Feeling the Call

walking in epiphany truth *

Today's Truth from Scripture

"The next day [after Jesus' baptism] John [the Baptist] saw jesus coming toward him and said, 'Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, 'A Man who comes after me has surpassed me, because He was before me' . . . Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was find his brother Simon and tell him, 'We have found the Messiah' (that is, the Christ). And he brought Him to Jesus."  (John 1:29-30)

Today's devotional thoughts

Last week I shared this definition of "epiphany" from dictionary.com, "An appearance or manifestation, especially of a deity." It was certainly an "epiphany" when John the Baptist saw Jesus of Nazareth approaching. 

Also an "epiphany" when Andrew--first a disciple of John--feels the call to follow the Messiah, then shares this calling with his brother. [I have a feeling we'll hear more about both Andrew & his brother Simon Peter.]

Another definition of "epiphany" I shared with you was this one:  "A Christian festival observed on Jan. 6." [ASIDE #1:  The Eastern Orthodox Church traditionally observes Epiphany on Jan. 13.] We actually call this day the Festival of Epiphany. The Christian Church designates the Festival of Epiphany as the day when the Wise Men first encountered the Christ child. [ASIDE #2:  And I also shared w/you last week that if you check Matthew chapter 2, you'll find out that Jesus was, in fact, no longer a baby in a manger.]

The Festival of Epiphany is also referred to as the "Gentile Christmas" . . . The Bible's first account of non-Jewish people encountering Christ, "the Anointed One."

Now listen to these words from the Old Testament prophet Isaiah, spoken hundreds of year's before the Christ's birth:  "'I will also make You a light for the Gentiles, that You may bring My salvation to the ends of the earth.' This is what the Lord says--the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel . . . " (Isaiah 49:6b-7a)  

That's an Epiphany--very, very good news--for God's people, including Gentiles--yesterday, today, & forever!

Today's Prayer **

St. 1  "The people that in darkness sat A glorious light have seen;
The light has shined on them who long In shades of death have been,
In shades of death have been.

St. 3  "To us the Child of hope is born, To us the Son is given,
And on His shoulder ever rests All pow'r in earth and heaven,
All pow'r in earth and heaven.

St. 5  "His righteous government and pow'r Shall over all extend;
On judgment and on justice based, His reign shall have no end.
His reign shall have no end.

St. 6  "Lord Jesus, reign in us, we pray, And make us Yours alone,
Who with the Father ever are And Holy Spirit one.
And Holy Spirit, one.

* Adapted from a devotional I wrote for The Headliner, Orphan Grain Train's weekly e-newsletter.
** "The People That in Darkness Sat," from LW #77.