Devotional Gems by Jolene: Epiphany

Monday, January 5, 2009

Epiphany

EPIPHANY
Isaiah 60:3, Matthew 4:16
Isaiah 60:3: “And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and the kings to the brightness of thy rising.” KJV
Matt. 4:16: “The people living in darkness have seen a great light…”

Epiphany means a realization, awareness, fulfillment, or completion. Three kings came to worship baby Jesus. Now they could announce to the world that God’s Son, Immanuel (God with us), came to earth to reconcile (or reunite) all people to Holy God.

Jesus taught, healed, and obeyed the Father. His death on the cross was the LAST SACRIFICE necessary to extinguish our sin—once and for all.

Belief in Jesus is the secret door that offers salvation and life eternal to everyone—Jews and Gentiles alike. This is indeed, Good News! Jesus is the best Christmas gift—the original Christmas gift—for all God’s children!

Jeremy had a super Christmas, but now was the time he hated. Christmas decorating was one job assigned to him and his older brother, Michael, that they eagerly accepted.

After choosing a “real” live tree, they would haul it home, and wrestle it into the stand. Mom always dropped an Aspirin in the water (“to keep the tree fresher longer” she claimed). The lights, ornaments, and tinsel layering for tree trimming grew more professional-looking each year. As the boys grew older, their appreciation for the finer details of decorating shimmered by adding outside lights, garland/holly wrapping around the light poles, and adding a manger scene.

But after Epiphany, the brothers were reluctant to “undecorate”—storing everything away until next year.

“Help me with this box, Jerm” Michael said. “We can stuff all the outside decorations into it before hauling it upstairs. The outside lights looked great this year, don’t you think?”

“I think Mom and Dad are proud of our job. I overheard Dad bragging to Mr. Gibson that we did everything by ourselves. His grin was ear to ear.”

“That’s what it’s all about—making them proud of us. Now, it’s your job to remove all the candles from the windows.”

Jeremy trudged through the house, piling electric candles into a box. Candles disappeared from their home, one window at a time. The house began to look bare, and Jeremy noticed his heart growing heavier with each step. “Things are normal now, but the house looks so plain, dreary” he said aloud, shaking his head.

Take Home Nugget

“Come out here!” Michael yelled. Jeremy threw down the box and scrambled outside.
“Look up.” Michael said, pointing to the roof.

Jeremy gasped. In the attic turret was a glowing candle. “Ahhh. Let’s leave it, Mike. After all, it could stand for the light of Jesus that never goes out.”