Starting The Week With A Straightway Mentality

One of my desires for 2026 is to study through Matthew Henry's commentary on the book of Matthew. I have it on my iPad, so I read, highlight, and scroll, then fill the notes section of my journaling Bible with the best parts.

There are a lot of best parts.

Some things I learned:

* The Old Testament begins with the book of the generation of the world. The New Testament begins with the book of the generation of Him who made the world.

* The Gentiles (the magi) knew the time of Christ's birth by a star. The Jews knew the place of His birth by Scripture. They were capable of informing each other, yet only one goes on to find Him.

* Herod's raging rage and jealousy toward his family led to many of their deaths. Caesar Augustus said it was better to be one of Herod's swine than one of his sons.

* John the Baptist was considered great, followed by multitudes, but he thought himself in the perfect place, to be attending to Christ.

* From childhood to His baptism, Jesus is almost 30 years old, and He has lain in Galilee, buried alive as it were.

And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: Matthew 3:16 

Matthew Henry explained it this way: He went up straightway, as one that entered upon his work with the utmost cheerfulness and resolution; he would lose no time.


Am I like that? Am I ready to take on a new week with the utmost cheerfulness and resolution? Do I act and feel as if there's no time to waste?


Am I like that at the end of a church service? Am I ready to go back into the world with a glad heart? Am I ready to face my to-do list, my home, my marriage, my work resolute?


Am I like that when I'm transitioning from home to work, then work to home? Am I finding fulfillment in both and excited about doing the things God has called me to do?


I want a straightway heart today. I want to step out into the day and the week with a heart on fire for the Lord and ready to tackle whatever comes my way. The only way that happens is if I'm stocked up on Scripture reading, prayed up in time with God, and humbled before Him. 


How's your heart today? Are you heading out straightway?

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