Matthew 2:10
When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.
Kings don’t know how to kneel. Others kneel before them. Others praise them, honor them, and bring gifts to them. If a king is humbled it normally means that he has been defeated. For a king to be humbled is to be debased.
In our devotional reading for today we have an example of one king who refused to kneel and others who longed to kneel. King Herod revolted at the idea of kneeling before a baby King. His reaction to the thought was to destroy this baby King who had seemed to be a divine challenge. The other kings had traveled long and far at great expense. They brought gifts fitting for a royal birthday party. They were urgent in their inquiries as they sought to kneel beside the cradle of the baby King.
Do we have a similar urgent desire to set aside our ambitions, to forfeit our dreams, to sacrifice our substance in order to have the privilege of kneeling before the King? Jesus seemed to refer to this level of commitment when He said, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. (Luke 9:23 )
Dr. Gayle Woods
Luke 1:46
And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord
You probably have seen the bumper stickers, “My child is an Honor Student at *** High School.†Maybe you haven’t seen the bumper sticker that says, “My child could be an Honor Student if he tried harder.†Two sloughs are hanging from a tree limb. One of them says to the other, “My parents say I am dead lazy. They are very proud of me.†What makes a parent tell with pride how their toddler flushed his diaper down the toilet? Parental pride . . . most of us are guilty.
More than parental pride is displayed in our devotional reading today. Few parents have had the impulse to cast themselves at the feet of their child to worship. Mary was in an exceptional situation. Barely pregnant she recognizes her station in life and gives honor and glory to the Lord who has given her the privilege of carrying Him in her womb. Praise wells up in her heart for the God to whom she is going to give birth as she says, “My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.†Truly she was blessed beyond measure.
Mary carried the baby God in her womb. We have him in our heart and lives. Our praise for Him should be just as magnanimous.
Dr. Gayle Woods
