12/21/2008 - Matthew’s gospel has a unique focus on “the kingdom of heaven,” but it is Luke who records that Mary was told that the kingdom would be eternal:
“But the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.’ ” ~ Luke 1:30-33 (see also Daniel 2:44; 6:26)
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12/14/2008 - It may have been as long as two years after Jesus was born that the seekers of signs in the stars found Him (see Matthew 2:16 ), but when they did find Him, they worshiped Him and gave Him gifts – including gold that may have helped finance the escape to Egypt to save His life from Herod:
On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.~ Matthew 2:11
Bowing down in worship and giving gifts to God have always been closely associated in scripture and in the hearts of those who seek Him then and now. We worship and give in faith that He will use our gifts – however great or small – to achieve His purposes among us. (Reprinted from Dec. 23, 2007)
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