Loving God, bless and protect this dear reader in all they face today; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Our text for today comes from Acts 10: 34 Peter fairly exploded with his good news: "It's God's own truth, nothing could be plainer: God plays no favorites! 35 It makes no difference who you are or where you're from - if you want God and are ready to do as he says, the door is open. 36 The Message he sent to the children of Israel - that through Jesus Christ everything is being put together again - well, he's doing it everywhere, among everyone. 37 "You know the story of what happened in Judea. It began in Galilee after John preached a total life-change. 38 Then Jesus arrived from Nazareth, anointed by God with the Holy Spirit, ready for action. He went through the country helping people and healing everyone who was beaten down by the Devil. He was able to do all this because God was with him. 39 "And we saw it, saw it all, everything he did in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem where they killed him, hung him from a cross. 40 But in three days God had him up, alive, and out where he could be seen. 41 Not everyone saw him - he wasn't put on public display. Witnesses had been carefully handpicked by God beforehand - us! We were the ones, there to eat and drink with him after he came back from the dead. 42 He commissioned us to announce this in public, to bear solemn witness that he is in fact the One whom God destined as Judge of the living and dead. 43 But we're not alone in this. Our witness that he is the means to forgiveness of sins is backed up by the witness of all the prophets." (The Message)
Who do people see Jesus is in you? As you live your life, do you give witness to Jesus as having been the One who took away your sins? This passage has Peter very exitedly and emotionally sharing Who Jesus is with those listening to him. He had just experienced a vision of his own sin, that of being exclusive in his relationship with Jews, and God had shown him that God favors no one, not even Jews. So, Peter gets excited that this message of Jesus, of Jesus offering forgiveness of sins, is for all people.
Today is the day of Epiphany, the day the Magi arrived to visit and pay tribute to Jesus. The name itself means a divine manifestation or a "shining forth" and the Church takes it to mean the realization that indeed, God favors no one, God favors all. Today is a day for insiders and outsiders alike, to realize that in Jesus we have the invitation to live in love and live free from our sins. Live your life in this way!
PRAYER: Loving God, I thank You for the meaning behind this day. Truly I have received a very special gift from You today. Let me live my life in a way that shows that to others. Let me show Jesus in all that I say, think, and do. I ask this in Christ Jesus my Lord, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
