Tuesday, January 5, 2021
EPIPHANY: RECOGNIZING CHRIST IN EVERYDAY LIFE
SCRIPTURE READING: The star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother and they fell down and worshiped him. Matthew 2:9-10
Every year on January 6th, the church celebrates Epiphany. There is a story about a Sunday church service when children were called up for the children’s message. Everyone watched with joy as the little ones hurried down the aisle to reach the steps at the front of the sanctuary. The pastor lowered herself in front of the pulpit to see from the children’s perspective . In her calm voice she said to them, “Does anyone know how the wise men found the baby Jesus on that night so long…….?” And before she could finish her question, a little boy excitedly jumped up, maybe 5 years old, and yelled, “STAR!” It took a few minutes for the laughter in the congregation to die down, but they knew someone had taught this little fellow the story of the wise men and he knew the answer!
When you look at something that you may have known about for a long time, and suddenly you realize that it is very special, you’ve had an epiphany.
We have experienced a year unlike any other in our lifetime. We have had to monitor and adjust over and over. The excitement of Christmas and New Year’s is waning. But the JOY of Christmas isn’t over yet because we can choose to recognize the mercy of God in our everyday stuff. With open hearts and hopeful outlooks, we can have epiphany moments any day.
Try looking at life through the eyes of a child who is so excited about the Christmas story that he can’t contain himself! Or see the events of the day through the eyes of a traveler who has journeyed many miles to find something very small, new and precious. Just like a child’s wide-eyed faith.
*Some notes from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association
Barbara Schneider
