,

      10Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things which have not been done,
Saying, ‘My purpose will be established,
And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’;

      11Calling a bird of prey from the east,
The man of My purpose from a far country.
Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass.
I have planned it, surely I will do it.

      12“Listen to Me, you stubborn-minded,
Who are far from righteousness.

      13“I bring near My righteousness, it is not far off;
And My salvation will not delay.
And I will grant salvation in Zion,
And My glory for Israel.

Spend a few minutes with God. Ask Him to show you any idols in your life and then ask Him to help you address them quickly and boldly. God and God alone brings salvation and righteousness.

Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross

All Powerful / King of All, Eternal, Grace / Forgiveness, Guide, His Ways Are Not Our Ways, Holy, Infinite / Without Limit, Loving / Kind, Praise / Worship / Glorify God, Strong in Our Weakness, Worthy of Fear / Reverence

Blessings, Honor, Glory, and Dominion Forever – YHWH and Yeshua Rather than Man

I will honestly say I do not take time to just stop and praise YHWH and Yeshua often enough. I mean for who they are and what they have already done, not just when they give me a personal victory. Our God is amazing. He is creator of all. He rules over all. He became man and died for us. Who are we that He should be concerned with each of us!?

Blessings, honor, glory and dominion for YHWH and Yeshua indeed. Let us not seek the glorification of man or his creation in His place.

Revelation 5:11-14

Angels Exalt the Lamb

      11Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, 12saying with a loud voice,

“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.”
13And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, “To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.”

14And the four living creatures kept saying, “Amen.” And the elders fell down and worshiped.

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

All Knowing, Infinite / Without Limit, Repenting from Sin, Seeking God

YHWH Is Everywhere at All Times

Psalm 139 reminds us that YHWH is everywhere (omnipresent) at all times. He is all knowing (omniscient).  He is aware of what we say and do before we do it. He was there when we were created in our mother’s womb. We can not run away from him (just ask Jonah!). We are also reminded with the closing verses to cry out to YHWH and ask him to search us and help us turn from any hurtful or unhelpful ways and turn toward his ways. I encourage you to take some time to ask for his help with this now.

Psalm 139

God’s Omnipresence and Omniscience.

For the choir director. A Psalm of David.

      1O LORD, You have searched me and known me.

      2You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
You understand my thought from afar.

      3You scrutinize my path and my lying down,
And are intimately acquainted with all my ways.

      4Even before there is a word on my tongue,
Behold, O LORD, You know it all.

      5You have enclosed me behind and before,
And laid Your hand upon me.

      6Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
It is too high, I cannot attain to it.

      7Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?

      8If I ascend to heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there.

      9If I take the wings of the dawn,
If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea,

      10Even there Your hand will lead me,
And Your right hand will lay hold of me.

      11If I say, “Surely the darkness will overwhelm me,
And the light around me will be night,”

      12Even the darkness is not dark to You,
And the night is as bright as the day.
Darkness and light are alike to You.

      13For You formed my inward parts;
You wove me in my mother’s womb.

      14I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Your works,
And my soul knows it very well.

      15My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth;

      16Your eyes have seen my unformed substance;
And in Your book were all written
The days that were ordained for me,
When as yet there was not one of them.

      17How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!

      18If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand.
When I awake, I am still with You.

      19O that You would slay the wicked, O God;
Depart from me, therefore, men of bloodshed.

      20For they speak against You wickedly,
And Your enemies take Your name in vain.

      21Do I not hate those who hate You, O LORD?
And do I not loathe those who rise up against You?

      22I hate them with the utmost hatred;
They have become my enemies.

      23Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me and know my anxious thoughts;

      24And see if there be any hurtful way in me,
And lead me in the everlasting way.

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

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The Lord Cares Over All His Works

The Lord is in control of all things. Nothing is beyond Him or out of His reach. He manages all of it. Let us rejoice and be glad in Him!

Psalm 104

The LORD’S Care over All His Works.

     1Bless the LORD, O my soul!
O LORD my God, You are very great;
You are clothed with splendor and majesty,

      2Covering Yourself with light as with a cloak,
Stretching out heaven like a tent curtain.

      3He lays the beams of His upper chambers in the waters;
He makes the clouds His chariot;
He walks upon the wings of the wind;

      4He makes the winds His messengers,
Flaming fire His ministers.

      5He established the earth upon its foundations,
So that it will not totter forever and ever.

      6You covered it with the deep as with a garment;
The waters were standing above the mountains.

      7At Your rebuke they fled,
At the sound of Your thunder they hurried away.

      8The mountains rose; the valleys sank down
To the place which You established for them.

      9You set a boundary that they may not pass over,
So that they will not return to cover the earth.

      10He sends forth springs in the valleys;
They flow between the mountains;

      11They give drink to every beast of the field;
The wild donkeys quench their thirst.

      12Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell;
They lift up their voices among the branches.

      13He waters the mountains from His upper chambers;
The earth is satisfied with the fruit of His works.

      14He causes the grass to grow for the cattle,
And vegetation for the labor of man,
So that he may bring forth food from the earth,

      15And wine which makes man’s heart glad,
So that he may make his face glisten with oil,
And food which sustains man’s heart.

      16The trees of the LORD drink their fill,
The cedars of Lebanon which He planted,

      17Where the birds build their nests,
And the stork, whose home is the fir trees.

      18The high mountains are for the wild goats;
The cliffs are a refuge for the shephanim.

      19He made the moon for the seasons;
The sun knows the place of its setting.

      20You appoint darkness and it becomes night,
In which all the beasts of the forest prowl about.

      21The young lions roar after their prey
And seek their food from God.

      22When the sun rises they withdraw
And lie down in their dens.

      23Man goes forth to his work
And to his labor until evening.

      24O LORD, how many are Your works!
In wisdom You have made them all;
The earth is full of Your possessions.

      25There is the sea, great and broad,
In which are swarms without number,
Animals both small and great.

      26There the ships move along,
And Leviathan, which You have formed to sport in it.

      27They all wait for You
To give them their food in due season.

      28You give to them, they gather it up;
You open Your hand, they are satisfied with good.

      29You hide Your face, they are dismayed;
You take away their spirit, they expire
And return to their dust.

      30You send forth Your Spirit, they are created;
And You renew the face of the ground.

      31Let the glory of the LORD endure forever;
Let the LORD be glad in His works;

      32He looks at the earth, and it trembles;
He touches the mountains, and they smoke.

      33I will sing to the LORD as long as I live;
I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.

      34Let my meditation be pleasing to Him;
As for me, I shall be glad in the LORD.

      35Let sinners be consumed from the earth
And let the wicked be no more.
Bless the LORD, O my soul.
Praise the LORD!

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

All Powerful / King of All, Courage / Fear, Faith / Trusting God, Infinite / Without Limit, Jesus (hearing from God), Jesus Christ / Yeshua, Miracles, Miracles

Where Is Your Faith?

Just reflect on this one simple thought… there is nothing on Earth that is beyond the control of Jehovah. With this in mind, we need not be afraid. Faith conquers fear.

Luke 8:22-25 

Jesus Stills the Sea

     22Now on one of those days Jesus and His disciples got into a boat, and He said to them, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So they launched out. 23But as they were sailing along He fell asleep; and a fierce gale of wind descended on the lake, and they began to be swamped and to be in danger. 24They came to Jesus and woke Him up, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And He got up and rebuked the wind and the surging waves, and they stopped, and it became calm. 25And He said to them, “Where is your faith?” They were fearful and amazed, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him?”

I suppose one more perspective I should highlight… do not miss that Yeshua asks “Where is your faith?”, meaning that He expected the disciples to trust in Him even when the situation looked dire and the storm was raging. God was in control even while Yeshua slept.

We can trust our Father no matter the situation or the outcome. Let us put our faith totally and unreservedly in Him. When we do so, then we have nothing to fear.

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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? Are you living today filled with the peace and joy of truly knowing and following Jesus Christ? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.