God's GPS

Rebecca Sheridan
Sunday, January 5, 2025
Matthew 2:1-12

    Do you remember the days before GPS, where you had to use maps or God forbid, ASK (at a gas station, typically) for directions?  As an old millennial, I used MapQuest – I would look up where something was ahead of time (on my desktop computer of course, no laptops or smartphones in those days), and write down the directions. Does MapQuest even exist anymore?  When we lived in rural Nebraska, there was not always phone or internet service everywhere, and GPS doesn’t necessarily give you correct directions to farmhouses outside of town.   You had to use your own brain to figure out which way was north or south and look for the numbers to go up or down on the rural roads.  The best was when people would be like, “Oh, the Petersons live in that blue house up on the hill past the old Johnson place.”  The Johnsons had not lived there for over 50 years, and as a new person to the area, you had no idea what they were talking about, but EVERYONE still called it the Johnson place!  Needless to say, I got lost quite a bit.
    GPS has honestly been a lifesaver for me; I do not have a very good sense of direction on my own.  I know I need help finding my way most days.  As we celebrate Epiphany this morning, we hear how the wise men were guided by God’s GPS:  a star that led them to the newborn king.  They find Jesus not only by looking at the stars, but also by asking people, including King Herod, where he might be.  They are intentional about finding a way to get to Jesus, and they are not discouraged by the journey.  They are not afraid to ask for directions!  When they find him, they are overwhelmed with joy, Matthew tells us.  These wise men were paying attention to God’s guidance not only in the stars, but also in their dreams; they know to go back by another road and not return to Herod, because God warns them in a dream.
How good are we at following the direction of God’s Spirit --in paying attention to the ways God is trying to lead us and guide us?  These are good questions especially in a new year, as we take time to reflect on our goals for 2025.  How are we listening to and looking for God’s guidance?  Where is God leading us?  God can speak to us in dreams, through prayer, through other people, maybe even in the night sky, if we are paying attention.  As we continue on our way of following Christ, what or who helps us follow that way, and what, like the King Herods of this world, distracts us from Jesus’ way or leads us astray?
    Faith is a journey, and we can follow the example of the wise men by being intentional about looking for “God sightings” in our everyday lives and paying attention to the ordinary ways God is leading us.  We are not alone in our seeking.  As the song goes, “Wise men still seek him.”  That includes women, too, by the way!  In addition to our resolutions to eat healthier or lose weight, I hope we’re also thinking about tending to our spiritual health!  We are not alone!  There are many people out there – our friends, neighbors, and coworkers, who are looking for something – a deeper meaning or purpose in life, a sense of community, unconditional love and forgiveness.  All of these things we can find in Jesus.  
So we ask, not only how can we find Jesus ourselves and follow in his way, but how can we give other people directions?  In other words, if someone in your life wants to know more about who Jesus is and what it means to be a Christian, where might they start?  What might you tell them?  These directions might be as simple as inviting someone to church or a church activity.  Sharing your favorite Bible verse, or your favorite book of the Bible or story, if someone wants to read the Bible for the first time and doesn’t know where to start.  I have enjoyed sharing the streaming show, The Chosen, for people to get a good idea of who Jesus is in film.  Teaching someone how to pray, as simple a thing as the Lord’s prayer and what it means.  Finding a service project where you interact with people who are in need, whether it be a homeless or feeding ministry or something else.  Taking time not only for talking and reading but also for mental space – quiet – to hear the still small voice of God.  If we are not nurturing our faith lives ourselves and continuing to learn more about who Jesus is and how God is guiding us, it is pretty difficult for us to give other people direction on how to follow Jesus.  We pray that the way we live our lives reflects the way of Jesus.
Today is a bridge between Christmas and Epiphany.  Tomorrow, January 6, is officially Epiphany Day – and in the following Sundays until Lent in March, we will be listening for signs in the gospels that Jesus is who he says he is – the son of God and son of Man, the Savior of the world, for all of us.  The word “Epiphany” is a fancy word that means “showing up.”  The wise men see this star in the sky that shows up to point them to Jesus.  At Jesus’ baptism, a dove of the Holy Spirit shows up as a voice from heaven declares him to be God’s son.  At a wedding at Cana, Jesus shows up to perform his first miracle, turning water into wine.  There is not just one “Epiphany” or direction that tells us God has shown up to save us, but thank God, there are many:  in the story of Jesus we will hear over and over again how God continues to show up for us to lead us in the way of truth, to lead us out of darkness and into the light of Christ.  The signs are many if we simply open our eyes to look and our ears to listen.  May we strive to follow the way and lead others in this same way of Christ.  Amen.