A Walk with Matthew
by
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Pedigree
This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham.
- Matthew 1:1
We - no matter who we are, no matter what we have done, and especially we whose lives seem ordinary and uneventful – can become part of an amazing story, grafted into the royal line of a gracious and loving King, groomed and destined to rule with Him in an everlasting kingdom. Abraham’s and David’s Son, Promised King and Holy One, Never walked so grand as He Possessed of heavenly pedigree. Interestingly, we see
Grafted in His family tree
Unlikely for the Kingly line
But graced with pedigree divine.
Tamar, who was left alone,
God chose as His very own.
Repenting of her life of sin,
Rahab became grafted in.
Rewarded for her loyalty,
Ruth’s children are royalty.
Poor, widowed Uriah’s wife,
Becomes part of the Line of Life.
And I, despite my pain and sin,
Likewise may be grafted in.
The faith these four display for me
Alight my path to pedigree.
Wisdom to Worship
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
- Matthew 2:1-2
The wise men were led to worship Jesus, not by their culture or religion, not because they were members of the Jewish race. They were intelligent and educated men of science. Science – the honest search for the truth – did not lead them away from Jesus, but to Him.
The wise of the east sought to follow a star.
They studied and searched for years.
They desired to worship the One sent from God, And His star had just appeared. The star they had seen appeared in the east. So far, then, they had trod. The truth was revealed to them through eastern thought And brought them to their God. And as the wise followed the star to its end Their hearts increased with joy. Their travel had been worth the danger and toil. They saw the kingly boy. First they bowed down. Then they opened their gifts Of myrrh, frankincense, and gold. It was natural to give of their best to the Lord. Their hearts had first been sold.
Life seems like a ship that sails on the sea. Its course is the captain’s whim. But God fills the sails with winds from on high And drives it straight to Him.
The Wise Man’s Gift
When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
- Matthew 2:10-11
The wise men were overjoyed because they received the greater gift: the gift that is available for everyone, for all time, a gift more valuable than our greatest treasures and one that keeps on giving, giving to us and giving through us.
Every good gift Really is one. The Father above Gives us His Son. The gentle breeze, Summer’s soft touch - The whisper of Christ, Who loves us much. A song in the night, A joyful surprise - Just Jesus there Before our eyes. Peace in turmoil, Strength for the trial, He walks with us The second mile. Heart’s long desire Now ours to own, Jesus indwells Our heart as His home. A manger bed, A humble cross, Jesus springs forth And overcomes loss. Now gives us life Then, greater still, We will see Jesus Our dreams fulfill. While here we give As we receive, Jesus re-gifting Grace to believe.
Then Jesus Comes
The people living in darkness have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.
- Matthew 4:16
After Jesus’ temptation, he began his ministry in Capernaum on the north shore of Galilee. The prophet had spoken of this day many, many years before; but Jesus’ arrival was probably still a surprise. We might feel the same way today should Jesus appear and walk among us in our hometowns.
When those who live from day to day Through their routines of work and rest And know not there’s a better way, But see the life they live as best, Then Jesus comes. When those who struggle to get by Have done their best just to provide And find that stress is ever nigh, Become confused and need a guide, Then Jesus comes. In gloomy days of darkest haze When shadows fall and lights are low, When souls wade through moral decay And as they more complacent grow, Then Jesus comes. When those who are great do succeed And proudly walk among their peers, Receiving praise for worthy deeds, Deserving of earth’s grandest cheers, Then Jesus comes. When truth I finally do perceive And my whole world comes crashing in, And everything that I’ve achieved Can never compensate my sin, Then Jesus comes. When life comes to its certain end, To death’s dark shadow now has come, Never so much desires a friend To take a hand and lead it home, Then Jesus comes.
Disciples Come
Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him.
- Matthew 5:1
There are many ways we might respond to Jesus’ availability to teach, to His message, to His work, to His calling. The first step, the best step, and perhaps the only step we can ever take is to come to Him.
Seeing the crowd, Jesus goes to teach. Passive stand below, Proud presume to know, Disciples come. Seeing the poor, Jesus goes to serve. Passive close their door, Proud just seek for more, Disciples come. Seeing our sin, Jesus goes to plead. Passive hope He goes, Proud turn up their nose, Disciples come. Seeing the lost, Jesus goes to save. Passive walk on by, Proud give up a sigh, Disciples come. Seeing His need, Jesus goes to pray. Passive take no heed, Proud see not their need, Disciples come. Seeing work done, Jesus goes to God. Passive neglect work, Proud cleave to their worth, Disciples come.
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About the Book
A Walk with Matthew is a poetic journey through the Gospel of Matthew, written through the lens of a believer who, like every believer, has been grafted into an extraordinary family. The author begins with the Gospel writer’s thesis—that those (however ordinary or unlikely) who believe in Jesus are grafted into the family of the King—and reveals through poetry how the life and teachings of Jesus transform us as they did Matthew and the other disciples.
The book grew out of the author’s desire for a more genuine, intimate, meaningful, and joyful relationship with Jesus and to become more useful to Jesus in His ministry. The strategy was to go back to the basics. In this case, it was the Gospel of Matthew. The book is an interpretation of the Gospel that grew out of the author’s own relationship with Jesus and his challenges living out that relationship in his family, community, and public service.
It is the author’s hope that this book will motivate the reader to engage the Gospel message, reflect on the text and meaning of the scripture, understand all the good that the Gospel presents, pursue the transformation of being grafted into Jesus’ pedigree, grow more confident in eternal life, and be joyfully content in this life.
About the Author
Keith Sellen is an attorney who lives in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. Keith is a retired army judge advocate and a graduate of West Point. He grew up on a dairy farm in Northeastern Wisconsin. At an early age, he came to faith in Jesus, who has been a source of inspiration and encouragement throughout Keith’s career of public service. Keith is married to his childhood sweetheart, Debbie. They have two daughters and four grandchildren.