Epiphany: Christ is Light and Life to all People (s)

 

Matthew 2:10-11 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

"As with Gladness Men of Old"

by William C. Dix, 1837-1898

1. As with gladness men of old

Did the guiding star behold;

As with joy they hailed its light,

Leading onward, beaming bright,

So, most gracious Lord, may we

Evermore be led by Thee!

2. As with joyful steps they sped,

Savior, to Thy lowly bed,

There to bend the knee before

Thee whom heaven and earth adore,

So may we with willing feet

Ever seek Thy mercy-seat!

3. As they offered gifts most rare

At Thy cradle, rude and bare,

So may we with holy joy,

Pure and free from sin's alloy,

All our costliest treasures bring,

Christ, to Thee, our heavenly King!

Is 61:10-12 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, My soul shall be joyful in my God; For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 11 For as the earth brings forth its bud,

As the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth, So the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.

This One Shall Be Their Peace

 Micah 5:5

The Lord Our Peace (Jehovah Shalom—Judges 6:4) is come

and will come again.  The God of Peace be with you

(Rom 15:33, 16:20; Phil 4:9; 1 Thess 5:23; Heb 13:20

              Hurried and harried, Christmas can leave us blurried, flurried, and be-frazzled.  Be still and meditate on this: on “Cease striving and know that I Am God.”

Christmas can stir up things from the past and present.  Let the peace of God rule in your hearts as the guardian of your minds.

When rest and peace will not come, we come to Christ.

I create the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace to him that is far off and to him that is near, saith Jehovah; and I will heal him.  But the wicked are like the troubled sea; for it cannot rest, and its waters cast up mire and dirt.  There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.  Isa 57:19-21 ASV

Christ bore the “dis-ease” of all our sins.

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.  All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and Jehovah hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.  Isa 53:5-6 ASV

Speak the truth in love with one another: Eph 4:   Col: 3

Mercy and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed.  Ps 85:10 NKJV

Be thankful:  Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.  And be thankful.  Col 3:15

Meditate in Christ:  You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.  Isa 26:3 NKJV

Meditate to keep His commands:  Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.  Psalms 119:165 NIV

Joy, Glad Tidings, Good News for all People

                

We think of joy in terms of things and relationships: home, presents, food baskets, meals, time together, visiting people, even going Christmas caroling to those who may be alone or ill.  But to a people oppressed, joy means the arrival of deliverance and justice.  The Jews had both a memory of a “golden age” of peace and prosperity (King Solomon), plus thousands of years of prophecy concerning the glory and dominion and abundant blessing that their Messiah would bring to them.  This week, step with them, out of their need into the joy of His coming.

Joy comes to those in trouble, who wait, devoted to the Lord

...your love, O LORD, supported me.  When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul (Ps 94:18-19 NIV).  Simeon was devout and just, lead by the Holy Spirit, waiting for the “Consolation of Israel” (Lk 2:25).  Now, he could die in peace—for what do you wait?

Joy is a gift from God:  This too, I see, is from the hand of God, 25for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?  26To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness (Eccl 2:24-26).  To Zacharias, God promised joy, gladness and rejoicing for many, through the son he was giving to them (Lk 1:14).  Lord, forgive my lack of joy.

Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit.  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control (Gal 5:22-23).  Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and the babe in her womb leaped for joy, at just hearing the sound of Mary’s greeting (Luke 1: 41-44).  Fill us anew with Holy Spirit joy.

Joy is a choice, along with faith, hope and love—a choice enabled by the grace of God (diving enabling power).  I choose joy!

...through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ… by faith into this grace… And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God… we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance character; and character, hope.  5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us (Rom 5:1-5).  Lord, help us rejoice even in suffering—growing by faith in His grace.

Those who know pain, and embrace it, can understand true joy.  It is hard for us to comprehend the persevering desire of those who looked for Messiah to come.  Consider that in the face of her own suffering to come, Mary could rejoice, for all Israel waited in hope:  “My soul magnifies the Lord, 47And my spirit has rejoiced in God my savior.  48For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant… 52He has put down the mighty from their thrones, And exalted the low (Lk 1:46-52).  Lord, fill my soul and spirit with joy in You, regardless of the circumstances?

Joy is brought to men through God’s News: I gave to Jerusalem a messenger of good tidings (Is 41:27).  God delights in using the poor, and outcasts as his witnesses (Lk 2:10).  How beautiful are feet bringing peace.

Share his joy by sharing with someone this week, the Good News of God’s Kingdom, and heaven’s joy of new birth.  (Lk 15:7)   

 -PD

Angels we have heard: He shall come with heaven’s Angels

 

               

   The most angel activity recorded in history is around the birth of Christ.  Eight angel messages: to old and young, to Jew and Gentile.  In addition to other recorded events, we read that the Holy Spirit caused the baby John to leap in Elizabeth’s womb, in response to Mary’s greeting (Lk 1:41-44).  Then the Holy Spirit directed Simeon and Anna to the temple to see the newborn Messiah (Luke 2:26-35, 36-38).  Finally, we have the miraculous star guiding wise men from afar (Matt 2:1-2).

In past revivals and current visitations, there have been reports of angel activity, along with dreams, visions, and miraculous signs.  In Muslim and native villages, appearances of Jesus and angels open peoples’ hearts to believe and obey.  The Bible says we are in the last days (Acts 2:17), even the last hour (I John 2:18).  People are excited about angels and revelations, but not necessarily about obedience.

you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles.  3First of all you must understand this, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own passions 4and saying, “Where is the promise of his coming?” RSV 2 Peter 3:2-4

The issue for us is not whether we see angels or special signs, but that we prepare ourselves for his return, through the obedience of faith.

So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.  45”Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time?  46It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns.  NIV Matt 24:44-46

Read these angels’ appearances and be encouraged that Christ is coming again, with all the angels of heaven (Matt 13 and 2 Thess 2:17)

Lk 1:11-21 Gabriel to Zacharias, that he and Elizabeth would have a son who would be the forerunner of Messiah.

Lk 1:26-38 Gabriel to Mary, Elizabeth’s cousin, announcing she would be the mother of Jesus.

Mt 1:20-24 an angel of the Lord to Joseph, saying to fear not to marry Mary, “for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.”

Lk 2:9-15 an angel of the Lord to the shepherds, announcing Jesus’ birth

Mt 2:12 God warns the three wise men not to return to Herod.

Mt 2:13 an angel of the Lord warns Joseph to flee from Herod to Egypt.

Mt 2:19 an angel of the Lord tells Joseph in a dream, “return to Israel.”

Mt 2:22 God tells Joseph again in a dream, turn aside to Galilee instead of Judea

God still speaks today.  Angels watch and help wise men hear, worship and obey (Heb 1:7 and Psalm 104:4).