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[expand title=”Devotion Text”]Matthew 1:21, 24-25
She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins . . . When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
“Joshua” is the name in the Hebrew language. In Greek, it was changed to “Jesus.” But in both languages the meaning is the same: “the Lord saves.” Matthew clearly explained why the Son of God should be named Jesus: “…because he will save his people from their sins.”
The people of Israel were desperate for a Savior. Some wanted a military general to take back their land by force. Others wanted a political leader to overthrow the Roman government from the inside. Still others, living with the results of poverty, wanted a Savior to deliver them from physical hardship.
Even today people want Jesus for different reasons. People want their “Savior” to get them a job, fix their marriage, heal them from an illness, help them recover from an addiction, or help them get their life back together. But every external issue is the symptom of an internal problem. We all need a Savior to save us from the sins that separate us from God. That’s the eternal salvation that Jesus came to give us! Once our eternal salvation is in place, we can trust Him for the other issues. But we must start with first things first.
Lord Jesus, thank You for being our Savior. Thank You for purchasing our eternal salvation by Your death on the cross. May we never confuse eternal salvation—humanity’s root problem—with temporal symptoms. In Your name we pray. Amen.
For parents: Explain to your children what the name Jesus means. Take the time to clearly explain how they can have a personal relationship with Jesus, the One who saves. Share your stories with us at prayer@ronmoore.org.
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