SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 1/25/2022 9:17 AM
My Worship Time Focus: “Commended
by the Father”
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Matthew
12:18a
Message of the
verse: “Behold,
my servant whom I have chosen; My beloved in whom my soul is well pleased:”
(Phillips).
John MacArthur points out that “Pais (Servant) is not the usual word for ‘servant’ and is often
translated ‘son.’ In secular Greek it
was used of an especially intimate servant who was trusted and loved like a
son. In the ancient Greek edition of the
Old Testament (the Septuagint), pais
is used of Abraham’s chief servant (Gen. 24:2), of Pharaoh’s royal servants
(41:10, 38), and of angels as the Lord’s supernatural servants (Job 4:18).”
It is Jesus Christ who is God’s
supreme Servant, as He is His holy Son whom He has chosen to redeem the
world. MacArthur adds “The Greek phrase
translated ‘I have chosen’ (from hairetizo)
indicates a firm and determined decision and is used nowhere else in the New
Testament. It is used in secular Greek of irrevocably (permanently) adopting a
child into the family as an heir who could never be disenfranchised. The Father had irrevocably ‘chosen’ His ‘beloved’
Son to be His divine ‘Servant,’ the only One qualified for the task of
redemption.”
As we look into the prophets of the
Old Testament we can see that they spoke of God choosing the Messiah that He
was referred to as “The Chosen One.” In
Luke’s gospel we see that the rulers were sneering at our Lord and even called
Him “His Chosen One” referring to God’s chosen One. They knew so much about Jesus being the “Chosen
One” but would not put their trust in Him for salvation. I have mentioned before that the more you
know about how salvation can be gotten, and then not chose to follow Jesus
Christ as Savior and Lord, the greater the punishment will be in Hell.
It is Jesus who is the Father’s ‘beloved,
in whom’ His ‘soul is well-pleased.’ Now
it is through the grace of God, and according to Ephesians 1:6-7 “which He
freely bestowed on us in the Beloved,” that “we have redemption through His
blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses.”
John MacArthur writes “Against the testimony of Israel and of the world
is the testimony of the Father. Jesus
said, ‘If I along bear witness of Myself, My testimony is not true. There is another who bears witness of Me, and
I know that the testimony which He bears of Me is true,…the witness which I
have is greater than that of John; for the works which the Father has given Me
to accomplish, the very works that I do, bear witness of Me, that the Father
has sent Me. And the Father who sent Me,
He has borne witness of Me’ (John 5:31-32, 36-37).”
We will look at two times that the
Father spoke from heaven. “"This is
My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased." This occurred at our Lord’s
Baptism. “While he was still speaking, a
bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said,
"This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!’” This occurred at the transfiguration found in
Matt. 17:5, the first in Matthew 3:17.
Here
is the truth that needs to be understood, and that is it is impossible for men
to be well-pleasing to God unless they come to Him through His Son, and He is
the One whom is well pleased. Romans
8:8-9 says “8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 However, you
are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you.
But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.”
Spiritual meaning for my life today: Col 2:6 Therefore as you have received Christ
Jesus the Lord, so walk
in Him.” This verse speaks to me in
showing me that the way that I was saved is the way that I should walk with the
Lord, and that is through the power of the Holy Spirit, the same One who 48
years ago tomorrow gave me an effectual call that I could not say no to and I
became a new person in Jesus Christ my Savior and my Lord.
My Steps of Faith for Today: Trust that I am walking in the power of the
Holy Spirit doing the things that He desires me to do.
1/25/2022 9:59 AM
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