GPS: Grow, Pray & Study Guide
For week starting on January 4th, 2026
“They Saw The Child With Mary His Mother; And They Knelt Down And Paid Him Homage”
“The throne of God in the world is not on human thrones, but in
human depths, in the manger. Standing around his throne there
are no flattering vassals but dark, unknown, questionable figures
who cannot get their fill of this miracle and want to live entirely by
the mercy of God (Dietrich Bonhoeffer).”
Dear Lord, help us to be filled with joy as we live by the mercy
of your love. Amen.
Monday 1.5 “Lift up your eyes and look around.”
Isaiah 60:1-6
“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 shall come to your light, and
kings to the brightness of your dawn. Lift up your eyes and look
around; they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall
come from far away, and your daughters shall be carried on their
nurses’ arms. 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, the young camels of Midian
and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring
gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord.”
We will rejoice as we see this light of the Lord shining in our lives.
Tuesday 1.6 “For he delivers the needy when they call,
the poor and those who have no helper.”
Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14
“Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to a
king’s son. May he judge your people with righteousness, and
your poor with justice. May the mountains yield prosperity for the
people, and the hills, in righteousness. May he defend the cause
of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the needy, and crush
the oppressor. May he live while the sun endures, and as long as
the moon, throughout all generations. May he be like rain that
falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth. In his
days may righteousness flourish and peace abound, until the
moon is no more. May the kings of Tarshish and of the isles
render him tribute, may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts.
May all kings fall down before him, all nations give him service.
For he delivers the needy when they call, the poor and those who
have no helper. He has pity on the weak and the needy, and
saves the lives of the needy. From oppression and violence he
redeems their life; and precious is their blood in his sight.” Let us
rejoice as we receive the love of our Lord and care for the many
needy people in our lives.
Wednesday 1.7 “Sharers in the promise of Christ Jesus
through the gospel.”
Ephesians 3:1-12
“This is the reason that I Paul am a prisoner for Christ Jesus for
the sake of you Gentiles—or surely you have already heard of the
commission of God’s grace that was given me for you, and how
the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I wrote
above in a few words, a reading of which will enable you to
perceive my understanding of the mystery of Christ. In former
generations this mystery was not made known to humankind, as it
has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the
Spirit: that is, the Gentiles have become fellow heirs, members of
the same body, and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus
through the gospel. Of this gospel I have become a servant
according to the gift of God’s grace that was given me by the
working of his power.” This is the body of Christ, alive with his
grace and love among all people.
Thursday 1.8 “Through the church the wisdom of God in
its rich variety might now be made known.”
Ephesians 3:1-12
“Although I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given
to me to bring to the Gentiles the news of the boundless riches of
Christ, and to make everyone see what is the plan of the mystery
hidden for ages in God who created all things; so that through the
church the wisdom of God in its rich variety might now be made
known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This
was in accordance with the eternal purpose that he has carried
out in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have access to God in
boldness and confidence through faith in him.” We marvel at the
boundless riches of Christ, given for all people.
Friday 1.9 “For we observed his star rising, and have
come to pay him homage.”
Matthew 2:1-12
“In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of
Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking,
‘Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we
observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.’
When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem
with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of
the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be
born. They told him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been
written by the prophet: “And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you
shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.”’” These
curious wise men came with joy in their hearts.
Saturday 1.10 “They were overwhelmed with joy.”
Matthew 2: 1-12
“Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from
them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent
them to Bethlehem, saying, ‘Go and search diligently for the child;
and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also
go and pay him homage.’ When they had heard the king, they set
out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at
its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was.
When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed
with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his
mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then,
opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold,
frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not
to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.”
These wise men returned to their own country with joy!