"The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them." Isaiah 9:2  

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light."  1 Peter 2:9

SOME DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

Today is the Festival of Epiphany--the day when we celebrate the visit of the Wise Men to Bethlehem to see the Baby Jesus. It marks the observance of Jesus' introduction to the Gentile or non-Jewish world. According to dictionary.com, an "epiphany" is "an appearance or manifestation, especially of a deity." Epiphany resonates with me because I, like many of you, am a Gentile by ancestry. My ancestors roamed the forests of Northern Europe for countless generations until God, in His grace & mercy, sent brave men to witness to these barbarians about the Savior of the World. That right. My ancestors were barbarians, & without God's grace & mercy, they would have continued to walk in darkness. I give thanks for those brave men who carried the Gospel to heathen people. I give thanks for the mercy & grace of Jesus Christ, who called us out of darkness into the His marvelous light. Have a blessed Epiphany!

A PRAYER FOR THE EPIPHANY OF OUR LORD

"O gracious God & Lord, who by a star led the Magi to see the manifestation of Your love for all people in the Christ Child, I thank You for this revelation that the whole world should share in the salvation which You have prepared in Jesus Christ, Your only-begotten Son.

"Enable me by Your Spirit to find peace & joy in the faith that I, too, have been redeemed by Jesus Christ from sin, from death, & from the power of the devil. Let me never forget that I am now Christ's own & that it is my duty to live under Him in His kingdom & serve Him in righteousness all the days of my life.

"Graciously reveal Yourself to all people who even now do not know Jesus Christ & salvation in Him. Gather Your elect from all the nations of the world that Your house may be full, that Yours shall be the kingdom & the power & glory forever & ever. Amen."  My Prayer Book

A HYMN FOR EPIPHANY *

* "The People That in Darkness Sat," Sts. 1, 5, 6, LW #77

"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.

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

"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."