Monday, January 12, 2009
Psalm 98:2 The LORD has made known His salvation; His righteousness He has revealed in the sight of the nations.
PRAY FOR MORE EPIPHANIES
The church year season that follows Christmas is Epiphany, which brings up a question: What does the word "epiphany" mean? Because it's a word we don't often use in daily conversation, its meaning may be lost upon us. The word epiphany comes from a Greek word meaning "to reveal" or "bring to light." A person is said to have had an "epiphany" who suddenly comes to see something in a new light or grasps something he didn't understand previously. A couple examples: We may say to a friend: "Ah, so that's what you were driving at when you told me that . . ." A student may say to a teacher: "Oh, now I get it! The correct way to do this math problem is . . ."
There are also spiritual epiphanies people may have. This happens when they come to see and believe the truth about God and Jesus their Savior. Aren't you and I, dear reader, among those to whom God has graciously revealed this hidden truth? By the power of the Spirit He has enabled us to "get it." The Baby born at Bethlehem is the answer to our sin-problem. All the transgressions we've added to our life ledger have been subtracted forever through the redeeming work of Christ Jesus. Salvation is found in no one else. There is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.
Let us ask God to grant more such epiphanies to those who don't "get" the truth about Jesus -- who view Him as just a famous religious teacher or kind-hearted man or helper of the poor -- that they might learn to know Him aright as their heaven-sent Redeemer. Petition Him to open our eyes to see opportunities for sharing this Good News with those we meet in our daily walk of life who still are in the dark. Send to His throne of grace repeated requests to bless the work of missionaries who go out in our name to shine the light of Christ into the hearts of those living in spiritual darkness in distant lands.
God of mercy, God of grace,
Show the brightness of Thy face;
Shine upon us, Savior, shine,
Fill Thy church with light divine,
And Thy saving health extend
Unto earth's remotest end.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 20:1)
