Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 65:8-25; Luke 3:1-20
"Yes, all kings shall fall down before Him; all nations shall serve Him" (Psalm 72:11)
Well, this is it — my final devotion. My dear friends, thank you for letting me place into your ears the Words and promises of God. What a privilege. Even though, as a parish pastor, time to accomplish this task was often limited, it was a blessing for me. To be in the Advent and Christmas Scriptures, to kneel before the manger long before its arrival this year has been such a treat! I pray these devotions have been a small blessing for you.
And, what of kneeling before the manger? The wise men did, magi from the East. In fulfillment of the Scripture, Gentiles came and worshiped the newborn king. You'll hear all about that tomorrow. Yes, Jesus is for us Gentiles, too, even if our family tree cannot trace our genealogy back to Abraham. In Abraham's Seed, all the families of the earth will be blessed (Genesis 22:18). That is, in Jesus, all of us are blessed. Blessed with God's forgiveness and salvation. Blessed by Jesus in Word, Washing and Supper.
Will you kneel before the manger? Yes, you will — when you kneel at the Altar tomorrow, before Christ's Body and Blood. There is no worship that pleases God more. For this is how God desires to be worshiped: that we receive from Him all the blessings and promises He has spoken to us in His Son. Those blessings and promises save us from our sins. They give God to sinners as their heavenly Father, which is just what the Father wants for you.
"Give the king Your judgments, O God, and Your righteousness to the king's son" (Psalm 72:1). Tomorrow's Introit sets the theme for Epiphany: as long as all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Jesus by the Father (Matthew 28:18), from the King to the King's Son, then we are safe. Safe by the Word that now bespeaks us righteous (Matthew 28:20). Safe by the Washing that now cleanses and declares us holy (Matthew 28:19). Safe by the Body and Blood that now feeds us with all the blessings and treasures of Calvary (Matthew 26:26-28). Thank God, the Lord's Ruler has come!
How fitting, then, that tomorrow we join the kings of Tarshish and of the isles, the kings of Sheba and Seba, and all kings. How fitting that you and I fall down before Him and bring Him gifts and presents. For it is the Gifts and Presents He brings us that mean so much, that declare to you and me and all the world: A Savior has been born to us. Born to us all!
What an honor, then, to bring Him gifts. No greater gift can you bring than your open ears, open hearts and open mouths. For what treasures He will put there: Himself, with all of God's forgiveness and salvation. Amen.