More "epiphanies"

walking in epiphany truth

Today's Truth from Scripture

"See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. Beloved, we are God's children, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when He appears we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who thus hopes in Him purifies himself as He is pure.  1 John 3:1-3.

Today's devotional thoughts

Yes, in the church calendar we are still in the season of Epiphany. I'm not sure what the weather is like in your location. In my location, it was 70+ degrees yesterday. But I digress. Once again, I'm working with this definition of "epiphany," from dictionary.com:  "The reality or essential meaning of something." Here are some of my personal "epiphanies" gleaned from this reading from 1 John 3.

• Our heavenly Father calls us children of God. This is agape, or godly love. Sinful people are given the same designation as Jesus, the Son of God. Why? Because of Jesus' agape for us.
• The world doesn't know us, & so we face ridicule & persecution, & we shouldn't be surprised. Jesus was rejected during His time on earth. He is still rejected today.
• Those who are persecuted--sometime to death--in other parts of the world would very likely trade their persecution for what we think of as persecution as Americans. 
• When Jesus appears at His 2nd coming, we will be resurrected. Our earthly bodies will give way to our heavenly bodies. In our mortal state we can't even begin to imagine what that will be like, but it will be glorious.

Today's prayer thoughts *

We sang this hymn in church last Sunday. It is one of my favorites & always resonates w/me, because it is a testimony to the redemptive power of Baptism.

(St. 1) "God's own child, I gladly say it:  I am baptized into Christ!
He because I could not pay it, Gave my full redemption price.
Do I need earth's treasures many? I have one worth more than any
That brought me salvation free Lasting to eternity!

(St 4) "Death, you cannot end my gladness:  I am baptized into Christ!
When I die, I leave all sadness To inherit paradise!
Though I lie in dust & ashes Faith's assurance brightly flashes:
Baptism has the strength divine To make life immortal mine.

There is nothing worth comparing To this life-long comfort sure!
Open-eyed my grave is staring:  Even there I'll sleep secure. Though my flesh awaits its raising, Still my should continues praising
I am baptized into Christ; I'm a child of paradise!

* SOURCE:  "God's Own Child, I Gladly Say It," LSB #594, CPH 2006.

CCM *

Matt Maher is probably my favorite contemporary Christian recording musician at this time.. I've been listening to his "All the People Said Amen" live album ad infinitum, especially since Lois & I saw him in concert at FishFest in Ralston, NE, last summer. He's Catholic, yet one of my favorite songs on this album is Mighty Fortress.
      Here are some sample lyrics:  "You are the Rock of Salvation, My only Foundation, Lord of All. You are our Hope never failing, a Mighty Fortress is our God." Take this one lyric out of the album, & you would be tempted to think that this guy could be Lutheran.

* Christian Contemporary Music