Good Morning Friends,
Most people are in the process of putting up their Christmas tree decorations and the nativity scenes and the Advent Calendars are being packed away. We fast forward to Jesus’ baptism or to the coming of the wise men or other passages, perhaps forgetting that Jesus had to grow up like other humans. We wonder what we should be expecting now after the celebrations have waned.The twelve days of Christmas are over, and many are turning their attention to New Year resolutions and football. We have been there before with modest success in greater enlightenment but frankly need, as we always seem to need this time of year, an epiphany that births in us, our homes, our neighborhoods, communities, cities, States, and nations the light of Christ. We do want to become the person God intended us to be, these children of the light but somehow never submit fully to the opportunity. Things can seem so dark this time of year. We need the right perspective to see how they fit together to create in us an example of a work that glorifies God and turns on an internal light to guide us. Today is Epiphany and to help us experience this I have added a section of Paul’s letter to the Church in Philippi in addition to the traditional scripture in the lectionary for this day and some scripture traditionally read on Palm and Passion Sunday. So stay with me as I connect the dots to help us to see more clearly and as a whole. Let’s start with the scripture recounting Jesus entering Jerusalem at a time the Jews were preparing to celebrate their deliverance from slavery in Egypt. Their deliverance was not without a battle. Ten terrible plagues fell on Egypt before they could leave. The last of the ten plagues was the death of all the firstborn of animals and men. To save His people God made provision to pass over them. They had to kill lambs that were without blemish and sprinkle the blood on the lintels and doorposts of their homes. When the destroying angel saw the blood, he would pass over them since a death had already taken place. Passover prophetically portrayed our deliverance from slavery and bondage to sin. Just as the Passover lamb gave the Israelites the chance of a new beginning, so our Passover Lamb, Jesus Christ, the Messiah gives us the chance of a new beginning. So, I wonder during this time of transition following Christmas and in anticipation of The Resurrection, Are We Ready For An Epiphany Guiding Our Deliverance And Growth?
Scripture: Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you. Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. Lift up your eyes and look around; they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from far away, and your daughters shall be carried on their nurses’ arms. Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and rejoice, because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you. A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord.
Isaiah 60:1-6 (NRSV)
for surely you have already heard of the commission of God’s grace that was given me for you, and how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I wrote above in a few words, In former generations this mystery was not made known to humankind, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: that is, the Gentiles have become fellow heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6 (NRSV)
In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.’” Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
Matthew 2:1-12 (NRSV)
On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’ And Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.’ His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’ Now standing there were six stone water-jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, ‘Fill the jars with water.’ And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, ‘Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.’ So they took it. When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom and said to him, ‘Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.’ Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
John 2:1-11 (NRSV)
See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.
1 John 3:1-3 (NRSV)
Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?’ But Jesus answered him, ‘Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfil all righteousness.’ Then he consented. And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.’
Matthew 3:13-17 (NRSV)
who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:6-11 (NRSV)
Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because you hold me in your heart, for all of you share in God’s grace with me, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the compassion of Christ Jesus. And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you to determine what is best, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.
Philippians 1:1-11 (NRSV)
The Lord God has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. Morning by morning he wakens— wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught. The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backward. I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I did not hide my face from insult and spitting. The Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame;
Isaiah 50:4-7 (NRSV)
Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter Jerusalem! Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
Zechariah 9:9 (NRSV)
When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, just say this, ‘The Lord needs them.’ And he will send them immediately.” This took place to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet, saying, “Tell the daughter of Zion, Look, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, “Who is this?” The crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.”
Matthew 21:1-11 (NRSV)
Message: The early church was a church full of excitement and expectation. They anticipated the return of Jesus at any time, and the persecutions which they endured forced them to be aware of their faith and sometimes to die for their faith. Many of us today have lost that challenge, sense of excitement and expectation. In the early church, the point of Epiphany was not to remember history, but to be reminded that God appears miraculously to us in places and in ways that we do not always expect if we would just pay attention and look where the light is shining. If we keep remembering that God seems to thrive on unexpected appearances, and if we keep expecting to see God everywhere, we will be less likely to miss the miracles when they happen again. The attitude we have in church and in our daily lives has an effect on how people perceive us as Christians and is intertwined with the potential for growth. If people only see long frowning faces in the pews and choir that does little to help the cause of Christ and Christianity. I don’t see Jesus as some long faced, shoulder drooping, depressed person and neither should we be. Crowds were attracted to Christ because they saw something in it for themselves. I see Jesus as an enthusiastic, dynamic man full of joy and charisma. If the crowds were attracted to Jesus while He was here on this earth, then I think it makes sense that they would be attracted to a church that lifted Him up today. We need the right attitude and not have it based on the immediate circumstances or contingent on a new car or new home we think is necessary before we can have happiness. That leads to a pit of worry and wrapped up in a paralysis of fear anticipating the worst case. The Apostle Paul wrote this letter to the church at Philippi while chained to a Roman Soldier in a Roman prison. He had every right to be discouraged, angry, and upset about his circumstances. But instead, he was filled with joy, because his attitude was based on his relationship with Jesus Christ. An attitude of joy is an intentional decision followed by a process. Today’s devotional examines the Biblical steps set forth in Paul’s letter to the Philippians needed for an attitude of joy. First consider your top blessings and thank God in prayer for them daily. Second keep things in perspective for God is in control. Third spread the love by serving others and fourth practice the Sabbath with a sense of generosity. God can help us all with our attitude and as part of the result produce a great harvest in our lives. The message is this…Christ will manifest himself to those that love him. And if we love him, we exist just a bit out of time too so we can get a glimpse of what it means for the heavens to open up. Friends, the Christian journey is about growing in the knowledge of truth and increasing understanding of the things of God. It is attaining the right thinking and action that when put into practice yields a life full of the best of everything.
And So, an attitude of joy is an intentional decision followed by a process. We’re not talking about happiness here, which speaks of chance that is based on happenings. If my ducks are all in a row, if everything happens for my benefit. Joy is inner delight derived from an intimate relationship with Christ. Happiness is circumstantial but joy is related to the experience of the presence of Jesus in one’s life. No matter what the circumstances, no matter what life brings my way, if I have this inner delight as a result of my relationship with Christ, joy will flood my soul. It’s the peace that surpasses all understanding. It’s confidence on steroids. But prayer must be the first response not a last resort. An intimate relationship with Christ is impossible without a consistent prayer habit. Prayer is our communication with God, and intimacy is based on communication. There is no such thing as an intimate relationship without communication. As we look to understand the joy that Paul experienced, we must first realize that Paul was a man of prayer. Regardless of his circumstances Paul was consistent in his prayer life. For many of us, prayer is a last resort only after everything else has failed to us in our time of need. To experience the Joy that God desires for our lives we must learn to be consistent with our spiritual disciplines. Enthusiasm is contagious. Christianity is not a solo sport played alone, it’s a team sport played on the courts of reality. We are to be enthusiastic in our prayer life, and our enthusiasm is to stir us and through the Holy Spirit others to action.
Pray we connect the dots and share in the victory of our deliverance. Pray we rejoice in the forgiveness of sins made possible by Christ’s passion. Pray that our worship is encouraged, uplifted, and inspired by the captivating presence of grace. Pray that we are compelled by the prospect of grace. Pray we have a passion for God. Pray we are freed to glorify God, the Maker and Redeemer on that day when the battle is done, and the heavenly music begins. Pray in the mystery of the palm and the passion that Jesus be exalted. Pray that we share His powerful Word inside of us. Pray we promote love to God and to each other despite the tension.Pray that our experience this day prepares us for what is to come. Pray we experience a God who created the power of life. Pray we never lose our focus on the cross and its message of salvation. Pray we have victory over separation.Pray with rejoicing not just in the celebration of this day but also for the fact that Jesus did not run away from our darkness but instead conquered it. Pray that Jesus remembers us. Pray we have life on the inside that honors Jesus.Pray in the mystery of the palm and the passion that Jesus be exalted. Pray that we share His powerful Word inside of us. Pray we believe and share what is true and sweet and abundant fruit in us. Pray we promote love to God and to each other despite the tension.Pray that our walk on this day be an Epiphany of the power of the Holy Spirit and the abundant harvest that Jesus provides. Pray our joy overflow like the wine made by Jesus at Cana.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 