Matthew 1 - GNTD & NMNT93

Addictions come in many shapes and forms, whether it’s lust, alcohol, substances, gambling, gaming, or even excessive use of your mobile phone and social media. There is professional help to get as well as counselling from your priest or pastor.

Also, read the Bible and lay your addiction before God in prayer. Here are some passages from the Word of God to reflect upon.

James 1:14-15 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

We all have weaknesses within us that can make us fall and lead to an addiction. Acknowledging this, and admitting that you struggle with addiction is an important step to be free from it.

1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.

Addictions don’t come from God, but from the world and our desires, lusts and pride. We can rely on God wanting us to be free from any addiction.

1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

You may feel that you can’t break your addiction. But the Bible tells us that God can. God will provide the way of escape. Turn to God, turn from your addiction. Let God fill you with his presence.

1 Corinthians 6:12 “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything.

Addiction is many times when something takes control over you. Those things that are not helpful in your life and dominate your thoughts and desires you may need to cut out of your life.

1 Peter 2:11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.

Addictions come from this world and not from God. In the end, addictions replace God as the number one in our lives. It’s not just about addictions, but also about our souls.

Matthew 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Lay your struggles before God. Ask for God’s protection and deliverance.

John 8:36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

This is the promise of Jesus Christ, that when he sets us free, it is real freedom.

This article is not intended as a replacement for medical or therapeutic help or treatment for addiction, but a complement and inspiration to those who battle addiction.

The Ancestors of Jesus Christ

(Luke 3.23-38)

1 This is the list of the ancestors of Jesus Christ, a descendant of David, who was a descendant of Abraham.

2-6a From Abraham to King David, the following ancestors are listed: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah and his brothers; then Perez and Zerah (their mother was Tamar), Hezron, Ram, Amminadab, Nahshon, Salmon, Boaz (his mother was Rahab), Obed (his mother was Ruth), Jesse, and King David.

6b-11 From David to the time when the people of Israel were taken into exile in Babylon, the following ancestors are listed: David, Solomon (his mother was the woman who had been Uriah's wife), Rehoboam, Abijah, Asa, Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah, Manasseh, Amon, Josiah, and Jehoiachin and his brothers.

12-16 From the time after the exile in Babylon to the birth of Jesus, the following ancestors are listed: Jehoiachin, Shealtiel, Zerubbabel, Abiud, Eliakim, Azor, Zadok, Achim, Eliud, Eleazar, Matthan, Jacob, and Joseph, who married Mary, the mother of Jesus, who was called the Messiah.

17 So then, there were fourteen generations from Abraham to David, and fourteen from David to the exile in Babylon, and fourteen from then to the birth of the Messiah.

The Birth of Jesus Christ

(Luke 2.1-7)

18 This was how the birth of Jesus Christ took place. His mother Mary was engaged to Joseph, but before they were married, she found out that she was going to have a baby by the Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph was a man who always did what was right, but he did not want to disgrace Mary publicly; so he made plans to break the engagement privately. 20 While he was thinking about this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, descendant of David, do not be afraid to take Mary to be your wife. For it is by the Holy Spirit that she has conceived. 21 She will have a son, and you will name him Jesus—because he will save his people from their sins.”

22 Now all this happened in order to make come true what the Lord had said through the prophet, 23 “A virgin will become pregnant and have a son, and he will be called Immanuel” (which means, “God is with us”).

24 So when Joseph woke up, he married Mary, as the angel of the Lord had told him to. 25 But he had no sexual relations with her before she gave birth to her son. And Joseph named him Jesus.

ASA

Ŋen ŋəd̶ələŋəd̶ia d̶ə-Yesu

(Luka 3:23-38)

1 Fəd̶ələŋəd̶ia d̶ə-Yesu Almasiya id̶ia gə-Ḏawuḏ, na id̶ia g-Ibrayim. 2 Ibrayim galəŋo Isag, na Isag galəŋo Yagub, na Yagub galəŋo Yawud̶a, na lorəba. 3 Na Đamar galəŋəṯu Yawud̶a Faris, na Sara, na Faris galəŋo Asrun, na Asrun galəŋo Aram. 4 Na Aram galəŋo Aminaḏab, na Aminaḏab galəŋo Nasun, na Nasun galəŋo Salmun, 5 na Reyab galəŋəṯu Salmun Buas, na Rawud̶ galəŋəṯu Buas Ubiḏ, na Ubiḏ galəŋo Yassa, 6 na Yassa galəŋo Ḏawuḏ igi gəɽo eləŋ. Na wasen Uriya galəŋəṯu Ḏawuḏ Suliman.

7 Na Suliman galəŋo Rabawam, na Rabawam galəŋo Abiyya, na Abiyya galəŋo Asa, 8 na Asa galəŋo Yawusafaṯ, na Yawusafaṯ galəŋo Yuram, na Yuram galəŋo Ussiyya, 9 na Ussiyya galəŋo Yud̶am, na Yud̶am galəŋo Aəas, na Aəas galəŋo Asgiyya, 10 na Asgiyya galəŋo Manassa, na Manassa galəŋo Amun na Amun galəŋo Yusiya, 11 na Yusiya galəŋo Yakuniya na lorəba, iliga led̶a ləmameinu alo yi-Babil.

12 Ndə led̶a ləmameinu alo yi-Babil d̶əge Yakuniya galəŋo Salṯil, na Salṯil galəŋo Sarabbabil, 13 na Sarabbabil galəŋo Abiwuḏ, na Abiwuḏ galəŋo Aliagim, na Aliagim galəŋo Asur, 14 na Asur galəŋo Saḏug, na Saḏug galəŋo Akim, na Akim galəŋo Aliuḏ, 15 na Aliuḏ galəŋo Aliasər na Aliasər, galəŋo Maṯṯan, na Maṯṯan galəŋo Yagub, 16 na Yagub galəŋo Yusif ebaŋgen gə-Mariam igi gələŋo Yesu igi gënəjənu Almasiya.

17 Nṯia iliga 1-Ibrayim ldərəmaṯe iliga lə-Ḏawuḏ, d̶ələŋəd̶ia d̶aɽo red̶ na marldwan, na iliga lə-Ḏawuḏ ldərəmaṯe iliga led̶a ləmameinu alo yi-Babil d̶ələŋəd̶ia d̶aɽo red̶ na marldwan, na iliga led̶a ləmameinu alo yi-Babil ldərəmaṯe iliga l-Almasiya, d̶ələŋəd̶ia d̶aɽo red̶ na marldwan.

Ŋen ŋəd̶ələŋənia d̶ə-Yesu

(Luka 2:1-7)

18 Đələŋənia d̶-Almasiya d̶aɽo ṯia. Ndə ləŋgen igi gəbërnia Mariam, Yusif gəməma liga lënəŋulu ləmulu ləldəgəndra, gënəŋu gafid̶ənu gwonḏaico Usilaga Gətəɽe. 19 Ebaŋgen igi gəbërnia Yusif gafo gad̶urwaṯo eŋen na gero gwonaṯa Mariam gələŋinia ṯa gid̶u mənna, nṯia gwonaṯa gəmaned̶a ŋaməɽa. 20 Gënəŋu gafo gerṯo ŋen iŋi eŋəṯəɽa, orn malaiyəka nḏəmeṯa nano iŋurid̶ nḏəmeiṯi ṯa, “Yusif, id̶ia gə-Ḏawuḏ, ŋerṯe agəd̶əñialo ṯa agəbəŋënṯia Mariam ṯa aŋəɽeṯe wasalo gəlaɽəŋa, ŋen ŋanṯa Mariam gwonḏaico Usilaga Gətəɽe. 21 Gënəŋu gid̶i aŋələŋe ŋere ŋəɽorra na agid̶i ŋamënəci Yesu, ŋen ŋanṯa gënəŋu gid̶i aŋëbəri led̶a əllëɽəŋu eŋen eŋen ŋeicia.” 22 Ŋen ŋaɽo ṯia ṯa ŋen Eləŋ Rəmwa rəlwaɽo nabiga aŋəɽiñad̶eini. Nabi gaṯa ṯa,

23 “Đeṯəm ŋere iŋi ŋaijəba ed̶a gəɽorra kwai kwai ŋid̶i aŋwonḏaice na ŋid̶i aŋələŋe id̶ia,

na id̶ia gid̶i aŋënəjəni Imanuwil” (irəŋ igi ganṯa ṯa, “Rəmwa ləgafərlda”).

24 Ndə Yusif gətwod̶o iŋurid̶, nəŋid̶i ŋen ŋarno malaiyəka d̶-Eləŋ Rəmwa d̶əlwaɽəṯəma nəŋəmamaṯe wasen egeɽa gəlëɽəŋu, 25 orn gafo gaber ldəgəndra məldin, liga gəmulu gələŋa ŋere ŋəɽorra ŋəɽənda. Ndə gələŋo d̶əge na Yusif nəŋəmënəci Yesu.