Cornerstone

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 2:15

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
The baby God was sought by the humble. The high point in the lives of the shepherds up to this time probably was when they happened to see a caravan of some important Roman figure traveling through their territory under heavy Roman guard. They could only watch warily from the crags of the distant hills as the procession passed. They never would have considered coming close to see and speak to the dignitary.

Yes, this night caused their head to spin. They were already rehearsing the story they would tell as their families gathered around them in their humble abode. Who could believe it? The brilliance of the Angel . . . the thunderous melody as the heavenly choir said, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” (v. 14) left them quivering with excitement.
Now they were going to look for the baby God. He was the King of kings and the Lord of Lord. For a reason beyond their understanding they had been chosen to visit Him first. God seems to give honor to the humble. They expected nothing and yet they received a Christmas gift that out shines any that could be given.
Maybe it is true that it is closer to heaven when you are on your knees.

Dr. Gayle Woods