Epiphany: Monday, January 9

Old Testament Lesson

Genesis 2:4-25

In this section we see a retelling of creation, but from a different perspective. In chapter one, God breathes everything into life merely by speaking. It goes into great detail each day, what was created, and give a picture of an almighty, powerful God.

Chapter 2 tells about creation from a different perspective. In Chapter 2 God is focused not on all the universe, but instead on humans. Chapter 1 shows the almighty side of God, Chapter 2 shows the person. He is both. He is the God that spoke everything that is into being. He is the God that sits upon the throne today. But, He is also the God that created Adam and said, it's not good for man to be alone. Chapters 1 and 2 show us who God is. He is a God that is at the same time Almighty and all powerful, yet at the same personal and all knowing. He is a God that created each of us, and He is a God that wants to know each of us, on a person an individual level. The God of creation desires to know me and you. That's pretty awesome.

New Testament Lesson

Hebrews 1:1-15

Much of the book of Hebrews is about proving the superiority of Jesus Christ; showing that He is greater than angels or prophets or anything else in all creation. These folk were placing their faith in things other than Jesus. For instance, in this text, many of the readers were thinking that angels were superior to Jesus. So, the text speaks to that and proves that Jesus is above angels. He is above all things. He is the one be worshiped. No thing or no one else to be placed about Jesus Christ in our lives. Not our job, our hobbies, our money, anything. Jesus must be first in our lives, for He is first in creation. They had placed other things ahead of Jesus. We should no make the same mistake.

Gospel Lesson

John 1:1-18

Verses 12-13 say, "Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God." In Jesus day, your birth determined everything. If you were born to a carpenter, you were a carpenter, if you were born to a priest, you were a priest. Birth was everything. Even with religion. Today, John says that Jesus was sent not to save those born to the right family, but to save all those that believe. Who we were born to doesn't matter. Our faith in Him does. Just because we were born to saintly family does not assure out entrance into heaven, and likewise, if we were born to a family that never darkened the doors a church, we cannot lay blame upon them. All that believe in his name can become Children of God. Belief. That's what maters this morning. We are saved by grace through faith, so that no one can boast. We cannot boast in our own goodness, only cling to the grace of Jesus Christ. If you boast today, boast not of your own goodness, but instead boast of the grace of Jesus Christ.