Epiphany: January 6

Old Testament Lesson

Isaiah 49:1-7

There is a danger in thinking that we are the only Christians in the world, and that everyone must be like us. Every Christian must a Methodist from Mississippi or Baptist from Tennessee or whatever we are wherever we are. Today, the Lord says that His servant will be a light to Gentiles and will bring His salvation across the earth. One of the things about God is sometimes, quite often in fact, He will put us in places we aren’t comfortable. He may place us among people we don’t like or that we disagree with. We may go through things we don’t enjoy; sickness, loss, hurt, these type things that make us uncomfortable. Why? One reason is that these times cause us to grow. We don’t always grow when everything is fine and dandy, but in times of trial, we learn to depend on Him. So, today, our command is not to stay where we are comfortable, but instead to go, to all the ends of the world, bringing this salvation. That may mean people we don’t like or want to like; but we are commanded to go. We are not commanded to stay in our comfort zone; we are commanded to go.

New Testament Lesson

Revelation 21:22-27

Once again we see that the “nations” will walk in the light in the eternal kingdom. Most every Sunday, in the Methodist church, we do the Apostle’s Creed, and there’s a line in it that give pause to a lot of people, I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy catholic church. . .” Not the Holy Spirit part, but the catholic church part. That creed is not talking about a denomination, but rather, it is talking about THE CHURCH. It is talking about the one that is made up not of Methodista or Baptists or Roman Catholics or Pentecostals or any other denomination. It is talking about the Body of Christ that is made up of all that believe. We are part or a bigger whole. We are part of a church that is more than just our local congregation, more than just our denomination, more than just those that are here in America. We are part of a body that’s membership is open to all that believe. One day in heaven, there will be no Temple, for the Lord will walk among us, and

The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it

So God’s Word Promises.

Gospel Lesson

Matthew 2:1-12

Finally, the day we’ve all been waiting for is here. Today is Epiphany, the day we remember the coming of the wise men. My poor people at Coy and before them my poor people at Boyle, Linn, and Litton Methodist churches had to listen to me every year say, “you know the wise men didn’t get there till later, so you really don’t need to have your wise men out.” Every year, my poor wife has to put up with my threats to hide her wise men if they get too close to the manger scene before today. Today is the 12th day of Christmas, Epiphany, the day the wise men get here. They come bearing gifts, but they come with something greater than just gifts. They come to worship the Lord. They travel far distance, they went through much to get there, and would go through a lot to get home. What sacrifice they made merely to worship the king. Imagine if we had to go through all they went through to worship Jesus. How many of us would do that? And, they came as Gentiles. That is what is most significant about them. They represent you and me. They represent the world. As the other texts today point out, our faith is open to all that believe. We are not a genetic faith. Just because your parents believe doesn’t mean that you believe. There’s an old saying, God doesn’t have grandchildren, just children. We must all believe. The wise men believe, and they came to worship. That is what Jesus asks of us today; believe in Him, and the desire to follow Him. They were lead by a star; we are lead by the Holy Spirit. But the command is the same. Follow the one that was born to save the world.