Your Presence Is Equally Unlikely
Scripture: “Remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.” — Ephesians 2:12
MAIN POINT: Our presence before God is just as unlikely as that of the Magi.
It is easy for us to see the strangeness of the Magi’s presence before God. What is harder—and what we must see—is that our presence is just as unlikely.
We are Gentiles. We were not God’s chosen people. The promise was given to Abraham and his descendants. Israel was set apart from among all nations to be God’s own. The covenant, the law, the temple, the prophets—these belonged to them, not to us. Paul’s words in Ephesians describe our former condition in blunt terms: separated, alienated, strangers, without hope, without God.
That was us. We were on the outside looking in. We had no claim on the God of Israel. We had no right to stand in His presence. We were, in our own way, just as far from God as those pagan sorcerers from the east.
And yet, here we are. In the Lord’s house. Before Jesus. Gathered around His Word and His Table. Worshiping. How did this happen? “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:13).
This is the radical good news of Epiphany. You are welcome where you do not belong. You have a place you did not earn.
Reflection: We often forget how unlikely our inclusion in God’s family truly is. What difference does it make to remember you were once “far off”? How does this shape your gratitude and worship?
PRAYER: Gracious God, I confess that I often take my place before You for granted. Help me never forget that I was once far off and have been brought near only by the blood of Christ. Fill my heart with wonder and gratitude. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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