Go!

10 In Damascus there was a certain disciple named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, “Ananias!” He answered, “Yes, Lord.” 11 The Lord instructed him, “Go to Judas’ house on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias enter and put his hands on him to restore his sight.” 13 Ananias countered, “Lord, I have heard many reports about this man. People say he has done horrible things to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14 He’s here with authority from the chief priests to arrest everyone who calls on your name.” 15 The Lord replied, “Go! This man is the agent I have chosen to carry my name before Gentiles, kings, and Israelites. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” 17 Ananias went to the house. He placed his hands on Saul and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord sent me—Jesus, who appeared to you on the way as you were coming here. He sent me so that you could see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Instantly, flakes fell from Saul’s eyes and he could see again. He got up and was baptized.19 After eating, he regained his strength. (Acts 9:10-19a, CEB)

Sometimes God calls us to do things we don’t want to.

God told Ananias to go and see Saul who Ananias knew was persecuting the followers of the way. So why would Ananias go to someone who could have him imprisoned or put to death?

Sometimes God calls us to go and do things we don’t want to. But doing it will be the best thing we can do. Sometimes God calls us to do things that will help us grow and move forward God’s love in the world.

We may not understand, but God’s plan is always the best plan.

What has God called you to do that you didn’t want to do?

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. 2 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.” 3 When King Herod heard this, he was troubled, and everyone in Jerusalem was troubled with him. 4 He gathered all the chief priests and the legal experts and asked them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They said, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for this is what the prophet wrote: 6 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.” 7 Then Herod secretly called for the magi and found out from them the time when the star had first appeared. 8 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.” 9When 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. 10When they saw the star, they were filled with joy. 11 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. 12 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)

Epiphany is the day the Magi from the east visit Jesus at a home in Bethlehem. This is not the night of his birth with the shepherds but years later. We actually know it is 2 years later by the time that Herrod orders the young boys killed, 2 years and younger. So Jesus is probably 2 when the Magi visit.

And we don’t know how many magi there were, we only know they brought three gifts. We don’t know the quantity of each gift either.

We lump this story into the birth and do the story and our understanding a misjustice.

Know the Magi didn’t visit the manger and that Herrod used their visit to slaughter innocent babies out of fear.

Epiphany is the end of the Christmas season (the 12 days of Christmas) and the beginning of Christ’s revelation to the the world. Not only will the nation of Israel have their messiah but all of the world has a savior!

God’s Children

27 “But I say to you who are willing to hear: Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. 28 Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone slaps you on the cheek, offer the other one as well. If someone takes your coat, don’t withhold your shirt either. 30 Give to everyone who asks and don’t demand your things back from those who take them. 31 Treat people in the same way that you want them to treat you. (Luke 6:27-31, CEB)

How does the world know we are Christians?

The old hymn says, “By our love.” They will know we are Christians by our love.

We won’t prove to the world we are God’s Children by sharing them or making them fear God or telling them they are going to hell. They will know it by love.

Show the world love as God loves you. Undeserved and for everyone. God loved us when we couldn’t be close to God and we need to love like that.

Can the world see you are a child of God?

Can the world see you love?

Warning

11 Brothers and sisters, don’t say evil things about each other. Whoever insults or criticizes a brother or sister insults and criticizes the Law. If you find fault with the Law, you are not a doer of the Law but a judge over it. 12 There is only one lawgiver and judge, and he is able to save and to destroy. But you who judge your neighbor, who are you? 13 Pay attention, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such-and-such a town. We will stay there a year, buying and selling, and making a profit.” 14 You don’t really know about tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for only a short while before it vanishes. 15 Here’s what you ought to say: “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” 16 But now you boast and brag, and all such boasting is evil. 17 It is a sin when someone knows the right thing to do and doesn’t do it. (James 4:11-17, CEB)

It is sin when we know the right thing to do and don’t do it.

We should love our siblings and not insult them. As we approached the election this past November there was all kinds of slander going around from all sides. We are all guilty of this. And who are we to judge another? Only God can truly judge. We should love as God loves us. Accepting us when we are unlovable.

Let us also not say we will be doing in days ahead. We know not when our life will end so we should only plan for what the Lord had planned. Let us live the life the Lord has given and share that love we have received in everything we do.

Grace upon grace

In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. 2 The Word was with God in the beginning. 3 Everything came into being through the Word, and without the Word nothing came into being. What came into being 4 through the Word was life, and the life was the light for all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness doesn’t extinguish the light. 6 A man named John was sent from God. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning the light, so that through him everyone would believe in the light. 8 He himself wasn’t the light, but his mission was to testify concerning the light. 9 The true light that shines on all people was coming into the world. 10 The light was in the world, and the world came into being through the light, but the world didn’t recognize the light. 11 The light came to his own people, and his own people didn’t welcome him. 12 But those who did welcome him, those who believed in his name, he authorized to become God’s children, 13 born not from blood nor from human desire or passion, but born from God. 14 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. 15 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.’” 16 From his fullness we have all received grace upon grace; 17 as the Law was given through Moses, so grace and truth came into being through Jesus Christ. 18 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)

From his fullness we have all received grace upon grace.

We have all received gift upon gift.

We have received the blessing that only God can give us and this is absolutely not by our doing. We could not earn what we have received or work our way towards. God has graced us beyond imagination.

Know that God came here to show us love and because God loves us. As God created us, God loves us.

Know this is true. You are loved as you are.

And there’s nothing you can do about it.

Wisdom from above

13 Are any of you wise and understanding? Show that your actions are good with a humble lifestyle that comes from wisdom. 14 However, if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, then stop bragging and living in ways that deny the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above. Instead, it is from the earth, natural and demonic. 16 Wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there is disorder and everything that is evil. 17 What of the wisdom from above? First, it is pure, and then peaceful, gentle, obedient, filled with mercy and good actions, fair, and genuine. 18 Those who make peace sow the seeds of justice by their peaceful acts. (James 3:13-18, CEB)

If you are truly living the life God has called you to it will show in your life. You will not have to say or give signs you are a Christian. People will just know it from your life.

Does your life show you follow Christ? Or do people have to ask?

How do you show Christ in your life?

Named

15 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.” 16 They went quickly and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. 17 When they saw this, they reported what they had been told about this child. 18 Everyone who heard it was amazed at what the shepherds told them.19 Mary committed these things to memory and considered them carefully. 20 The shepherds returned home, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. Everything happened just as they had been told. 21 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)

After all these things happened and it was time according to the Law for him to be circumcised and named, he was named Jesus as was foretold before his conception.

There are a lot of things that were foretold about Jesus. Many things happened to help prove Jesus is the Son of God.

And yet many don’t believe.

And yet his name is just one…

Why do you beleive?

Know

12 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.” 13 Then the Pharisees said to him, “Because you are testifying about yourself, your testimony isn’t valid.” 14 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. 15 You judge according to human standards, but I judge no one. 16 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. 17 In your Law it is written that the witness of two people is true. 18 I am one witness concerning myself, and the Father who sent me is the other.” 19 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)

Do you know Jesus?

It is interesting that the powers that be are pushing back on Jesus because they are fearful of what he will do to their comfortable living. They have power and yet Jesus’ teaching is taking that power away. And so they are fearful.

And Jesus says, “In your Law it is written that the witness of two people is true.” I am one and my Father is the second. Where is your father they ask…

If you knew me you would know my father but you do not know me.

Do you know Jesus?

Slow

8 Don’t let it escape your notice, dear friends, that with the Lord a single day is like a thousand years and a thousand years are like a single day. 9 The Lord isn’t slow to keep his promise, as some think of slowness, but he is patient toward you, not wanting anyone to perish but all to change their hearts and lives. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. On that day the heavens will pass away with a dreadful noise, the elements will be consumed by fire, and the earth and all the works done on it will be exposed. 11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be? You must live holy and godly lives, 12 waiting for and hastening the coming day of God. Because of that day, the heavens will be destroyed by fire and the elements will melt away in the flames. 13 But according to his promise we are waiting for a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness is at home. (2 Peter 3:8-13, CEB)

The Lord is not slow to keep promises like we think but is patient. Time is a construct we humans have put together and sometimes it is not a good thing. We can get hung up on people being late or things not happening as we think they should in a timely manner but God is not controlled by our understanding of time.

We need to let go and allow things to happen as God allows them. And know that God is patient that all creation would be redeemed.

So always hope and know that God is always there.

Family

46 While Jesus was speaking to the crowds, his mother and brothers stood outside trying to speak with him. 47 Someone said to him, “Look, your mother and brothers are outside wanting to speak with you.” 48 Jesus replied, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” 49 He stretched out his hand toward his disciples and said, “Look, here are my mother and my brothers.50 Whoever does the will of my Father who is in heaven is my brother, sister, and mother.” (Matthew 12:46-50, CEB)

It wasn’t that long ago we had this same passage and maybe Todd Agnew is just stuck in my head but the topic of family makes me think of his song Family from his Better Questions album.

He says, “if we’re all under one father that makes us all brothers. We are all family.” We are all going to be together in the sweet by and by so we should act like that here.