Week of January 4th, 2026

Encouragement from God's Word

Matthew 2:11
On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.

What a sight it must have been! These were influential men – they were able to get an audience with King Herod when they arrived in Jerusalem.

Standing in a humble home in Bethlehem, they bowed down before Jesus and worshiped him. They must have been an endless list of excuses why, after months of traveling, they would not bow in that situation: they were looking for a King, but stood in a humble home with parents who had no power or influence or money at all. What kind of king was this child?!

Nevertheless, they bowed and worshiped him.

Let us also bow before the King of kings. We see even greater humility. His first followers were fishermen and tax collectors. His life as filled with humility – even opposition from the powerful people in Israel. He would die in the most horrific way humanity has devised.

Hidden in that humility is the divine glory of God himself who is our King! He is a humble King who saved his people. He has set us free from all guilt and opened to us the opportunity to live life in humble and joyful service to him.

The Wisemen are an excellent example. They saw with much more than just their eyes. By faith, they saw their true King. You see him too. Trust and serve your King as you too believe his Word and put it into practice.