By Makes All the Difference

Meditation
Matthew 1:6,20--and Jesse fathered King David.Then David fathered Solomon by Uriah’s wife . . . But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is by the Holy Spirit.

I don’t usually study genealogies in Scripture very carefully because quite frankly a long list of names can seem somewhat boring.  But in reading the first chapter in Matthew my attention was arrested by the phrase in verse six, “by Uriah’s wife.” ​

Those are potent words because Joseph, Mary’s husband, is the descendant of an adulterous affair between King David and Bathsheba.  As if the affair wasn’t bad enough, David had Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband killed. 

Why didn’t God have Joseph descend from David’s wife Abigail who bore him his second son, Daniel? His firstborn son, Amnon was murdered by his third son Absalom. Instead, He showed tremendous compassion to the king and Bathsheba, who, by Jewish law should have died at the hands of rock throwers.  He gave amazing grace and continued David’s line through Solomon.  However, when it came time for Jesus to be born, He came “by the Holy Spirit.”  There is a great lesson here.

When we do things by the flesh, evil ensues because the flesh is disobedient to God.  David lost his way in faithfully serving his Father and let lust reign for a period on the throne.  We understand the problem of sin because we have all succumbed to the temptations of our flesh.  We all struggle whenever we choose to act by a fleshly conduit.    

Conversely, when we do things by the Spirit, heaven sings and glory is the operative word.  By the Spirit means a perfect Messiah.  By the Spirit means God is in control.   Our solution to living life successfully with significance always come by the Spirit.  This is why Jesus taught, “The Spirit is the One who gives life. The flesh doesn’t help at all”(John 6:63) . . . “When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth” (John 16:13).  
            
Are you frustrated with life?  Stop living by your own power.  Ask God to give you the strength to operate by His Spirit.  John Eldredge, in his book, Moving Mountains, shared how he starts each day by praying a prayer of consecration. I was challenged by his example and now have a 4 x 6 notecard affixed to my computer screen with this prayer to start each day:
     
I consecrate my life again today to the Holy Spirit. I consecrate my thoughts and creativity.  I consecrate my gifting and my writing.  I consecrate this office and my computer.  I bring all this under the rule of Jesus and under the filling of the Holy Spirit.  And I call forth the creative life rule of Jesus Christ throughout my office and home today in all I do in Jesus’ name.  
 
Inspiration
No one overcomes the corruptions of his heart except by the enabling strength of the Spirit of God.—Jerry Bridges in The Pursuit of Holiness
 
©2019Daniel York  ARR. Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)