Psalm 57:5

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!
Let your glory be over all the earth!

As I stepped out of the house this morning, the moon was low on the horizon just skirting some rooftops, and Jupiter was shining just above. Today we celebrate the Epiphany when Christ manifested himself to the Gentiles, when he was presented to the magi. The magi followed a star which could have been something similar to the bright shining Jupiter, perhaps even brighter, something unusual that they would leave their lands to follow. Back then anyone who was not a Jew would have been a Gentile.

When I think of the phrase “let your glory be over all the earth”, I think it is amazing that anyone could think that the God that created the whole universe would be selective with his love on the grounds of race or cultural background. God created humankind from one seed, the seed of Adam and Eve, and so if you accept that as truth then there is only one race – humankind.

But what has this to do with Jupiter? Well when you think of Jupiter you might think of the planet, you might even think of the Greek mythological god of joy (his name meaning shining father), you might even think of the hymn written by Gustav Holst, and of course there is the tune taken from the same composer used for the rugby world cup – world in union. As I listened to this song sung by Hayley Westenra. She sang the words

There’s a dream, I feel
So rare, so real
All the world in union
The world as one

Gathering together
One mind, one heart
Every creed, every colour
Once joined, never apart

I actually thought at first she sang, there’s a tree, I feel so rare, so real.. or perhaps that was my ears deceiving me. Even though that would be even more apt, the tree that started this decline of humankind and the tree that brought us back into salvation with our creator, the tree Jesus died on. It isn’t a dream, Jesus dying on the cross actually happened.

Jesus came freely for all, to wash us all white as snow so that we can stand before the Father. I find the amazing point that is sometimes missed is that Jesus was a Jew, but he never refused anyone who asked for help, of any creed or colour, male or female, he came for all.

Isaiah 7:14

“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).

God is truly with us, this day, here and now.

Once Joined, never apart

The other awesome thing about our God is that once we accept Him to be within us, and to be our guiding star, He will not abandon us – there is no sin that is bigger that the tree, the cross that jesus died on.

We have been given the chance to walk with God by accepting His Spirit and allowing God to guide us, to walk with the Spirit, to walk with God. If everyone across the Earth accepted God’s Spirit and walked with the Spirit, wouldn’t that be an amazing thing, wouldn’t the earth be a completely new Earth, an Earth re – born?

We may be tested, we may have some hard decisions to make, and we may be tempted to ignore the Spirit’s reasoning and follow the old self, but Jesus died for all and He died and was reborn many years ago for the sins you have committed and for the sins that you will commit, and He has forgiven you if you just accept Him into your heart and let God’s shining Son guide you.

I pray that as the days unfold that we all listen more and more to the Spirit within us, or that you ask God to send His Son Immanuel into your heart. One Earth full of a humankind following one God, one heart, one mind and one soul. Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Blessing

Graham