Darker Sky, Brighter Sky

It's worth dwelling on this momentous event for a little longer.

Is there an area or street in your town where house prices are lowest, and people would laugh if you even mentioned that you were thinking of moving there? It may be run down, disused, seedy or simply the wrong end of town. You know the sort of place I'm talking about. Go there to read today's passage.

Matthew 2:1-12.

The divine nature is incredibly exposed in the fact that God chose the most obscure, private, but degrading surroundings for the most beautiful moment of his union with humanity, and the most public place in the greatest city for his most degrading moment. How would you feel if your wedding took place in a car park? Or if your secret sins were exposed all over the tabloid press?

In what dark places do you not even bother to look for God working? Where are the stables of your family, your town, or your country? Take some time to think about this.

Because you can bet there is a divine presence right in the midst. Those Christians who work with and among the poor of the world know the truth that the Magi also discovered. You meet Jesus there. In his book Christianity Rediscovered, Vincent Donovan talks extensively about our arrogant attitudes with regard to mission. He speaks of our belief that we somehow take God to people, when actually he is already there, and through our interaction we may hope to increase people's awareness of him at work.

Pray that God would give you some sort of bright star to lead you to these places.

Now walk up and down the street or place where you read the passage, and pray for this place and its inhabitants, asking that they would know the God who is at work amongst them.

 

Reproduced with permission from God360 - experiential devotionals - the new book by Andy Flannagan, published by Spring Harvest/Authentic media - www.god360.co.uk