Matthew’s Gospel focuses on the theme of fulfilment. Matthew wants to demonstrate how Jesus has fulfilled the Scriptures and, therefore, how God has been faithful to his covenant promises. It was predicted, to cite one example, that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. That, of course, is precisely where Jesus was born. In a number of different passages in the Old Testament it was also predicted that, in the Messianic age, the nations would come to God’s people. Isaiah 60:3: “Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.” The visit of the Magi, probably a group of Zoroastrian astrologers from the region of Persia, signifies the beginning of the fulfilment of this promise. As soon as Jesus is born, God begins to summon the nations to him, as Isaiah also declares: “Surely you will summon nations you know not, and nations you do not know will come running to you” (Isaiah 55:5). Jesus tells us that we are the light of the world. God wants to make you into a beacon star in a dark world. If you shine, God will bring people to you who need light. He probably already has. A lot of Christians find it hard to engage others with their faith, and the reason is mostly due to a misunderstanding about what we must do. God doesn’t want us to preach at people and win arguments. He simply wants us to be open windows to the light of God’s Kingdom. Simply be open about your relationship with God and see what happens.
Ask God to give you opportunities to talk about your faith with others.
Read Matthew 2:1-12
