Behold the King Who Steps Into Our Waiting: In the Book of Matthew
Advent has a way of slowing us down, whether we want it to or not. The lights come out, the days get shorter, and something inside us starts paying attention again. This year, for some reason, the Lord has significantly slowed everything down for me. Even though I’m still leading a discipleship ministry, knee-deep in a doctoral program at Asbury, and raising four kids (one who is a borderline adult!), my life feels slower. Perhaps it’s because God is reshaping my intentionality. Over the past few years, I’ve had to learn that I need to be particular about where God uses me. And honestly, working through the Behold Path has helped me do exactly that.
Back in 2022, the word the Lord kept whispering to me was “intentional.” And as I learned that our God is intentional—and His Son intentional in every step of His earthly ministry—I found myself seeking that same intentionality in my own life.
And maybe that’s why Matthew opens his Gospel the way he does—not with glitter, not with angels singing, but with a long list of names and stories woven together by one quiet thread:
Behold, Your Intentional King!
It was close to 100 degrees, but since it was just after 4 pm, the breeze from the Levant Wind (easterly wind from the Mediterranean Sea) blew in, cooling us through our moisture-wicking hiking clothes. As we turned the corner from walking alongside the eastern Temple Mount wall, away from the Mount of Olives, our professor struck out ahead, his long legs causing us to walk double time to catch up. He was headed towards a gate we had walked through on one of our first days, but he turned and stopped short today. Beckoning for us to stand on the narrow sidewalk that led into the Lion’s Gate.
It was at this special location that he began to explain how this was the very gate through which Jesus rode a humble donkey during His Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem over 2,000 years ago. This road led from Bethany down the Mount of Olives right to this Gate, which was called the Sheep Gate back then- the very spot where sacrificial lambs were brought into the Temple area. It struck me in that moment that, not only did the King enter through these gates amid joyful praises, beautiful music, and heartfelt worship, but He also passed through the LION/LAMB Gate. Is it just a coincidence? I've come to understand that everything about our faith is intentional. We serve a King who acts with purpose and intention.
The Goodness of God: In the Epistles
I had been battling debilitating headaches for months. I went through testing and tried medication. When relief and answers didn’t come, I was scheduled for an MRI. Those results did not come back with good news. I was diagnosed with a brain tumor in January 2000 and scheduled to see a neurologist immediately. When this situation came into my life, I was a brand-new believer. I had not yet experienced the goodness of God in a way that allowed me to trust Him fully. I didn’t know for sure that He would walk through whatever was to come in the days and weeks ahead. I was fortunate to have people in my life who pointed me to God during this season. I was surrounded by encouragement, support, and love. While I couldn’t understand why I was walking through this diagnosis, I fully experienced His presence and peace.
Paul wrote his letters to the early churches in the Bible for various reasons. These are filled with encouragement, instruction, and clarity.
The Goodness of God: In Matthew, Mark & Luke
I always knew my calling was to be a wife and a mother. That dream’s first half became reality when my husband and I married. Many tears were shed, and prayers were spoken about our request to become parents. However, I didn’t know I would have to wait ten years into our marriage before I could fulfill the role of mother.
In the books of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, there is a story about a woman who had an issue of blood for twelve years. Can you imagine? The Bible doesn’t say, but did she also have other symptoms along with the bleeding?