Good morning. It’s Sunday, January 4th, aka National Dress Up Your Pet Day.

🥳 Congratulations on starting today with God, and thank you for letting us be a part of it.

God did not give four Gospels by accident. If repetition were the goal, one would have been enough. Instead, Scripture gives four true accounts of the same Jesus, each written with a purpose.

Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John all tell the same story, but they do not tell it the same way. That is intentional.

Matthew writes to a Jewish audience and shows Jesus as the promised King. From the very first verse, Matthew points backward to Israel’s history.

Matthew 1:1 (NIV) says,

“This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham.”

Matthew wants readers to see that Jesus did not appear randomly. He fulfills God’s promises.

Mark writes quickly and directly. His Gospel is short, active, and focused on what Jesus did. Mark presents Jesus as a servant on mission.

Mark 10:45 (NIV) says,

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Mark shows a Jesus who moves, heals, teaches, and acts with urgency.

Luke focuses on people often overlooked. He highlights the poor, women, sinners, and outsiders. Luke shows Jesus as a Savior for everyone.

Luke 19:10 (NIV) says,

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Luke also explains why he wrote his Gospel.

Luke 1:3–4 (NIV) says he carefully investigated everything so readers could “know the certainty of the things you have been taught.”

John writes differently. He slows down and goes deeper. John focuses less on what Jesus did and more on who Jesus is.

John 1:1 (NIV) says,

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

John shows Jesus as fully God, eternal, and divine.

Four writers. Four perspectives. One truth.

Together, the Gospels show Jesus as King, Servant, Savior, and Son of God. They do not contradict each other. They complete each other.

God knows people see truth differently. So He gave multiple witnesses to the same Savior.

And when all four are read together, the message becomes clear.

Jesus is exactly who He claimed to be.

When you’re not sure how to pray, A.C.T.S. gives you a simple path to follow: Adore, Confess, Thank, and Ask.

Adoration: Jesus, You are King, Servant, Savior, Son of God eternal.

Confession: I confess missing Your full picture by reading selectively alone.

Thanksgiving: Thank You for four witnesses revealing Jesus clearly to me.

Supplication: Help me know Jesus fully through all four Gospels today.

In Jesus name, Amen

“God Will Make A Way” by Don Moen

Go like, comment, and share!

Thanks for letting us be part of how you start your day with God.

See you tomorrow,

Zach | Start With God