Epiphany

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in the territory of Judea during the rule of King Herod, magi came from the east to Jerusalem. They asked, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We’ve seen his star in the east, and we’ve come to honor him.” When King Herod heard this, he was troubled, and everyone in Jerusalem was troubled with him. He gathered all the chief priests and the legal experts and asked them where the Christ was to be born. They said, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for this is what the prophet wrote: You, Bethlehem, land of Judah, by no means are you least among the rulers of Judah, because from you will come one who governs, who will shepherd my people Israel.” Then Herod secretly called for the magi and found out from them the time when the star had first appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search carefully for the child. When you’ve found him, report to me so that I too may go and honor him.” When they heard the king, they went; and look, the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stood over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy. They entered the house and saw the child with Mary his mother. Falling to their knees, they honored him. Then they opened their treasure chests and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Because they were warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they went back to their own country by another route. (Matthew 2:1-12, CEB)

Warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they went a different direction.

These magi, wise men from what we would today call the Orient, came to find the king whose star they saw at its rising. They were led to the newborn by God through a method these men understood.

God guided them as God guides us today.

We see these men in the nativity scene with the shepherd in the manger. But the reading above says they entered the house. So they weren’t in the manger, and our scene we idolize is not true. We should not keep this as a picture of what happened, regardless of how much joy that scene gives us.

The scene of the wise men coming to God is us, and we need to see that as it happens.

Know that God comes to you in ways you understand to help you know the love God has for you and for all of creation.

Let God give you your epiphany, and then go and help others see the love God has for them!

Cross Eyed

What more can I say? I would run out of time if I told you about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets. Through faith they conquered kingdoms, brought about justice, realized promises, shut the mouths of lions, put out raging fires, escaped from the edge of the sword, found strength in weakness, were mighty in war, and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured and refused to be released so they could gain a better resurrection. But others experienced public shame by being taunted and whipped; they were even put in chains and in prison. They were stoned to death, they were cut in two, and they died by being murdered with swords. They went around wearing the skins of sheep and goats, needy, oppressed, and mistreated. The world didn’t deserve them. They wandered around in deserts, mountains, caves, and holes in the ground. All these people didn’t receive what was promised, though they were given approval for their faith. God provided something better for us so they wouldn’t be made perfect without us. So then, with endurance, let’s also run the race that is laid out in front of us, since we have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us. Let’s throw off any extra baggage, get rid of the sin that trips us up, and fix our eyes on Jesus, faith’s pioneer and perfecter. He endured the cross, ignoring the shame, for the sake of the joy that was laid out in front of him, and sat down at the right side of God’s throne. (Hebrews 11:32—12:2, CEB)

“Faith is the reality of what we hope for, the proof of what we don’t see.” (Hebrews 11:1)

There are so many in the scripture who lived their lives in the hope of what God was doing. In the promises that would be fulfilled.

We too can live in faith and hope. Fixing our eyes upon Jesus, faith’s pioneer and perfector. The one who gave us what we believe in and perfected that faith by trusting in the plan He did not really see.

I had a shirt many years ago with the saying Cross-eyed on it with a Cross, and Hebrews 12:2. Fix your eyes upon Jesus, be cross-eyed.

That is how we survive life and how those named in Hebrews 11 survived. They lived in faith, trusting God in everything.

ii

Be Cross Eyed! As you look at the two i-s above look at the white space between them, it makes a cross. When we focus on the cross we keep Christ center and allow our faith to guide us.

Focus on Jesus and live by faith.

The Word…

In the beginning was the Word
    and the Word was with God
    and the Word was God.
The Word was with God in the beginning.
Everything came into being through the Word,
    and without the Word
    nothing came into being.
What came into being
    through the Word was life,
    and the life was the light for all people.
The light shines in the darkness,
    and the darkness doesn’t extinguish the light.
A man named John was sent from God. He came as a witness to testify concerning the light, so that through him everyone would believe in the light. He himself wasn’t the light, but his mission was to testify concerning the light.
The true light that shines on all people
    was coming into the world.
The light was in the world,
    and the world came into being through the light,
        but the world didn’t recognize the light.
The light came to his own people,
    and his own people didn’t welcome him.
But those who did welcome him,
        those who believed in his name,
    he authorized to become God’s children,
        born not from blood
        nor from human desire or passion,
        but born from God.
The Word became flesh
    and made his home among us.
We have seen his glory,
    glory like that of a father’s only son,
        full of grace and truth.
John testified about him, crying out, “This is the one of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is greater than me because he existed before me.’”
From his fullness we have all received grace upon grace;
    as the Law was given through Moses,
    so grace and truth came into being through Jesus Christ.
No one has ever seen God.
    God the only Son,
        who is at the Father’s side,
        has made God known. (John 1:1-18, CEB)

In the church, we have words that mean different things in different places and times, depending on context and what the person using that word is saying.

One of those words is Israel. When you read Israel in the Bible, you must discern if it means the country, the people, or the person. Remember Jacob wrestled with an angel and his name was changed to Israel, and God’s chosen people is Israel, and Israel is the country.

Another of these is church. Does Church mean the body of Christ, or a denomination, or a specific gathering of a community of believers, or the thing we go to on Wednesday/Saturday/Sunday? This is why I tell my children you can not go to church, you are the church, you go to worship, or study, or fellowship.

Another of those words is word. Does word mean the Bible, or does it mean Jesus?

I saw a video not that long ago that said Christianity is different from other Abrahamic religions in that Jesus is the word in Christianity, and the sacred scripture is the word in the others.

But as Christians, do we see the Bible as the word too, and if so, which is more the word we should listen to?

If we elevate the bible over Jesus, is that idolatry?

Jesus came and dwelt among us to show us love.

Jesus wants us to love.

When the Bible or religion gets in the way of Love, it is no longer the word and we should listen to Jesus.

Listen to Jesus.

Love.

By Faith

All these people died in faith without receiving the promises, but they saw the promises from a distance and welcomed them. They confessed that they were strangers and immigrants on earth. People who say this kind of thing make it clear that they are looking for a homeland. If they had been thinking about the country that they had left, they would have had the opportunity to return to it. But at this point in time, they are longing for a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore, God isn’t ashamed to be called their God—he has prepared a city for them.
By faith Abraham offered Isaac when he was tested. The one who received the promises was offering his only son. He had been told concerning him, Your legitimate descendants will come from Isaac. He figured that God could even raise him from the dead. So in a way he did receive him back from the dead.
By faith Isaac also blessed Jacob and Esau concerning their future.
By faith Jacob blessed each of Joseph’s sons as he was dying and bowed in worship over the head of his staff.
By faith Joseph recalled the exodus of the Israelites at the end of his life, and gave instructions about burying his bones. (Hebrews 11:13-22, CEB)

“Faith is the reality of what we hope for, the proof of what we don’t see.” This is Hebrews 11:1.

All those from yesterday’s devo died in faith, not receiving the promise but living a life that believed the promise would be fulfilled.

Will your name be there too?

Do you trust in God and live your life as if the promise has been fulfilled when it has not yet been realized?

Live by faith, showing God’s love in all you do.

By Faith

Faith is the reality of what we hope for, the proof of what we don’t see. The elders in the past were approved because they showed faith.
By faith we understand that the universe has been created by a word from God so that the visible came into existence from the invisible.
By faith Abel offered a better sacrifice to God than Cain, which showed that he was righteous, since God gave approval to him for his gift. Though he died, he’s still speaking through faith.
By faith Enoch was taken up so that he didn’t see death, and he wasn’t found because God took him up. He was given approval for having pleased God before he was taken up. It’s impossible to please God without faith because the one who draws near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards people who try to find him.
By faith Noah responded with godly fear when he was warned about events he hadn’t seen yet. He built an ark to deliver his household. With his faith, he criticized the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes from faith.
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was going to receive as an inheritance. He went out without knowing where he was going.
By faith he lived in the land he had been promised as a stranger. He lived in tents along with Isaac and Jacob, who were coheirs of the same promise. He was looking forward to a city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
By faith even Sarah received the ability to have a child, though she herself was barren and past the age for having children, because she believed that the one who promised was faithful. So descendants were born from one man (and he was as good as dead). They were as many as the number of the stars in the sky and as countless as the grains of sand on the seashore. (Hebrews 11:1-12, CEB)

Faith is the reality of what we hope for, the proof of what we don’t see. Hebrews chapter 11 is the faith hall of fame, all the people in the bible we hold high because God recognized them as righteous because of their faith.

They believed the promises and held to the understanding of what they could not see.

Will you be listed in the faith hall of fame?

Shepherds…

When the angels returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go right now to Bethlehem and see what’s happened. Let’s confirm what the Lord has revealed to us.” They went quickly and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. When they saw this, they reported what they had been told about this child. Everyone who heard it was amazed at what the shepherds told them. Mary committed these things to memory and considered them carefully. The shepherds returned home, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. Everything happened just as they had been told. When eight days had passed, Jesus’ parents circumcised him and gave him the name Jesus. This was the name given to him by the angel before he was conceived. (Luke 2:15-21, CEB)

Shepherds were not thought of as honest people because they would allow their flocks to graze on other people’s land. But these are the first witnesses beyond Mary (an unwed mother) and Joseph to the birth of Jesus.

God chooses to work through all people, regardless of how we see them or think of them.

God says everyone is worthy and gets to see the king. Who are we to say differently?

Know God

Jesus spoke to the people again, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me won’t walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” Then the Pharisees said to him, “Because you are testifying about yourself, your testimony isn’t valid.” Jesus replied, “Even if I testify about myself, my testimony is true, since I know where I came from and where I’m going. You don’t know where I come from or where I’m going. You judge according to human standards, but I judge no one. Even if I do judge, my judgment is truthful, because I’m not alone. My judgments come from me and from the Father who sent me. In your Law it is written that the witness of two people is true. I am one witness concerning myself, and the Father who sent me is the other.” They asked him, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You don’t know me and you don’t know my Father. If you knew me, you would also know my Father.” (John 8:12-19, CEB)

If you know Jesus, you know the Father. If you do not know Jesus, you do not know the Father.

Jesus is a faithful witness for himself because he is not only Jesus, but Father and Spirit, so He is two (+) witnesses in one.

So do you know God?

Show the world by being a light and sharing God’s love.

temporary

So we aren’t depressed. But even if our bodies are breaking down on the outside, the person that we are on the inside is being renewed every day. Our temporary minor problems are producing an eternal stockpile of glory for us that is beyond all comparison. We don’t focus on the things that can be seen but on the things that can’t be seen. The things that can be seen don’t last, but the things that can’t be seen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18, CEB)

Life has a way of making things difficult. Problems arise that seem daunting and insurmountable. We get caught in our own failures and lack of progress. We focus on our lack of progress and get caught in the depths of despair.

I know it is so easy for me to see all the things I have done wrong, but we are all human, and we all fall short. We need to allow others to help us remember that these things in this life are temporary. We are building towards something much greater than any of us can imagine.

We are storing up treasures in our heavenly homes. I see this when I open my Why I do this box. I have a box of letters and mementos given to me when things went well here, so when I am caught in the depths of difficulty, I can be reminded that my life is not all doom and gloom. God has a plan, and we are building the coming kingdom.

Life here is temporary; do not let it trick you.

Do you see?

As Jesus came to the city and observed it, he wept over it. He said, “If only you knew on this of all days the things that lead to peace. But now they are hidden from your eyes. The time will come when your enemies will build fortifications around you, encircle you, and attack you from all sides. They will crush you completely, you and the people within you. They won’t leave one stone on top of another within you, because you didn’t recognize the time of your gracious visit from God.” (Luke 19:41-44, CEB)

“because you didn’t recognize the time of your gracious visit from God.”

When have we missed God visiting us?

When we look for God the way we want Them to come and expect everything to happen the way we hope it will, we miss God in our midst.

What are we missing because we want God to fit in our box and do what we want, rather than opening our eyes and seeing God for what They are doing.

Do not get lost in your vision. Allow God to give you Theirs.

Holy Innocents

When the magi had departed, an angel from the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up. Take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod will soon search for the child in order to kill him.” Joseph got up and, during the night, took the child and his mother to Egypt. He stayed there until Herod died. This fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: I have called my son out of Egypt. When Herod knew the magi had fooled him, he grew very angry. He sent soldiers to kill all the children in Bethlehem and in all the surrounding territory who were two years old and younger, according to the time that he had learned from the magi. This fulfilled the word spoken through Jeremiah the prophet:
A voice was heard in Ramah,
    weeping and much grieving.
        Rachel weeping for her children,
            and she did not want to be comforted,
                because they were no more.
After King Herod died, an angel from the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt. “Get up,” the angel said, “and take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel. Those who were trying to kill the child are dead.” Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus ruled over Judea in place of his father Herod, Joseph was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he went to the area of Galilee. He settled in a city called Nazareth so that what was spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled: He will be called a Nazarene. (Matthew 2:13-23, CEB)

This is a day that commemorates power and using it to keep it.

Herod knew the new king was being born because the Magi went to the palace because where else would one expect to find a king? And when Herod heard what the Magi said, he was frightened because he was going to lose his power. So he told the Magi to let him know where the child was when they found him, so he could worship him also. Actually, Herod wanted to kill Jesus so he would not take Herod’s power. This is what happens when people are out for their own gains and not using their power for the betterment of the world.

Power is given to be a help to those around us, not for personal gain.

According to this passage, boys 2 years old and younger were killed because Herod was frightened that he was going to lose his power.

What would you do to keep power?

Love like Jesus, and the world will be a better place.