1After Jesus was born in Beth...

1After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem

2and 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."

3When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.

- P80

9After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.

10When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.

11On 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.
- P81

King Herod responds to the news of Jesus’ birth with fear and insecurity rather than joy. Instead of recognizing the arrival of the promised Messiah, he sees the child as a rival to his throne. His desire is not to worship but to destroy. This is a picture of how the human heart resists God’s purposes when driven by pride, fear, or self-centeredness. - P82

While Herod represents hostility to God’s plan, the Magi, who also seek the child, come with hearts ready to worship. The same truth holds for us: When we walk in the flesh, we risk opposing God’s work and missing the blessings of God’s grace. But when we surrender to Him in humility, we find joy in Christ and participate in the work of the Holy Spirit. - P82

The visit of the Magi is a beautiful picture of the wideness of God‘s grace.
These men were foreigners and outsiders to Israel‘s covenant story, yet Godused a star to guide them to the promised Messiah. They came, boweddown, and worshiped Jesus as King, presenting gifts that acknowledgedHis royal and divine identity. In sharp contrast to Herod‘s hostility, theMagi demonstrate humility and joy in their encounter with Christ.  - P82

Theirobedience to God‘s warning shows that God both draws people to Himselfand protects His purposes. God‘s grace transcends boundaries of ethnicityand culture. Anyone anywhere can come to Jesus. We only need to havehearts that welcome and acknowledge His kingship. - P82

Lord, keep my heart from pride and fear that blind me to Your purposes and tempt me to resist You. Help me to walk in humility, acknowledging Your kingship so I may be ever ready to celebrate the work of Your Spirit. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen. - P83

[오늘의 한문장] 새벽나라 SENA 2026.1 (영문판)

Joseph is a man of integrity caught in a confusingsituation. As a devout Jew, he desires to uphold theLaw, yet he also loves Mary and does not want toshame her publicly. His decision to divorce her qui-etly shows both compassion and righteousness. Godintervenes and reveals the truth about Mary‘s childand the role Joseph is to play in God‘s redemptiveplan. - P43

The angel gives two names for Mary‘s child:Jesus, meaning "the Lord saves" and Immanuel, "Godwith us." These names reveal the depth of God‘s loveand the completeness of His plan.  - P43

Jesus is the Saviorwho rescues humanity from sin and death. He is alsoImmanuel, the God who walks with His people intheir struggles, joys, and everyday lives. - P43

18This is how the birth of Je...

18This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.

19Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

20But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

21She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."
- P75

22All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:

23"The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" (which means "God with us").

- P77

Joseph is a man of integrity caught in a painful, confusing situation. As a devout Jew, he desires to uphold the Law, yet he also loves Mary and does not want to shame her publicly. His decision to divorce her quietly shows both compassion and righteousness. But in this very moment of struggle, God intervenes and reveals the truth about Mary’s child and the role Joseph is to play in God’s redemptive plan. - P78

Like Joseph, God invites us to embrace a role in His plan that is far greater than we can imagine. In seasons of uncertainty, when we cannot see the full picture, He calls us to trust Him and continue to obey His words. He will reveal what we need to know at the right time. - P78

Lord, when things are uncertain and I don’t fully understand my circumstances, give me the courage to act in integrity and faith. Teach me to trust Your purposes above my own plans, and to obey when You call me into something greater than myself. In Jesus’ name, amen. - P79

Mary is pledged to Joseph but is found pregnant through the Holy Spirit.
Joseph plans to divorce her quietly, but an angel tells him in a dream to takeMary as his wife because her child is from the Holy Spirit. Joseph obeys andtakes Mary as his wife but refrains from union with her until she gives birth.
He names the child Jesus. - P77

This is the genealogy of Jesu...

This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham:

2Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,

3Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram,

- P70

Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse,

6and Jesse the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife,

- P71

11and Josiah the father of Jeconiah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon.

12After the exile to Babylon: Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,

- P72

16and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah.

17Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah.

- P73

Encapsulated in the statement that Jesus Christ is "the son of David, the son of Abraham," is the summary of God’s promise throughout the Old Testament. It was promised to Abraham that through his seed all the nations would be blessed, and more about this promise was revealed when it was told of David that his house and kingship would endure forever. - P74

At the right time, Jesus came as the fulfillment of the Old Testament. The promises of God are sure in coming, but as this genealogy shows, they are not always quick in coming. However, time spent waiting for them is never wasted. - P74

Think of the stories of grace each name in this genealogy represents, and be encouraged that your waiting on God is covered by His grace. - P74

Jesus‘ genealogy goes right through one of the darkest times in Israel‘s history, the Babylonian exile. This period saw the collapse of the monarchyand the decimation of the temple. And although a fallen monarchy seemslike a less than favorable context for the coming of a king, the successionof names continues because God‘s promises cannot be thwarted by man‘sfailures. The beauty of God‘s promise is that He guarantees it on the basisof His word.  - P74

Human beings may break their word, but God cannot. Hishonor would not allow it. He is faithful to all that He says. This is why thegenealogy finds its end with Jesus. This is also why the lives of the saints willfind their fulfillment in Him. - P74

Father, I am again reminded that You work all things for the good of those who love You. And this work is dependent not on my faithfulness, but on Yours. Thank You for being faithful and true till the end. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen. - P75

The elder, To my dear friend ...

The elder, To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth.

2Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.

3It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it.

4I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

5Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters,[a] even though they are strangers to you. - P66

John rejoices greatly at the fact that his friend Gaius is faithfully living a lifeof truth. This is clearly shown by his acts of love toward those who are alsolaboring for the cause of Christ. As observed in John‘s letters, to him, truthis synonymous with love. The opposite of love is plain in Diotrephes‘s life.
He denies the truth and, in consequence, is incapable of love. His life ismarked by self-interest and the cutting down of those who labor for truth.
- P68

Jesus taught that we can recognize a person‘s character by observing-thefruit of their lives. We recognize those who are of the truth by the fact thattheir life accords with God‘s commands and love. And this is not just a testto apply to others; it is also how each of us should reflect upon our lives. - P68

Dear Jesus, thank You for Your faithfulness to us. Thank You that we can prayfor and encourage one another to live in Your truth. Help us to honor You inboth truth and love. In Your name, amen. - P69