DEVOTIONAL FROM PASTOR DAVE JANUARY 11, 2023

Star Words

It is now the season of Epiphany. The twelve days of Christmas came to an end when Epiphany began on January 6. The word “epiphany” means revelation. In the church year, this date commemorates the visit of the wise men, the magi, to the infant Jesus. Their visit represents the revelation, or the “epiphany,” of Jesus’ kingship to all the world.

As we know from Matthew 2:1-12, the magi were guided to Jesus’ location by a star. A popular practice has developed in some churches in recent years of handing out “star words” on or around Epiphany. These words might be printed on star-shaped ornaments and hung on the Christmas tree, or they might simply be printed on cards. Some examples of star words are begin, embrace, patience, and trust. The idea is that we might prayerfully focus on our star word and allow it to draw us closer to Christ, just like the star led the magi closer to him.

One of my friends on Facebook asked if any of us would like for her to draw a star word for us, and I took her up on it. The word she drew for me was “welcoming.” I’m already praying about how this word might shape my discipleship and my ministry this year.

Another friend chose to see if he could find a star word on his own. As he was reading Dr.

Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” the word that kept jumping out at him was “wait.” He has found this word to be challenging him in a couple of ways, inviting him to wait when he can be impatient, but also to speak and act when he might be complacent.

So what about you? Have you found a star word for you this Epiphany? If you have, let me

know what it is so that I can join you in prayer around it. Or if you would like for me to

randomly select a star word for you from a list of star words, email me or comment on the

social media post and I will let you know what it is.

May Christ’s presence be even more fully revealed to you this Epiphany season.

Pastor Dave