Matthew 4:12-17 – Capernaum = San Francisco on steroids!
Matthew 4:12-17 New American Standard Bible 12 Now when Jesus heard that John had been taken into custody, He withdrew into Galilee;13 and leaving Nazareth, He came and settled in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali.14 This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet:
15 “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, [a]By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the[b]Gentiles— 16 “The people who were sitting in darkness saw a great Light, And those who were sitting in the land and shadow of death, Upon them a Light dawned.”
17 From that time Jesus began to [c]preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
19 Take Time With God – Are you content with your life?
There is a great deal of difference between being content and being numb. The content person can rest in the fact that they are going through a moment in their life, good or bad, that will lead to greater happenings with Christ no matter how wonderful or painful this day is for them. They may be experiencing “growing pains” but as that is happening they are content while expecting miracles. The numb person wallows in their discontentment with little vision beyond where they are at this precise moment.
The Christian life in the kingdom of God fulfills visions and then goes on to fulfill more because Christ has purpose for every Christian that goes beyond this day. The Christian who focuses on Christ knows that they are loved no matter how good or bad things are going at the moment. They believe Romans 8:28 and that is what makes them content but not numb.
To the Christ-focused Christian they know that this world is not their permanent home, but that Heaven awaits them. And while on Earth their goal, no matter what else they’re doing, is to bring people to Christ and glorify God with their own life. They know Christ died for them, conquered death, and is magnificently active in their life. That knowledge gives every day vital meaning and contentment.
Atheists and so-called “agnostics” have a tendency to be extremely bitter and most believe they have every right to do whatever they want. They focus on revenge and if they think of a god at all, without knowing it they picture Satan and his always cruel ways. They eradicate the one true God in their thinking and in doing that they shut off any knowledge of His great love for them. Still Christ waits and works in their life as far as the unbeliever will allow Him. Salvation is their only hope and those who know that need to be praying for them.
How has this played out in my own life and how is it playing out in yours? Let’s explore the answers on the days Take Time With God. –Ray
1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles –
2 if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God’s gracewhich was given to me for you;
3 that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief.
4 By referring to this, when youread you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,
5 which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit;
6 to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellowpartakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel,
7 of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace which was given to me according to the working of His power.
8 To me, the very least of all saints,this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches ofChrist,
9 and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things;
10 so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the chhank youurch to therulers and the authorities in the heavenly places.
11 This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord,
12 in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him. This is take time with God a daily program
13Therefore I ask you not to lose heart at my tribulations on your behalf, for they are your glory.
14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,
15from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name,
16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened withpower through His Spirit in the inner man,
17 so that Christ may dwell in yourhearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, and
18may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and lengthand height and depth,
19 and to know the love of Christ which surpassesknowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.
20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think,according to the power that works within us,
21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
19 Take Time With God – Are you content with your life? Content
1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—2 if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace which was given to me for you;3 that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief.4 [a]By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight [b]into the mystery of Christ,5 which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets [c]in the Spirit;6 to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel,7 of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace which was given to meaccording to the working of His power.8 To me, the very least of all [d]saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ,9 and to [e]bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things;10 so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places.
Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision” which is performed in the flesh by human hands – remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, excluded from the Commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall by abolishing in His flash the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross by it having put to death the enmity. And he came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near; four through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building being fitted together is growing into a holy temple in the Lord in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.
