by Don Ruhl

Read Matthew Chapter 2

Who Were the Wise Men?

Matthew says,

1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem (Mat. 2:1).

Who were these wise men? How far from east did they come? Were they all from the same nation? What was the nation? How did they know that the King of the Jews had been born? How much of the Jew's religion did they know? Why did the Holy Spirit not give us more information about these men?

The Holy Spirit revealed all that He wants us to know. Perhaps we will get the answers when we get to heaven. The story of the wise men shows that the Christ is for more than the Jews, but He is for all people. Are you a Jew? Are you not a Jew? Either way, let us all do as the wise men did, and that is worship Jesus and bring gifts to Him.

Don Ruhl Church of Christ 220 NE Savage Street Grants Pass, Oregon 97526-1310 541-476-3100

by Don Ruhl

Read Genesis 4--6

Living Hundreds of Years

Adam, the first man on the earth, lived a long time.

5 So all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years; and he died (Gen. 5:5).

What did Adam learn in all those years? You attempt to learn, improving yourself constantly, that is one of the reasons that you probably subscribe to these e-mail devotionals. Imagine having 900 years to grow as a man or woman! Are you wiser today than you were 10 years ago? Yet, you are not even 100 years old.

If you had centuries to improve yourself, what are the things that you would work on most? Are you working on those things now? If not, why not? Start today to work on those things that you know will make you a better person and a better disciple of Christ.

Don Ruhl Church of Christ 220 NE Savage Street Grants Pass, Oregon 97526-1310 541-476-3100

Read Matthew Chapter 3

Jesus Is Lord of Heaven and Earth, But John Allows Jesus to Be Baptized

Amazing is the humility of Jesus Christ, Lord of heaven and earth. He approaches John the Baptizer to be baptized, and even as we would do, John tries to prevent Jesus, saying, I have need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me? (Mat. 3:14). Jesus explains that John must permit the baptism to fulfill all righteousness. Then Matthew says these amazing words,

15 Then he allowed Him (Mat. 3:15).

It is as though John gave Jesus permission. As Lord of heaven and earth, Jesus gave John permission to give permission to Jesus to baptize Him! The Lord of the universe submits Himself to a particle of the universe for the simple action of baptism. What can we say about the humility of Jesus Christ? What can we say about the importance of baptism?

Don Ruhl Church of Christ 220 NE Savage Street Grants Pass, Oregon 97526-1310 541-476-3100

by Don Ruhl

Read Matthew Chapter 1

He Did Not Humiliate Her

When divorces happen, both parties always believe that they are in the right. Okay, if that is the case, let us see how you treat your spouse in the divorce. Compare that with what Joseph does with Mary.

19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. 20 But while he thought about these things... (Mat. 1:19, 20a, NKJV).

Joseph does not humiliate Mary, nor does he intend to do so. He does not speak evil of her to others. He does not get family and friends on his side. He takes no ugly actions against her. She is the same. Both parties in this case were right, of course, which is why they act in the manner that they do.

If you find yourself in a divorce, remember the example of these two godly people. If you are truly in the right, give it time. Others will see the right. However, if you resort to ugly actions, others will question whether you were in the right and that perhaps you contributed to the break down of your marriage.

Don Ruhl Church of Christ 220 NE Savage Street Grants Pass, Oregon 97526-1310 541-476-3100

By Don Ruhl

Read Genesis 1--3

Awesome Power!

Do you have a favorite passage of Scripture? I have several that leave me breathless. Genesis 1:3 is one of them.

3 Then God said, Let there be light; and there was light (Gen. 1:3, NKJV).

Do not read the last two-thirds of that verse at normal speed. Read the first three words at normal speed, then read the rest of it like this:

Let [pause] there [pause] be [pause] light [double pause]

and [pause] there [pause] was [pause] light.

Read it again, now put emphasis on the words and and was.

In our English translation, God speaks four simple words. Then Moses speaks four simple words. What did God do with those four simple words? How much time do you think transpired between God's command and its fulfillment? There is every reason to believe that it was instantaneous! God says for it to be; and it is.

Dwell on the words of this passage today, thinking of the unimaginable power of our God. See what happens to your spirit.

Don Ruhl Church of Christ 220 NE Savage Street Grants Pass, Oregon 97526-1310 541-476-3100