Good morning people who love the mystery of leaning into spiritual truth

Matthew 1:16 NIV And Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah.

Understanding doesn’t determine truth – faith is required.

As I typed the word ‘faith’, I was stirred in my spirit. Let’s lean in.

The word ‘faith’ comes from the Greek word ‘pistis’ (Strong’s g4102) and it centres around the key thought of ‘conviction of the truth, assurance, belief’.

But I also see the following: ‘generally with the idea of trust, the character of one who can be relied on’.

When you put this together and look at the countless examples in scripture, faith is rooted more deeply in a confidence in the person speaking than in what is said. (Oh, please read that last line again!)

It is never truer than with our God!

Abraham exemplified this when God told him to sacrifice his son who was the fulfilment of the promise that God gave him (Genesis 22:1-19).

How could Abraham do this?

He relied on the character of the One speaking.

Part of the beauty of walking with God is the mystery that comes with what He says.

Like Moses at the burning bush, mystery doesn’t cause people of God to retreat, but to step closer (Exodus 3:1-3).

Matthew 1:16 contains some mystery to me, and naturally speaking, it doesn’t seem right. But I have stepped closer to God today as I have meditated on it.

I think this might be Father’s greatest priority – us stepping closer to Him.