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Matthew 2:1-12      After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.” 

3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: 

         6      “ ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, 

         are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; 

         for out of you will come a ruler 

         who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.’” 

7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” 

9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. 

Jesus Is for All Nations

Today, January 6 is the day observed in the Christian Church as Epiphany.  The story of the wise men arriving in Bethlehem is familiar, yet it still surprises us. These travelers were not kings of Israel, not priests from the temple, not people who knew the Scriptures by heart. They were foreigners—outsiders—guided by a star and a longing they could not fully explain. And yet, they are among the first to kneel before Jesus. From the very beginning, God is making something clear: this child is not only for one people, but for all nations.

Psalm 67 echoes this same vision. “May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine on us,” the psalmist prays—not as an end in itself, but with a purpose: “so that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations.” God’s blessing has always been meant to travel. Grace is never hoarded; it is given so that it may be shared.

The wise men embody this truth. God does not wait for them to have perfect understanding. He meets them where they are, using signs they can recognize. A star in the sky becomes a sermon, pointing them toward Christ. When they arrive, they offer gifts fit for a king, but what they truly bring is worship. They rejoice, bow down, and give themselves to the One who has drawn them from afar.

This is good news for us. Many of us come to Jesus with mixed motives, partial understanding, or questions that remain unanswered. Like the wise men, we are often still on the journey. Yet Jesus does not turn us away. He receives us, not because we have everything figured out, but because God’s mercy is wide enough to include the whole world.

Psalm 67 calls the nations to rejoice because God “rules the peoples with equity” and “guides the nations of the earth.” In Jesus, that promise takes flesh. The child in the manger grows into the Savior who will gather people from every tribe and language, not by force, but by love. The cross and the empty tomb will become the ultimate sign—brighter than any star—that God’s salvation is for all.

This truth also shapes our calling. If Jesus is for all nations, then our faith cannot remain private or small. Like the psalmist, we pray for blessing so that others may come to know God’s saving ways. Like the wise men, we are sent home “by another way,” changed by our encounter with Christ and ready to reflect his light wherever we go.

Today, remember this: the same Jesus who welcomed foreign travelers still welcomes seekers, skeptics, and strangers. His grace crosses borders, cultures, and hearts. May God’s face shine upon us, that the world may see—and rejoice—in the Savior who has come for all nations.

Prayer: Psalm 67

         1      May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us,       Selah 

         2      that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations. 

         3      May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you. 

         4      May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples justly and guide the nations of the earth.       Selah 

         5      May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you. 

         6      Then the land will yield its harvest, and God, our God, will bless us. 

         7      God will bless us, and all the ends of the earth will fear him.

Devotions this week based on Come Home Week 5 – PURPOSE (WATCH HERE)

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Luke 2:36–38 There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. 

Anna’s story is easy to overlook, yet it offers a powerful vision of lifelong faithfulness. She had known joy and deep loss. Much of her life was shaped by waiting. Rather than turning inward or withdrawing, she oriented her life around worship, prayer, and hope.

When Anna encountered Jesus, her response was immediate gratitude and witness. She spoke about Him to all who were waiting for redemption. Her purpose did not depend on position, productivity, or recognition. It flowed naturally from a life centered on God’s promises.

Anna reminds us that purpose does not fade with age or circumstance. Faithfulness is not flashy. It is often quiet, steady, and unseen. Yet God delights in using such lives to point others to Christ. Anna did not need a platform. She simply spoke hope where God had placed her.

Living from the manger means allowing the hope of Christ to shape every season of life. It means trusting that God is still at work, even when life feels small or repetitive. Worship, prayer, and witness remain meaningful, no matter how ordinary they may seem.

As we enter a new year, move forward from the manger to a year and life of following and faithfulness to Christ. The same Christ who came humbly into the world continues to call and direct you to trust, to hope, and to speak of His redemption.

Your life, like Anna’s, is not defined by what you have lost or how visible your faith feels. It is defined by the God who keeps His promises.

Reflection:
How can my daily faithfulness quietly point others to Christ?
Where is God inviting me to speak hope in my current season?

Prayer:
Lord, anchor my life in hope. Teach me to worship faithfully, pray continually, and speak of Your redemption with joy. Use my life—quiet or visible—to point others to Christ, until the very end. Amen.

 

PS…Happy 28th Anniversary to my lovely and amazing wife, Christy!

Devotions this week based on Come Home Week 5 – PURPOSE (WATCH HERE)

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Luke 2:40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him. 

A new year often arrives with high expectations. We tell ourselves that this year will be different. We resolve to be more disciplined, more focused, more faithful. While intention is good, it can quietly turn into pressure. Growth becomes something we must achieve rather than something God nurtures.

Luke’s brief description of Jesus’ early life offers a gentler and truer picture of growth. Jesus grew in strength and wisdom, and God’s grace was upon Him. Growth was not rushed. It unfolded over time, under the care and favor of God. That matters because it reminds us that growth is not about instant transformation, but faithful formation.

God cares about our whole lives: body, mind, and spirit. Scripture affirms that our physical well-being matters, that wisdom is worth pursuing, and that spiritual growth is essential. Yet none of these are meant to become burdens we carry alone. Growth flows from grace, not guilt.

As you begin this year, it may be helpful to shift the question. Instead of asking, “What do I need to fix?” ask, “How is God inviting me to grow?” Growth often begins with small, ordinary practices: consistent prayer, regular worship, time in Scripture, learning something new, caring for your body, seeking rest. These are not ways to earn God’s approval; they are ways to receive His ongoing care.

It is also important to remember that growth is rarely linear. There will be seasons of clarity and seasons of struggle. God’s grace is present in both. A new year is not a demand for perfection; it is an invitation to trust that God is still at work in you.

Begin this year not with anxiety about who you should become, but with confidence in whose you already are. God is faithful to complete what He has begun.

Reflection:
Which area of my life needs intentional care this year?
What small, sustainable step can I take toward growth this week?

Prayer:
Gracious God, as this new year begins, lead me in paths of faithful growth. Help me care for my body, renew my mind, and deepen my trust in You. Shape me by Your grace, one day at a time. Amen.

Devotions this week based on Come Home Week 5 – PURPOSE (WATCH HERE)

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Luke 2:29–32 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, 

         you now dismiss your servant in peace. 

         30      For my eyes have seen your salvation, 

         31      which you have prepared in the sight of all people, 

         32      a light for revelation to the Gentiles 

         and for glory to your people Israel.” 

New Year’s Eve has a way of slowing us down, even if only briefly. The calendar forces a pause. We look back over the year that is ending and instinctively begin to evaluate it. Some memories bring gratitude—moments of joy, provision, growth. Others bring regret, disappointment, or unresolved pain. Very few of us arrive at December 31 feeling finished or complete.

That is why Simeon’s words are so striking. Holding the infant Jesus, he says he can now depart in peace. His life feels complete, not because everything was easy or fully understood, but because God’s promise had been fulfilled. Simeon’s peace did not depend on how much time he had left, how successful his life appeared, or whether all his questions were answered. Peace came from seeing God’s salvation.

As this year ends, Simeon invites us to rest in the same place. Peace is not found in having a “good year” by worldly standards. It is found in trusting a faithful God. When we measure our lives by performance, peace is fragile. When we measure our lives by promise, peace becomes possible even in unfinished seasons.

This matters because many of us carry quiet burdens into the end of the year. There are conversations we wish had gone differently, goals we never reached, losses we still feel. Ending the year in peace does not mean pretending those things don’t exist. It means placing them into God’s hands rather than carrying them forward alone.

Scripture reminds us that God’s mercies are new every morning. That means they have been present every day of the year now ending, including the days we would rather forget. God has not abandoned you in your weariness, nor has He overlooked your faithfulness, however small it felt.

Take time tonight to name God’s presence in the past year. Where did He sustain you? Where did He forgive you? Where did He quietly provide what you needed, even when you didn’t recognize it at the time? Peace grows when remembrance is shaped by trust rather than regret.

As the clock approaches midnight, you do not need to resolve everything. You are invited to rest. Like Simeon, you can entrust your life, past, present, and future, to the God who keeps His promises.

Reflection:
Where did I see God’s faithfulness this year, even in difficult moments?
What do I need to release to God as this year comes to a close?

Prayer:
Faithful God, as this year ends, I thank You for Your mercy that has sustained me every step of the way. I place my regrets, my grief, and my unfinished stories into Your hands. Grant me peace—not because everything is resolved, but because You are trustworthy. Amen.

Devotions this week based on Come Home Week 5 – PURPOSE (WATCH HERE)

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Luke 2:34–35 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.” 

The scene in the temple shifts quickly. What began with praise and peace now turns solemn. Simeon blesses Mary and Joseph, then speaks words that are both true and heavy: this child will not only bring salvation, but division. Hearts will be revealed. Resistance will rise. And Mary herself will feel deep pain. Even here, at the beginning of Jesus’ life, the shadow of the cross falls across the story.

It is tempting to think of purpose as something that brings clarity, ease, and satisfaction. Yet Simeon reminds us that God’s purpose often comes with struggle. The same Jesus who brings peace also brings confrontation. He exposes what we cling to, what we fear, and what we trust. Following Him is not about finding comfort, but about trusting God even when obedience costs us something.

Jesus later makes this clear when He calls His disciples to deny themselves, take up their cross daily, and follow Him. The cross is not an optional accessory of the Christian life. It is the shape of it. To follow Christ is to let go of the illusion that life should always be easy, safe, or predictable. The cross disrupts our desire to control outcomes and protect ourselves at all costs.

Mary would learn this slowly and painfully. The joy of the manger would one day give way to the grief of the cross. The child she cradled would be rejected, mocked, and crucified. Yet even then, God’s purpose was not lost. What looked like defeat was the very means by which God brought salvation to the world. The cross reveals the depth of human brokenness and the even greater depth of God’s love.

This challenges us because we naturally seek comfort. We build our lives around minimizing pain and maximizing ease. We prefer a faith that reassures without demanding, that inspires without disrupting. But purpose rooted in Christ often leads us into places we would not choose on our own…into forgiveness that feels costly, service that goes unnoticed, obedience that requires trust rather than certainty.

Still, the cross is never the final word. Jesus does not call us to carry crosses alone or without hope. He goes before us. He bears the ultimate weight of sin and death so that even our suffering is not wasted. In Christ, God meets us not by removing every hardship, but by redeeming it.

As you reflect on your own life, consider where comfort may be shaping your choices more than faithfulness. Are there places where God is inviting you to trust Him more deeply, even if it means discomfort? Following Jesus does not mean seeking suffering for its own sake. It means trusting that God is at work even when the path is hard.

The good news is that the same Savior who calls us to follow Him is also the one who carries us. Purpose is not found in avoiding the cross, but in walking with Christ through it—confident that His resurrection promise still stands.

Reflection:
Where am I tempted to choose comfort over faithfulness?
What might it look like to trust Christ more deeply in a difficult area of my life?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, You know how quickly I seek comfort and avoid the cross. Give me faith to trust You when following is hard. Remind me that You go before me, that Your grace is sufficient, and that Your purposes are always good even when the road is difficult. Amen.