Seek and you will find

Christmas Day is past and we are now into the 12 days of Christmas, which leads us to the church season of Epiphany on Jan. 6.

Epiphany is traditionally celebrated as the time the Magi arrived to present gifts to the young Jesus. A favorite Epiphany hymn is “We Three Kings of Orient Are.” The words of the chorus are:

“O star of wonder, star of night, Star with royal beauty bright; Westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect light.”

The Magi were compelled to follow the star to the King that had been foretold.

You probably have seen the thought, “Wise men still seek him” written on banners, tee shirts etc. No matter where we are in our spiritual walk, we ,too, need to seek our Lord and seek a closer walk with Him. In the Gospel of Matthew we read, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”

Here Jesus is telling his disciples what they need to do to be equipped to carry out the purpose he has for them. Ask...seek..knock. He is giving them stunning unconditional assurances that the Father will hear and answer the prayers of His children and like a Father, he will answer according to His good purposes.  This applies to us today as much as it applied to the disciples.

By the time we reach Jan. 6, the 12 days of Christmas will be over. Epiphany and a new year will have begun. We will have the opportunity to start anew.

Let us go to our heavenly Father in prayer … asking … seeking … knocking … to learn His purpose for us in the new year!

Jan Knicely,

Associate in Ministry, emeritus

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church