The Visit of the Magi

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.

Encounter of the First Kind

On Monday we talked about encountering Jesus and how life changing that is. We also discussed those breathtaking moments when we encounter God in a great big way and he surprises and amazes us by His actions and His love. Mountains become molehills when put in God's path. Our encounters with Jesus transform our thinking and our actions. We become disciples of Jesus Christ.

Today, let's visit the how we can help others transform into disciples, when they encounter us. Jesus wants us, His believers, to share our stories. He wants us to tell the Good News to others who don't know Him yet. Those we encounter just might become His disciples when we do.

For instance, my transformation was jump-started by an encounter with a Godly woman who lived out her faith in action. She was kind to me and never judgmental. She spoke words of encouragement, which were freckled with patience and humor. I wanted to be like her. I wanted to change my ways to reflect her ways. This was one of many encounters, with believers, on my journey of faith.

This woman had something in her life that I did not have. But I wanted it. I watched her and tried to mold my speech to pattern hers. I listened to her gentle way and longed to copy it. She mentored me and I am sure to this day she does not even realize it. There have been several encounters like this on my journey to be a better person and disciple of Jesus. But she was the first.

Are you someone's first?

Mark 14:22-25

Generous Encounter

Acts 20:28 (NIV)
²⁸  Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. 

How does one watch over all the flock of which the Holy Spirit made us overseers? One of the things included in the definition of Generosity is the quality of being willing to donate time. It takes time to come alongside someone. It takes precious minutes out of your day to help someone navigate through life.

It takes a loving heart and a willing spirit to practice this type of generosity, but God expects no less. At some point in our lives there was someone who did this for us. Think about it. Can you identify that special person God placed in your path just when you needed him/her? Have you ever thought just how generous this person was with their time, to help you when you needed it most?

"For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another."  (1 John 3:11)

Is there someone in your regular daily path whom God might be pointing to? Is there someone you feel you need to reach out to, to help, to invite into your life? Is there someone who needs you to show them the love of God. Is it time to give generously of yourself to this person?

Dear Jesus,
Point out to me the one You have prepared, the child of Yours You want me to reach out to. Give me a heart filled with a desire to be generous today. Prepare my path so that I may encounter them soon. Come Holy Spirit.


Acts 20:28