WEEK 2 — LIGHT FOR ALL NATIONS
January 12, 2026 – January 18, 2026
Last week, we followed the star alongside the Magi—through their recognition of something unprecedented, the disruptions that divine revelation always brings, the dark seasons when guidance disappears, and ultimately their transformation into people who could never return home the same way.
This week, we're zooming out to see the bigger picture: the Magi's journey wasn't just a personal spiritual experience. It was God's announcement that His light was breaking into the world for ALL nations, not just the people who were expecting it.
I always try to show the connections between the New Testament and the Old. Isaiah 60:1-3 prophesied exactly what Matthew recorded: "Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn." The wise men were the first fulfillment of this ancient promise—foreign royalty bringing treasures to worship Israel's King.
This Week's Focus: How God's Light Breaks Every Barrier
We'll explore how Jesus' birth revealed God's radically inclusive kingdom, where outsiders become insiders, where enemies become family, and where the light of Christ draws people from the most unexpected places.
DAY 8 — The Nations Stream In
Monday - Scripture: Isaiah 60:1-3
"Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn."
In 1960, Ruby Bridges became the first Black child to integrate an all-white elementary school in New Orleans. Every day, federal marshals escorted the six-year-old through crowds of angry protesters. Most white families pulled their children from the school, leaving Ruby to attend classes alone with one teacher.
But Ruby's presence changed everything. Her teacher, Barbara Henry, later said: "Ruby's courage lit up that empty school. Other teachers started asking questions. Some parents began reconsidering their positions. That little girl's light broke through decades of darkness, one person at a time."
By the end of the year, a few white students had returned. Ruby's quiet dignity had begun drawing people back to what was right.
Reflection:
Isaiah prophesied what the Magi's journey proved: God's light doesn't stay local. It breaks through the thickest darkness and draws people from unexpected places. The light that shone in Bethlehem was never meant for one nation—it was meant to illuminate the whole world.
Sometimes we're called to be like Ruby—carrying light into dark places where we're not initially welcome. Other times, we're like those who gradually recognized the light and were drawn to it.
How is God calling you to carry His light into darker places? Or where might He be drawing you toward His light through unexpected people?
Prayer:
Lord, arise and shine through me.
Help me carry Your light bravely into places that need it most.
Give me eyes to recognize Your light breaking through in unexpected ways. Amen.
DAY 9 — When the Distant Draw Near
Tuesday - Scripture: Isaiah 60:4-6
"Lift up your eyes and look around; all your sons gather and come to you; your daughters shall be carried on their hips. Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and rejoice, because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you. A multitude of camels shall cover you... they shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord."
In 1943, Corrie ten Boom was imprisoned in a Nazi concentration camp for hiding Jewish families. In the barracks, she secretly conducted Bible studies using a small Bible smuggled past the guards. Women from different countries—Dutch, German, French, Polish—gathered around her, many enemies according to their governments.
One night, a German guard approached their circle. The women froze, expecting punishment. Instead, the guard whispered, "May I listen too?" She had lost her own family in the bombing of Berlin and was desperate for hope.
Corrie later wrote: "In that moment, I understood what Isaiah meant. The nations really do come to God's light—even when they come from opposite sides of a war."
Reflection:
Isaiah's prophecy painted a picture that seemed impossible: enemies becoming family, distant nations bringing gifts, those who were far off drawing near. Yet this is exactly what happened when the Magi arrived in Bethlehem—and what continues to happen wherever Christ's light shines.
God's family is always bigger than our human categories. His light draws people we never expected, from places we never imagined, bringing gifts we didn't know we needed.
Who has God brought into your life from "distant places"—different backgrounds, cultures, or perspectives—that have enriched your understanding of Him?
Prayer:
Lord, expand my vision of Your family.
Help me welcome those You're drawing from unexpected places.
Show me the gifts You're bringing through people I might not have noticed.
Amen.
DAY 10 — The Economics of Light
Wednesday - Scripture: Isaiah 60:7-9
"All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered to you... they shall come up with acceptance on my altar... The coastlands shall wait for me, the ships of Tarshish first, to bring your children from far away, their silver and gold with them, for the name of the Lord your God..."
When Millard and Linda Fuller started Habitat for Humanity in 1976, they had a radical idea: what if construction materials, volunteer labor, and simple houses could become a form of worship? What if economic resources could serve God's kingdom rather than just personal wealth?
Forty years later, Habitat had built over 1 million homes worldwide. Wealthy contractors donated materials. College students spent spring breaks swinging hammers. Families who received homes later helped build for others. The economic model turned traditional charity upside down—it wasn't just about giving money, but about reorganizing resources around God's purposes.
One recipient in Guatemala said: "This house isn't just shelter. It's proof that God's economy works differently than the world's."
Reflection:
Isaiah envisioned a time when the world's wealth would flow toward God's purposes rather than away from them. Ships and flocks, silver and gold—all redirected to serve the light rather than accumulate in darkness.
The Magi embodied this vision. They were wealthy, powerful men who could have used their resources for conquest or personal gain. Instead, they invested everything in following a star to worship a child.
How might God be calling you to redirect your resources—time, money, skills, connections—toward His light?
Prayer:
Lord, help me see my resources as gifts meant to serve Your purposes.
Show me how to invest in Your kingdom rather than just accumulate for myself.
Make me generous with whatever You've entrusted to me.
Amen.
DAY 11 — Beauty from Ashes
Thursday - Scripture: Isaiah 60:10-13
"Foreigners shall build up your walls, and their kings shall minister to you; for in my wrath I struck you down, but in my favor I have had mercy on you... The glory of Lebanon shall come to you, the cypress, the plane, and the pine, to beautify the place of my sanctuary..."
After Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans in 2005, thousands of volunteers poured in from across the country. Many were from communities that had historically been at odds with New Orleans' culture—conservative Christians from rural areas working alongside urban liberals, suburban volunteers in neighborhoods they'd never visited before.
One volunteer, a carpenter from Texas, worked for weeks rebuilding homes in the Lower Ninth Ward. "I came down here thinking I was doing them a favor," he said. "But this community taught me more about resilience and faith than I ever taught them about construction. They were ministering to me."
A local pastor observed: "God used the storm to bring people together who would never have met otherwise. Sometimes destruction is the beginning of something more beautiful."
Reflection:
Isaiah promised that even former enemies would help rebuild what had been broken. The very forces that once brought destruction would become part of restoration. Foreigners would rebuild walls. Former opponents would minister healing.
This is the mystery of Epiphany: God's light transforms not just individuals but entire systems of relationship. Former enemies become co-workers. Those who once caused harm become agents of healing.
Where have you seen God bring beauty from ashes, using unlikely people to restore what seemed broken beyond repair?
Prayer:
Lord, help me trust Your power to bring restoration even from destruction.
Use me as an agent of rebuilding in places I might not expect.
Show me how to minister healing even to those who have hurt me.
Amen.
DAY 12 — The Word Becomes Flesh
Friday - Scripture: John 1:1-5
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God... In him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it."
In 1961, President Kennedy announced America would land on the moon within the decade. Most people thought it was impossible. The technology didn't exist. The mathematics were staggering. The risks were enormous.
But Kennedy's words became action. NASA was created. Universities restructured their programs. Industries retooled. Hundreds of thousands of people organized their lives around making those words reality.
On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong stepped onto the moon. Later, he said: "It started with words that seemed impossible. But when someone speaks with enough authority and enough people believe, words have power to reshape reality."
Reflection:
John declares something even more stunning than Kennedy's moon shot: the Word that spoke the universe into existence became a human being. Not just a good idea, not just inspiring teaching, but the creative power of God taking on flesh and blood.
This is what the Magi recognized when they knelt in that house in Bethlehem. They weren't just worshiping a special baby—they were encountering the Word made flesh, the light that darkness cannot overcome.
How does knowing that Jesus is the Word made flesh change the way you relate to Him?
Prayer:
Word made flesh, help me grasp that You are not just a teacher but the creative power of God in human form.
Shine Your light into every dark place in my life.
Transform my understanding of what's possible when Your Word becomes reality.
Amen.
DAY 13 — His Own Did Not Receive Him
Saturday - Scripture: John 1:10-13
"He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God..."
In 1917, classical composer Igor Stravinsky premiered "The Rite of Spring" in Paris. The music was so revolutionary—so different from what audiences expected—that it caused a riot. People shouted, threw things, and stormed out. Critics called it "barbaric noise."
Yet that same piece is now considered one of the masterworks of the 20th century. What seemed shocking and unacceptable to his contemporary audience is now recognized as brilliant innovation.
Stravinsky later said: "The very people who should have understood my music best were the least able to hear it. Sometimes you have to wait for a new generation to recognize what was always true."
Reflection:
The Son of God came to His own creation, yet creation didn't recognize Him. The people who had been waiting for a Messiah couldn't see Him when He arrived. But foreign astronomers followed His star across continents to worship Him.
This pattern continues. Sometimes those closest to religious tradition have the hardest time recognizing when God shows up in unexpected ways. Sometimes outsiders see more clearly than insiders.
Where might God be showing up in ways you're not expecting? What assumptions might be keeping you from recognizing His presence?
Prayer:
Lord, don't let familiarity blind me to Your presence.
Help me recognize You even when You don't match my expectations.
Give me the faith to receive You however You choose to come.
Amen.
DAY 14 — Light of the World
Sunday - Scripture: John 8:12
"Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.'"
During the 2010 Chilean mine collapse, 33 miners were trapped 2,300 feet underground for 69 days. Above ground, their families maintained a vigil, refusing to leave despite experts saying survival was impossible.
When the first rescue probe finally reached the miners, it brought more than just communication—it brought light. One miner later described it: "We had been living by flashlight and headlamp for weeks. But when that probe brought down real light from the surface, everything changed. We could see each other's faces clearly for the first time. We could see the walls around us. But most importantly, we could see the way up."
That light didn't just illuminate their surroundings—it revealed their rescue was possible.
Reflection:
Jesus doesn't just teach about light or point to light—He IS the light. Following Him doesn't just give us better vision; it fundamentally changes our location from darkness to light. We're not just seeing better; we're living in a completely different reality.
The Magi followed a star, but they found the Light of the World. Their journey ended not just in discovering a king, but in encountering the source of all light. How has following Jesus changed not just what you can see, but where you live spiritually?
Prayer:
Light of the World, thank You for revealing not just truth but the way to truth.
Help me follow You faithfully, trusting that You illuminate the path I need to walk.
Make me a reflection of Your light to others still walking in darkness.
Amen.
January 12, 2026 – January 18, 2026
Last week, we followed the star alongside the Magi—through their recognition of something unprecedented, the disruptions that divine revelation always brings, the dark seasons when guidance disappears, and ultimately their transformation into people who could never return home the same way.
This week, we're zooming out to see the bigger picture: the Magi's journey wasn't just a personal spiritual experience. It was God's announcement that His light was breaking into the world for ALL nations, not just the people who were expecting it.
I always try to show the connections between the New Testament and the Old. Isaiah 60:1-3 prophesied exactly what Matthew recorded: "Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn." The wise men were the first fulfillment of this ancient promise—foreign royalty bringing treasures to worship Israel's King.
This Week's Focus: How God's Light Breaks Every Barrier
We'll explore how Jesus' birth revealed God's radically inclusive kingdom, where outsiders become insiders, where enemies become family, and where the light of Christ draws people from the most unexpected places.
DAY 8 — The Nations Stream In
Monday - Scripture: Isaiah 60:1-3
"Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn."
In 1960, Ruby Bridges became the first Black child to integrate an all-white elementary school in New Orleans. Every day, federal marshals escorted the six-year-old through crowds of angry protesters. Most white families pulled their children from the school, leaving Ruby to attend classes alone with one teacher.
But Ruby's presence changed everything. Her teacher, Barbara Henry, later said: "Ruby's courage lit up that empty school. Other teachers started asking questions. Some parents began reconsidering their positions. That little girl's light broke through decades of darkness, one person at a time."
By the end of the year, a few white students had returned. Ruby's quiet dignity had begun drawing people back to what was right.
Reflection:
Isaiah prophesied what the Magi's journey proved: God's light doesn't stay local. It breaks through the thickest darkness and draws people from unexpected places. The light that shone in Bethlehem was never meant for one nation—it was meant to illuminate the whole world.
Sometimes we're called to be like Ruby—carrying light into dark places where we're not initially welcome. Other times, we're like those who gradually recognized the light and were drawn to it.
How is God calling you to carry His light into darker places? Or where might He be drawing you toward His light through unexpected people?
Prayer:
Lord, arise and shine through me.
Help me carry Your light bravely into places that need it most.
Give me eyes to recognize Your light breaking through in unexpected ways. Amen.
DAY 9 — When the Distant Draw Near
Tuesday - Scripture: Isaiah 60:4-6
"Lift up your eyes and look around; all your sons gather and come to you; your daughters shall be carried on their hips. Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and rejoice, because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you. A multitude of camels shall cover you... they shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord."
In 1943, Corrie ten Boom was imprisoned in a Nazi concentration camp for hiding Jewish families. In the barracks, she secretly conducted Bible studies using a small Bible smuggled past the guards. Women from different countries—Dutch, German, French, Polish—gathered around her, many enemies according to their governments.
One night, a German guard approached their circle. The women froze, expecting punishment. Instead, the guard whispered, "May I listen too?" She had lost her own family in the bombing of Berlin and was desperate for hope.
Corrie later wrote: "In that moment, I understood what Isaiah meant. The nations really do come to God's light—even when they come from opposite sides of a war."
Reflection:
Isaiah's prophecy painted a picture that seemed impossible: enemies becoming family, distant nations bringing gifts, those who were far off drawing near. Yet this is exactly what happened when the Magi arrived in Bethlehem—and what continues to happen wherever Christ's light shines.
God's family is always bigger than our human categories. His light draws people we never expected, from places we never imagined, bringing gifts we didn't know we needed.
Who has God brought into your life from "distant places"—different backgrounds, cultures, or perspectives—that have enriched your understanding of Him?
Prayer:
Lord, expand my vision of Your family.
Help me welcome those You're drawing from unexpected places.
Show me the gifts You're bringing through people I might not have noticed.
Amen.
DAY 10 — The Economics of Light
Wednesday - Scripture: Isaiah 60:7-9
"All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered to you... they shall come up with acceptance on my altar... The coastlands shall wait for me, the ships of Tarshish first, to bring your children from far away, their silver and gold with them, for the name of the Lord your God..."
When Millard and Linda Fuller started Habitat for Humanity in 1976, they had a radical idea: what if construction materials, volunteer labor, and simple houses could become a form of worship? What if economic resources could serve God's kingdom rather than just personal wealth?
Forty years later, Habitat had built over 1 million homes worldwide. Wealthy contractors donated materials. College students spent spring breaks swinging hammers. Families who received homes later helped build for others. The economic model turned traditional charity upside down—it wasn't just about giving money, but about reorganizing resources around God's purposes.
One recipient in Guatemala said: "This house isn't just shelter. It's proof that God's economy works differently than the world's."
Reflection:
Isaiah envisioned a time when the world's wealth would flow toward God's purposes rather than away from them. Ships and flocks, silver and gold—all redirected to serve the light rather than accumulate in darkness.
The Magi embodied this vision. They were wealthy, powerful men who could have used their resources for conquest or personal gain. Instead, they invested everything in following a star to worship a child.
How might God be calling you to redirect your resources—time, money, skills, connections—toward His light?
Prayer:
Lord, help me see my resources as gifts meant to serve Your purposes.
Show me how to invest in Your kingdom rather than just accumulate for myself.
Make me generous with whatever You've entrusted to me.
Amen.
DAY 11 — Beauty from Ashes
Thursday - Scripture: Isaiah 60:10-13
"Foreigners shall build up your walls, and their kings shall minister to you; for in my wrath I struck you down, but in my favor I have had mercy on you... The glory of Lebanon shall come to you, the cypress, the plane, and the pine, to beautify the place of my sanctuary..."
After Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans in 2005, thousands of volunteers poured in from across the country. Many were from communities that had historically been at odds with New Orleans' culture—conservative Christians from rural areas working alongside urban liberals, suburban volunteers in neighborhoods they'd never visited before.
One volunteer, a carpenter from Texas, worked for weeks rebuilding homes in the Lower Ninth Ward. "I came down here thinking I was doing them a favor," he said. "But this community taught me more about resilience and faith than I ever taught them about construction. They were ministering to me."
A local pastor observed: "God used the storm to bring people together who would never have met otherwise. Sometimes destruction is the beginning of something more beautiful."
Reflection:
Isaiah promised that even former enemies would help rebuild what had been broken. The very forces that once brought destruction would become part of restoration. Foreigners would rebuild walls. Former opponents would minister healing.
This is the mystery of Epiphany: God's light transforms not just individuals but entire systems of relationship. Former enemies become co-workers. Those who once caused harm become agents of healing.
Where have you seen God bring beauty from ashes, using unlikely people to restore what seemed broken beyond repair?
Prayer:
Lord, help me trust Your power to bring restoration even from destruction.
Use me as an agent of rebuilding in places I might not expect.
Show me how to minister healing even to those who have hurt me.
Amen.
DAY 12 — The Word Becomes Flesh
Friday - Scripture: John 1:1-5
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God... In him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it."
In 1961, President Kennedy announced America would land on the moon within the decade. Most people thought it was impossible. The technology didn't exist. The mathematics were staggering. The risks were enormous.
But Kennedy's words became action. NASA was created. Universities restructured their programs. Industries retooled. Hundreds of thousands of people organized their lives around making those words reality.
On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong stepped onto the moon. Later, he said: "It started with words that seemed impossible. But when someone speaks with enough authority and enough people believe, words have power to reshape reality."
Reflection:
John declares something even more stunning than Kennedy's moon shot: the Word that spoke the universe into existence became a human being. Not just a good idea, not just inspiring teaching, but the creative power of God taking on flesh and blood.
This is what the Magi recognized when they knelt in that house in Bethlehem. They weren't just worshiping a special baby—they were encountering the Word made flesh, the light that darkness cannot overcome.
How does knowing that Jesus is the Word made flesh change the way you relate to Him?
Prayer:
Word made flesh, help me grasp that You are not just a teacher but the creative power of God in human form.
Shine Your light into every dark place in my life.
Transform my understanding of what's possible when Your Word becomes reality.
Amen.
DAY 13 — His Own Did Not Receive Him
Saturday - Scripture: John 1:10-13
"He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God..."
In 1917, classical composer Igor Stravinsky premiered "The Rite of Spring" in Paris. The music was so revolutionary—so different from what audiences expected—that it caused a riot. People shouted, threw things, and stormed out. Critics called it "barbaric noise."
Yet that same piece is now considered one of the masterworks of the 20th century. What seemed shocking and unacceptable to his contemporary audience is now recognized as brilliant innovation.
Stravinsky later said: "The very people who should have understood my music best were the least able to hear it. Sometimes you have to wait for a new generation to recognize what was always true."
Reflection:
The Son of God came to His own creation, yet creation didn't recognize Him. The people who had been waiting for a Messiah couldn't see Him when He arrived. But foreign astronomers followed His star across continents to worship Him.
This pattern continues. Sometimes those closest to religious tradition have the hardest time recognizing when God shows up in unexpected ways. Sometimes outsiders see more clearly than insiders.
Where might God be showing up in ways you're not expecting? What assumptions might be keeping you from recognizing His presence?
Prayer:
Lord, don't let familiarity blind me to Your presence.
Help me recognize You even when You don't match my expectations.
Give me the faith to receive You however You choose to come.
Amen.
DAY 14 — Light of the World
Sunday - Scripture: John 8:12
"Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.'"
During the 2010 Chilean mine collapse, 33 miners were trapped 2,300 feet underground for 69 days. Above ground, their families maintained a vigil, refusing to leave despite experts saying survival was impossible.
When the first rescue probe finally reached the miners, it brought more than just communication—it brought light. One miner later described it: "We had been living by flashlight and headlamp for weeks. But when that probe brought down real light from the surface, everything changed. We could see each other's faces clearly for the first time. We could see the walls around us. But most importantly, we could see the way up."
That light didn't just illuminate their surroundings—it revealed their rescue was possible.
Reflection:
Jesus doesn't just teach about light or point to light—He IS the light. Following Him doesn't just give us better vision; it fundamentally changes our location from darkness to light. We're not just seeing better; we're living in a completely different reality.
The Magi followed a star, but they found the Light of the World. Their journey ended not just in discovering a king, but in encountering the source of all light. How has following Jesus changed not just what you can see, but where you live spiritually?
Prayer:
Light of the World, thank You for revealing not just truth but the way to truth.
Help me follow You faithfully, trusting that You illuminate the path I need to walk.
Make me a reflection of Your light to others still walking in darkness.
Amen.
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