8-4-2020

Good Morning All, 

        Matthew 2:2; “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”

     In 1980, the R&B group known as The Manhattans had a song entitled “Shining Star”.  It was a love song about how the singer saw his girlfriend as the shining star in his life.  It seems like there are people in our lives who provide us with that spark or light that we crave so much.  We look to them for examples of how things are done properly.  We look to them for inspiration and we look to them for direction and answers.  We look to them for guidance.

    For many young athletes, this person may be a coach or an older player on the team.  It might be a teacher or a mentor from the church.  It might be a co-worker that is our light; it might be a neighbor or a friend.  Most of us have someone that we look to for inspiration; to be a light to our life.  This seems to be human nature.

    It is that human nature that makes being a light so important.  The Magi saw a star that told them that something amazing had happened.  Their understanding of the prophecy told them that “the King of the Jews was born.”  This must have unnerved Herod, the sitting king, when he was asked, where is the King of the Jews?  Yet the Magi had seen the star and went on looking just as the Spirit had guided them to do.

    Later, Jesus told his disciples to let your light shine that the world will see your good works and give glory to God the Father.  Then he told them about being a city on a hill.  Then he told about the foolishness of putting a lamp under a basket.  Jesus is big on light, isn’t he?  This is because he is the light of the world and he gives us the path to follow and the light to see it.  As he was speaking to the disciples after his resurrection, he told them, in essence, “while I am gone, you are the light now.”

    So that is where we are, we are the light in the world.  We are the ones who are to be that light on a hill showing the world God’s love.  You are to let your light shine so that the glory of the Father may be seen.  How do we do this?  Jesus gives us many examples both by word and deed.  He tells us to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit those in prison.  This is the continuation of God’s call to His people in the Old Testament.  “Take care of the orphan, the widow and the alien in your land.”  He showed us his love by healing the sick, raising the dead and, ultimately, dying for us to remove our sins.

    So be the star in the night, be the light in the dark world.  Jesus empowers us to be this light.  Show God’s love to those around you, especially your family and your friends; they may need it the most.  Epiphany is about revealing a truth to the world.  Make this the year that you reveal the truth about Jesus to someone.

Father, help my light to shine so that others will see your love, your mercy, and your glory.  Make me to shine brightly.  Guide me to those who are in the greatest need of your loving hand and grant them your peace.  In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret