PRAYER PRACTICE
Lectio – Read today’s passage through once. Then spend some time praying and asking God to show you what you need to pay attention to in the text. Read it again. Now ask God to help you see what this text, and the part that has stood out, may mean for you. Don’t expect to get a clear word every time but always be ready to really hear from God through His Word.
DAILY READING
Matthew 2:1-12
REFLECTION
The Visit of the Magi
by Pastor Jeff Morlock
This familiar passage reminds us that nobody
owns Jesus (v. 1). No one can claim him as their exclusive possession,
partly because Jesus owns that which he has created. But also because Jesus
is for everyone. He was still an infant when this entourage of foreigners (wisemen)
came to worship him. Later, as an adult, he would cross boundaries to reach out
to Samaritans, Canaanites, all sorts of “outsiders” deemed unworthy of God’s attention.
No one is worthy of God’s favor. Sin disqualifies us. But Jesus makes people
qualified through faith in him alone. Is there person or group that you’ve been
tempted to “write off” or have considered outside the circle of God’s concern?
Secondly, this text reminds us that Jesus is a
person to be encountered (v. 2). The magi made the purpose of their journey
clear: “We have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” Many things
will call for our attention in this new year, but nothing is more important
than encountering Jesus in weekly and daily worship. Verses 3-8 warn that in
this pursuit there will always be distractions, and enemies like King Herod, intent
on deceit. What kinds of things threaten to distract you from loving and serving
Jesus in this season? How might you plan to overcome them?
Thirdly, a genuine encounter with Jesus will change us. Gold,
frankincense, and myrrh (v. 11) represent the best of what these magi had to
offer as they “threw open their treasured chests” to present the Lord with gifts.
True worship involves giving Jesus all that we are and have. Are you growing in
generosity? The magi received
supernatural guidance in the form of a dream. (v. 12) Is there anything that keeps you from acting on the
“nudges” that the Holy Spirit gives as you seek his direction and leading?
Finally, the wise men returned home by “another
way” (v. 12). No one can be in Jesus’ presence for long and stay the same. Encountering the infant Jesus necessitated a change of
direction for the magi. That’s what repentance is… turning around to pursue a different
way of thinking and acting. What do you need to turn away from today as a
result of encountering Jesus? What do you need to turn toward?
REFLECTION
Lord, we are like travelers in a caravan of hope, seeking your light in a time
of uncertainty. But we confess that we are also like King Herod, afraid of what
the light of your truth might expose in us. As we encounter Jesus, would you soften
our hearts, engage our minds, open our hands, and heal our broken spirits. In His name. Amen.
