Epiphany and Risk

Today, January 6, is the celebration of "Epiphany" on the Christian calendar, and it's celebrating something awesome: the first 'public appearance' of the baby Jesus, the Son of God now in human form. What's that about? And what
lessons are there for us? Let's look.

Epiphany means "manifestation," or, if you want a more common word, "appearance." This day in particular refers to the Magi's visit to see Jesus, as the first Gentiles to see him. This was a huge shift in God's actions in the world, to start reaching outside of physical Israel. Several scriptures are traditionally read for this time:  Isaiah 60:1-6, (the glory of God rises over Jerusalem, and mighty kings will come to see it); Psalm 72:1-7 and 10-14 (a prayer for judgment for the king, and that kings will bring him tribute); Ephesians 3:1-12 (the gospel going to Gentiles as well as Jews) and Matthew 2:1-12 (describing the visit of the Magi). All these help unpack the meaning of this time, revealing the loving heart of an all-wise God toward every person on earth. Isn't that worth celebrating?

But I want to look at one more detail: the journey of the Magi (the wise men from the East, in Matthew) to find the newborn king. They set off not knowing where they were going, except they were following a star they had seen; but they set off anyway. And when they arrived in Judea, they started asking around for this new king -- not having any idea where they were to look or whom to look for (and nearly got in trouble with Herod, Mat. 2:12). But they persisted in their search anyway, and then the star led them to the young Jesus. They were faithful to the calling in spite of risk. But why did a loving God call them into a journey into the unknown, with risks involved, in the first place?

I've noticed as I get older that I have become less likely to take risks. I really don't like the possibility of injury or loss. Perhaps you're the same. But like the Magi (and Abram, for instance, before them) our loving Father calls us forward into a journey we can't control, with a destination we can't see. Like the Magi, we can ask around in the wrong places. But like the Magi, we will get re-directed by God to the right location and right activities (see Acts 16, especially verse 6 onward). Like the Magi, we may get opposition, from sly sources like Herod (or more overtly, the mob in Philippi, Acts 16:19-24).

However, like the Magi -- and like Abram and Paul and all the others -- our loving Father has already called us forward into a life that he controls (so that we don't have to) and that he knows the outcome of. Like these Biblical witnesses, we are called to "show up and be faithful" in spite of risk of loss, or even simple uncertainty. So the question is, are we willing to put our faith in our loving Father, to the point of venturing out of our comfort zone in some way? In this new year of 2016, what will you be willing to try, for the sake of the Gospel? What will you risk -- if we can call being in the hands of our Father a risk -- to follow Jesus into the world he is redeeming, in part through you? It's a decision we all have to make, every day. I pray you will choose to 'follow the star.'