We’re been exploring the contrast between the Magi and the Priests and Scribes who advise King Herod.  The priests and scribes, the insiders, do nothing, and give nothing to the Messiah they have supposedly studied in depth.

While Magi, the outsiders and travellers, do something and give their gifts of treasure and worship, and make great sacrifices to do so.

None of us here are as powerful as Herod, as knowledgeable as the Magi or Scribes and Pharisees, but as you can see it’s not just about knowledge, it’s about our openness to God acting in our world, even in unexpected ways, that really matters.

We have something to learn from the contrast between the Priests and Scribes and the Magi.  Given the same knowledge and experience, the Magi and Priests use it very differently.  So we, given knowledge in this world, also have choices as to how we will use them.

We are given the knowledge that the message of Jesus Christ will change the lives of our family and friends for the better.  He will transform our world from one ruled over by fear and manipulation to one ruled over by love and peace.

What will we do with it?

Like the priests and scribes, will we have all the info, and do nothing?

Or like the Magi, will we go to all possible lengths to worship this God, giving him our very best gifts?

Giving of our time, resources and even our power, to greet him as our Lord.

So today, with the same history presented to us, we decide how we will go down in history…as knowing much but doing nothing, or as worshipping the true King of love and peace.

Challenge: Explore Jesus this coming year – take c101, get in touch with me.  In the process,s you can see if Christian faith is wise, rational, etc. for yourself.

Reminder: We are reading the Bible in sync as one community – so check out today’s reading here.

Reminder: The best way to grow spiritually this year is to join our Christianity 101 in the Cafe Course in Pickering starting January 22nd. Register for you and a friend today!

Read the Bible in Sync Today

Ryan Sim - April 29, 2013

Monday - A New Idea - Pompous Prayer

Sermon on the Mount

Public prayer is a hot button issue. Louie Giglio, a US pastor, was asked to pray at Obama’s second inauguration, then found himself in a firestorm of accusations based on things he’d said years ago, until he eventually declined the president’s offer. Clearly praying in public has power in the eyes of religious and non-religious people alike! Earlier this year, it was reported in the news that The Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission will investigate a complaint from a man who says he was offended when a Christian prayer was read during a volunteer appreciation banquet in Saskatoon. He felt prayer had no place in public, civic meetings. You might say it’s just a sign of the times, and fondly remember when the Lord’s Prayer was said in schools, civic events and more, without anyone complaining, at least not complaining out loud. I knew some people much older than I, who got so angry when the topic of the Lord’s Prayer in schools came up. They saw it as a sign that they had once lived in a Christian society, and its loss felt like they had lost a sense of power and influence over society. If you grew up in that kind of society, you might think concerns about public prayer are unfounded, and some new innovation. You might not give public prayer, and the reasons for it, much thought at all. But this week we’re going to explore when Jesus questioned the way people prayed in public. Question: What experiences of public prayer have you experienced? Were they good or bad experiences? Why?

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From Series: "Sermon on the Mount"

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