Saturday, December 30th

 “They went home another way…” (Mt. 2:12)

The Wise Men reached their destination and worshipped the Messiah. Their gifts were presented with love and reverence.  And, being wise, they listened to the dreams God sent, recognized Herod’s duplicity, and ignored his request for information, going home “another way.” Some translations read “a different way” which hints at something else which seems rather important.

When we do find Jesus, when we can lay the gifts of our lives at His feet, we continue our lives “a different way.”  We are changed – our lives are different from the days before then. Conversion is supposed to give us new behaviors, ones centered beyond ourselves and on Jesus’ example. Paul talks about being “new creations” in the Lord, powered no longer by vanity or pride, but by the Spirit and by God.

Too often we believe God is satisfied with little changes – a single habit to be broken, one relationship to be healed. But God wants and deserves our entire life, our whole being, so that in Christ’s hands we can become far more than we would have made of us by ourselves. We like the Wise Men must leave the manger “a different way” – changed by the Savior of us all.

HOW ARE WE DIFFERENT PEOPLE BECAUSE WE KNOW JESUS?

Prayer: Loving God, take our lives and remold us with your Spirit into the disciples who can shine your light into all the darkness of our world for Jesus Christ. Amen.

Dr. John Clifford