Thursday, January 3, 2019
Matthew 1:18a This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: . . .
FROM HEAVEN ABOVE TO EARTH I COME (11-12)
11. For velvets soft and silken stuff
Thou hast but hay and straw so rough,
Whereon Thou, King, so rich and great,
As ‘twere Thy heaven, art throned in state.
It’s a strange throne room there in Bethlehem, to be sure, but that hay and straw does certainly cradle a King. A King who is very clearly of a different sort. A King who is not interested in making a name for Himself, but whose sole purpose is to serve His people. A King who does not want to take, but to give. There aren’t many kings like this. No--there aren’t any kings like this.
12. And thus, dear Lord, it pleaseth Thee
To make this truth quite plain to me,
That all the world’s wealth, honor, might,
Are naught and worthless in Thy sight.
There is so much “glitter” in the world’s modern day Christmas celebrations. Business sees it as a time to make money while others quietly wring their hands and think, “I just wish the holiday wasn’t so commercialized!” For many, sadly, the season really comes down to “How much can I give?” or “How much can I get?”
