November 30, The Genealogy of Jesus—Matthew 1:1-17
An account of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Aram, and Aram the father of Aminadab, and Aminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of King David.
And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asaph, and Asaph the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amos, and Amos the father of Josiah, and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon.
And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Salathiel, and Salathiel the father of Zerubbabel, and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, who bore Jesus, who is called the Messiah.
So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David to the deportation to Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the deportation to Babylon to the Messiah, fourteen generations.
An account of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Aram, and Aram the father of Aminadab, and Aminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of King David.
And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asaph, and Asaph the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amos, and Amos the father of Josiah, and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon.
And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Salathiel, and Salathiel the father of Zerubbabel, and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, who bore Jesus, who is called the Messiah.
So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David to the deportation to Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the deportation to Babylon to the Messiah, fourteen generations.
Reflect
Today begins the season of Advent as we prepare to celebrate Christ’s birth. We begin with a passage that lays out Jesus' genealogy. What stands out to you about this passage? How many generations are listed? Why is it important to Matthew to list Jesus' genealogy? Do some of the names surprise you? Why? How many women are included? What do you know about them?
Today begins the season of Advent as we prepare to celebrate Christ’s birth. We begin with a passage that lays out Jesus' genealogy. What stands out to you about this passage? How many generations are listed? Why is it important to Matthew to list Jesus' genealogy? Do some of the names surprise you? Why? How many women are included? What do you know about them?
Respond
How do you respond to the information included? Is it helpful, overwhelming, inspiring, or something else? Sometimes we forget that God has been at work for many years, across many generations, to prepare the world for the coming of the Messiah. Take time to thank God for loving you so much that he prepared the way to send his Son into the world so that we could be saved.
How do you respond to the information included? Is it helpful, overwhelming, inspiring, or something else? Sometimes we forget that God has been at work for many years, across many generations, to prepare the world for the coming of the Messiah. Take time to thank God for loving you so much that he prepared the way to send his Son into the world so that we could be saved.
December 1, Root of Jesse—Isaiah 11:1-10
A shoot shall come out from the stock (root) of Jesse,
and a branch shall grow out of his roots.
The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him,
the spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the spirit of counsel and might,
the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.
He shall not judge by what his eyes see,
or decide by what his ears hear;
but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,
and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;
he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,
and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.
Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist,
and faithfulness the belt around his loins.
The wolf shall live with the lamb,
the leopard shall lie down with the kid,
the calf and the lion and the fatling together,
and a little child shall lead them.
The cow and the bear shall graze,
their young shall lie down together;
and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp,
and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den.
They will not hurt or destroy
on all my holy mountain;
for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord
as the waters cover the sea.
On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious.
A shoot shall come out from the stock (root) of Jesse,
and a branch shall grow out of his roots.
The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him,
the spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the spirit of counsel and might,
the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.
He shall not judge by what his eyes see,
or decide by what his ears hear;
but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,
and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;
he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,
and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.
Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist,
and faithfulness the belt around his loins.
The wolf shall live with the lamb,
the leopard shall lie down with the kid,
the calf and the lion and the fatling together,
and a little child shall lead them.
The cow and the bear shall graze,
their young shall lie down together;
and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp,
and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den.
They will not hurt or destroy
on all my holy mountain;
for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord
as the waters cover the sea.
On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious.
Reflect
In this passage, Jesus is referred to as “the stock (or root) of Jesse,” who was the father of King David. As we read this text, we must seek to hear and understand that the nation of Israel longed for a descendant of King David, who would be a just and faithful king, establishing justice and righteousness. That hope was fulfilled and transformed in Jesus of Nazareth. He is the one upon whom the Spirit of the Lord rests, and so he can rule with wisdom, understanding, counsel, and might. The meek and oppressed will be lifted, and the wicked will be put down. He will do what is right. And the result will be a peaceable kingdom. The vision that is portrayed here is one in which animals and children can live without fear of being hurt or destroyed.
In this passage, Jesus is referred to as “the stock (or root) of Jesse,” who was the father of King David. As we read this text, we must seek to hear and understand that the nation of Israel longed for a descendant of King David, who would be a just and faithful king, establishing justice and righteousness. That hope was fulfilled and transformed in Jesus of Nazareth. He is the one upon whom the Spirit of the Lord rests, and so he can rule with wisdom, understanding, counsel, and might. The meek and oppressed will be lifted, and the wicked will be put down. He will do what is right. And the result will be a peaceable kingdom. The vision that is portrayed here is one in which animals and children can live without fear of being hurt or destroyed.
Respond
Dallas Willard writes in his book The Divine Conspiracy, “God’s kingdom or rule is the range of his effective will, where what he wants done is done…. Every last one of us has a ‘kingdom’—or a ‘queendom,’ or a ‘government’—a realm that is uniquely our own, where our choice determines what happens.” Does your life reflect the reality of Christ as your ruler? Is this evident in the way you live, relate to others, and acquire and give your resources? Think about how you might arrange your life this Advent and Christmas season to mesh your kingdom with God’s kingdom.
Dallas Willard writes in his book The Divine Conspiracy, “God’s kingdom or rule is the range of his effective will, where what he wants done is done…. Every last one of us has a ‘kingdom’—or a ‘queendom,’ or a ‘government’—a realm that is uniquely our own, where our choice determines what happens.” Does your life reflect the reality of Christ as your ruler? Is this evident in the way you live, relate to others, and acquire and give your resources? Think about how you might arrange your life this Advent and Christmas season to mesh your kingdom with God’s kingdom.
December 2, Lion of the Tribe of Judah—Revelation 5:5
Then one of the elders said to me, ‘Do not weep. See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.’
Then one of the elders said to me, ‘Do not weep. See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.’
Reflect
Judah was one of the twelve sons of Jacob, and his descendants are part of the tribe of Judah. In Genesis, the patriarch Jacob (“Israel”) gave the symbol of the lion to his tribe when he referred to his son Judah as a “Young Lion” in his blessing (Genesis 49:9). The Lion of Judah was used as a Jewish symbol for many years. In 1950, the lion was included in the Emblem of Jerusalem.
In Christian tradition, the Lion of Judah represents the triumphant Jesus. Jesus was descended from the tribe of Judah, and he is mentioned as the Lion of Judah in Revelation. Many Christian organizations and ministries use the Lion of Judah as their emblem or even their name.
In The Chronicles of Narnia, C. S. Lewis uses a lion named Aslan as a Christ figure. When Peter, Susan, Edmond, and Lucy first learn about Aslan and his return to Narnia, they ask about him and wonder if he is safe. Mrs. Beaver replies, “Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the king, I tell you.”
There is a human tendency to want a domesticated God whom we can count on to be who we want him to be and think he should be. The lion is one of the most powerful animals on earth, and we are to understand that Jesus, as God, is powerful and strong. But like Aslan, he is good. We can count on him to do what is loving and right and for our good, even if we do not always understand or like it.
Judah was one of the twelve sons of Jacob, and his descendants are part of the tribe of Judah. In Genesis, the patriarch Jacob (“Israel”) gave the symbol of the lion to his tribe when he referred to his son Judah as a “Young Lion” in his blessing (Genesis 49:9). The Lion of Judah was used as a Jewish symbol for many years. In 1950, the lion was included in the Emblem of Jerusalem.
In Christian tradition, the Lion of Judah represents the triumphant Jesus. Jesus was descended from the tribe of Judah, and he is mentioned as the Lion of Judah in Revelation. Many Christian organizations and ministries use the Lion of Judah as their emblem or even their name.
In The Chronicles of Narnia, C. S. Lewis uses a lion named Aslan as a Christ figure. When Peter, Susan, Edmond, and Lucy first learn about Aslan and his return to Narnia, they ask about him and wonder if he is safe. Mrs. Beaver replies, “Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the king, I tell you.”
There is a human tendency to want a domesticated God whom we can count on to be who we want him to be and think he should be. The lion is one of the most powerful animals on earth, and we are to understand that Jesus, as God, is powerful and strong. But like Aslan, he is good. We can count on him to do what is loving and right and for our good, even if we do not always understand or like it.
Respond
Do you want a “safe” God? What does it mean to you that Jesus is the “Lion of the tribe of Judah”? How does it comfort, convict, or challenge you to know that he is strong and powerful? What do you want to say to him right now?
Do you want a “safe” God? What does it mean to you that Jesus is the “Lion of the tribe of Judah”? How does it comfort, convict, or challenge you to know that he is strong and powerful? What do you want to say to him right now?
December 3, King of Kings and Lord of Lords--1 Timothy 6:14-16
I charge you to keep the commandment without spot or blame until the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he will bring about at the right time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords. It is he alone who has immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see; to him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.
I charge you to keep the commandment without spot or blame until the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he will bring about at the right time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords. It is he alone who has immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see; to him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.
Reflect
The title “King of kings and Lord of lords” denotes someone with the power to exercise absolute dominion over his realm. In the case of the Lord Jesus, the realm is all of creation. These two titles are used only to refer to Jesus, reflecting that his rule is unique and above that of all other rulers. In 1 Timothy, Paul drives home the solitary nature of Christ’s rule, calling him the “only” Sovereign, who is “alone” and “unapproachable.”
The title is also used in Revelation in reference to his conquest and return: “On his robe and on his thigh he has a name inscribed, ‘King of kings and Lord of lords’” (Revelation 19:16). The implication is that in the end all other rules will be conquered or abolished, and he alone will reign supreme as King and Lord of all creation and creatures. There is no power, no king, and no lord who can oppose him and win.
The title “King of kings and Lord of lords” denotes someone with the power to exercise absolute dominion over his realm. In the case of the Lord Jesus, the realm is all of creation. These two titles are used only to refer to Jesus, reflecting that his rule is unique and above that of all other rulers. In 1 Timothy, Paul drives home the solitary nature of Christ’s rule, calling him the “only” Sovereign, who is “alone” and “unapproachable.”
The title is also used in Revelation in reference to his conquest and return: “On his robe and on his thigh he has a name inscribed, ‘King of kings and Lord of lords’” (Revelation 19:16). The implication is that in the end all other rules will be conquered or abolished, and he alone will reign supreme as King and Lord of all creation and creatures. There is no power, no king, and no lord who can oppose him and win.
Respond
Take time today to listen to “The Hallelujah Chorus” from Handel’s Messiah. Give honor and praise and thanks to Christ—the only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords.
Take time today to listen to “The Hallelujah Chorus” from Handel’s Messiah. Give honor and praise and thanks to Christ—the only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords.
December 4, Servant--Isaiah 42:1-4
Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
my chosen, in whom my soul delights;
I have put my spirit upon him;
he will bring forth justice to the nations.
He will not cry or lift up his voice,
or make it heard in the street;
a bruised reed he will not break,
and a dimly burning wick he will not quench;
he will faithfully bring forth justice.
He will not grow faint or be crushed
until he has established justice in the earth;
and the coastlands wait for his teaching.
Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
my chosen, in whom my soul delights;
I have put my spirit upon him;
he will bring forth justice to the nations.
He will not cry or lift up his voice,
or make it heard in the street;
a bruised reed he will not break,
and a dimly burning wick he will not quench;
he will faithfully bring forth justice.
He will not grow faint or be crushed
until he has established justice in the earth;
and the coastlands wait for his teaching.
Reflect
It seems very clear that in this particular passage, the servant is the Lord Jesus, and we are called upon to look at him as the solution to every problem. How is he described? In twelve lines, he says three times that this one, the Servant of the Lord, will bring forth justice. This is the one who will set things right because that is what the term “justice” means. He will establish things as they ought to be.
“Righteousness” means bringing something into conformity with the character of God. Justice is the outworking of righteousness. Justice is the application of righteousness. Whether we are talking about our homes, society, or ourselves, the Servant of the Lord is the only one who can get things aligned with God’s standards. No one else can.
The resources that enable God’s Servant to bring about justice in the earth are supernatural and come from the unique relationship with the Father who upholds and strengthens him, chooses and delights in him, and puts his Spirit upon him. This was the power he drew upon to carry out his ministry.
It wasn’t only what he did but the way he did it. He didn’t “cry out” or demand recognition. He didn’t talk about what he did or tell people how he did it. He went about quietly doing what the Father had called him to do.
It seems very clear that in this particular passage, the servant is the Lord Jesus, and we are called upon to look at him as the solution to every problem. How is he described? In twelve lines, he says three times that this one, the Servant of the Lord, will bring forth justice. This is the one who will set things right because that is what the term “justice” means. He will establish things as they ought to be.
“Righteousness” means bringing something into conformity with the character of God. Justice is the outworking of righteousness. Justice is the application of righteousness. Whether we are talking about our homes, society, or ourselves, the Servant of the Lord is the only one who can get things aligned with God’s standards. No one else can.
The resources that enable God’s Servant to bring about justice in the earth are supernatural and come from the unique relationship with the Father who upholds and strengthens him, chooses and delights in him, and puts his Spirit upon him. This was the power he drew upon to carry out his ministry.
It wasn’t only what he did but the way he did it. He didn’t “cry out” or demand recognition. He didn’t talk about what he did or tell people how he did it. He went about quietly doing what the Father had called him to do.
Respond
What impact does thinking about Jesus as a servant have on you? How does it make you feel that he will establish things as they ought to be with justice and righteousness? How are you participating in his ongoing work in the world? How is he calling you to be a servant by showing up (compassion), speaking up (evangelism), and standing up (justice) for others?
What impact does thinking about Jesus as a servant have on you? How does it make you feel that he will establish things as they ought to be with justice and righteousness? How are you participating in his ongoing work in the world? How is he calling you to be a servant by showing up (compassion), speaking up (evangelism), and standing up (justice) for others?
December 5, Judge— Micah 4:1-4
In days to come
the mountain of the Lord’s house
shall be established as the highest of the mountains,
and shall be raised up above the hills.
Peoples shall stream to it,
and many nations shall come and say:
‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the house of the God of Jacob;
that he may teach us his ways
and that we may walk in his paths.’
For out of Zion shall go forth instruction,
and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between many peoples,
and shall arbitrate between strong nations far away;
they shall beat their swords into ploughshares,
and their spears into pruning-hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war any more;
but they shall all sit under their own vines and under their own fig trees,
and no one shall make them afraid;
for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken.
In days to come
the mountain of the Lord’s house
shall be established as the highest of the mountains,
and shall be raised up above the hills.
Peoples shall stream to it,
and many nations shall come and say:
‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the house of the God of Jacob;
that he may teach us his ways
and that we may walk in his paths.’
For out of Zion shall go forth instruction,
and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between many peoples,
and shall arbitrate between strong nations far away;
they shall beat their swords into ploughshares,
and their spears into pruning-hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war any more;
but they shall all sit under their own vines and under their own fig trees,
and no one shall make them afraid;
for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken.
Reflect
Sometimes, my children get into arguments. When they were young, one or both of them would run to me “to do something” to make things right. Other times, they would avoid me because they didn’t want me to do anything, because they knew they were in the wrong. I didn’t relish the role of judge—especially when I didn’t really know what had happened and wasn’t sure how best to arbitrate the situation to bring about peace, reconciliation, and growth.
I am grateful that Jesus is a faithful judge and that I can go to him and trust him to do what is right, even when I don’t understand. One day, all people will recognize the one true God of the universe as the faithful judge. Just as God’s people in the Old Testament had made their pilgrimages to the holy city of Jerusalem, so also streams of people from all nations will join them as they willingly come to learn about this God so that they, too, may “walk in his paths.”
The result will be peace as wars end once and for all. God will judge directly without intrusion of sinful human institutions. And since war will no longer be necessary, the instruments of violence and death will be converted to instruments of agriculture that will nurture human life.
Sometimes, my children get into arguments. When they were young, one or both of them would run to me “to do something” to make things right. Other times, they would avoid me because they didn’t want me to do anything, because they knew they were in the wrong. I didn’t relish the role of judge—especially when I didn’t really know what had happened and wasn’t sure how best to arbitrate the situation to bring about peace, reconciliation, and growth.
I am grateful that Jesus is a faithful judge and that I can go to him and trust him to do what is right, even when I don’t understand. One day, all people will recognize the one true God of the universe as the faithful judge. Just as God’s people in the Old Testament had made their pilgrimages to the holy city of Jerusalem, so also streams of people from all nations will join them as they willingly come to learn about this God so that they, too, may “walk in his paths.”
The result will be peace as wars end once and for all. God will judge directly without intrusion of sinful human institutions. And since war will no longer be necessary, the instruments of violence and death will be converted to instruments of agriculture that will nurture human life.
Respond
In what circumstances do you need to trust Jesus as a faithful judge? In what ways are you coming to him to receive wisdom and counsel in sorting out right from wrong in the midst of messy relationships and circumstances? How is Christ inviting you to allow him to “teach you his ways that you may walk in his paths”? Are there any attitudes, words, or actions that are destructive and hurtful? How is God inviting you to allow him to transform your attitudes, words, and actions to reflect the goodness of life in the kingdom of God?
In what circumstances do you need to trust Jesus as a faithful judge? In what ways are you coming to him to receive wisdom and counsel in sorting out right from wrong in the midst of messy relationships and circumstances? How is Christ inviting you to allow him to “teach you his ways that you may walk in his paths”? Are there any attitudes, words, or actions that are destructive and hurtful? How is God inviting you to allow him to transform your attitudes, words, and actions to reflect the goodness of life in the kingdom of God?
December 6, Son of Man—Daniel 7:13-14
As I watched in the night visions,
I saw one like a human being
coming with the clouds of heaven.
And he came to the Ancient One
and was presented before him.
To him was given dominion
and glory and kingship,
that all peoples, nations, and languages
should serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that shall not pass away,
and his kingship is one
that shall never be destroyed.
As I watched in the night visions,
I saw one like a human being
coming with the clouds of heaven.
And he came to the Ancient One
and was presented before him.
To him was given dominion
and glory and kingship,
that all peoples, nations, and languages
should serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that shall not pass away,
and his kingship is one
that shall never be destroyed.
Reflect
Jesus frequently referred to himself as the “Son of Man.” In Daniel, this title is understood to be a heavenly representative appointed by the source of heavenly authority. Dallas Willard writes in The Divine Conspiracy, “By taking the title Son of man, Jesus staked his claim to be all that the human being was originally supposed to be—and surely much more. Colloquially, we might describe him as humanity’s ‘fair-haired boy,’ the one who expresses its deepest nature and on whom its hopes rest.”
Some mistakenly paint the picture that “Jesus died for our sin so that we could go to heaven after we die.” Jesus showed us how life was meant to be lived right here right now, and as we trust him and all he has done for us through his life, death, resurrection, and ascension, we are drawn into that eternal kind of life that we were created for. Today is a day to live life in the kingdom of God as we trust Jesus, the Son of Man.
Jesus frequently referred to himself as the “Son of Man.” In Daniel, this title is understood to be a heavenly representative appointed by the source of heavenly authority. Dallas Willard writes in The Divine Conspiracy, “By taking the title Son of man, Jesus staked his claim to be all that the human being was originally supposed to be—and surely much more. Colloquially, we might describe him as humanity’s ‘fair-haired boy,’ the one who expresses its deepest nature and on whom its hopes rest.”
Some mistakenly paint the picture that “Jesus died for our sin so that we could go to heaven after we die.” Jesus showed us how life was meant to be lived right here right now, and as we trust him and all he has done for us through his life, death, resurrection, and ascension, we are drawn into that eternal kind of life that we were created for. Today is a day to live life in the kingdom of God as we trust Jesus, the Son of Man.
Respond
Think about your understanding of who Jesus is and what he has done for you. Do you think of his life as a model of the way you can live your life? Why or why not? How is your view of Jesus limited? How is your view of life in the kingdom limited? What might you do to expand your knowledge and understanding of Christ and what it means to follow him?
Think about your understanding of who Jesus is and what he has done for you. Do you think of his life as a model of the way you can live your life? Why or why not? How is your view of Jesus limited? How is your view of life in the kingdom limited? What might you do to expand your knowledge and understanding of Christ and what it means to follow him?