Author - Clay Corvin

Matthew 2:16 (NASB)
“Then when Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he became very enraged, and he sent men and killed all the boys who were in Bethlehem and all its vicinity who were two years old or under, according to the time which he had determined from the magi.”

Devotional Thought:
The birth of Christ brought both worship and hostility. Gratitude sees that even in opposition, God’s plan stands firm. Herod’s rage could not silence heaven’s gift.

Three Comments:

1. Gratitude remembers that Christ’s kingdom is unshakable despite opposition.
2. The cross is foreshadowed even in Bethlehem’s sorrow.
3. Gratitude trusts God’s sovereignty when evil rises.

Poem – “The Rage of Herod”
The sword was lifted in anger,
The cries filled Bethlehem,
Darkness struck at innocence,
But light could not be stopped,
The Child was safe.

Evil plotted in vain,
Power grasped in fear,
But heaven held the plan,
God’s promise remained,
Salvation was sure.

Gratitude clings to His sovereignty,
Faith rests in His plan,
Hope shines in His light,
Peace endures in His reign,
Christ is King.

Prayer:
Lord, thank You that no power of man can overthrow Your plan. Thank You that even Herod’s rage could not stop the coming of Christ.
Help me to trust Your sovereignty when evil seems strong. May gratitude steady my heart in the assurance that Christ’s kingdom cannot be shaken.

Matthew 2:11 (NASB)
“And after they came into the house, they saw the Child with His mother Mary; and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”

Devotional Thought:
The Magi brought gifts fit for a King: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Each gift pointed to who He was—King, Priest, and Sacrifice. Gratitude offers not leftovers but treasures to the Christ child.

Three Comments:

1. Gratitude brings the best to Jesus, not what remains.
2. Their worship was expressed not only in words but in costly gifts.
3. Gratitude acknowledges Christ as King, Priest, and Savior.

Poem – “The Treasures Laid Down”
They entered the house in awe,
The Child was the King,
Their knees bent in worship,
Their treasures were given,
Their hearts bowed low.

Gold declared His royalty,
Frankincense spoke His priesthood,
Myrrh pointed to His death,
Each gift a testimony,
Each gift a prophecy.

Gratitude opens its treasures,
Love gives its best,
Faith kneels in surrender,
Hope bows in worship,
Christ is honored.

Prayer:
Lord, thank You for the Magi who laid down their treasures at the feet of Jesus. Thank You that their gifts revealed His glory and mission.
Teach me to offer You my best and not my leftovers. May gratitude move me to lay my life down in worship of Christ my King.

Matthew 2:2 (NASB)
“Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”

Devotional Thought:
The star led wise men to the King. Gratitude recognizes that God still leads seeking hearts to Christ. The light shines to guide worshipers to the true King.

Three Comments:

1. Gratitude acknowledges that God provides guidance to those who seek Him.
2. The star points us to Christ, not to itself.
3. Gratitude bows not to signs but to the Savior they reveal.

Poem – “The Guiding Star”
The night was lit with a sign,
A star rose in the east,
It drew men from afar,
To kneel at His feet,
The King was found.

The journey was long and hard,
But the star did not fail,
It pointed to Christ,
It led to the throne,
It brought them home.

Gratitude follows the light,
Faith trusts the way,
Hope bows at the King,
Love lays its gifts,
Worship belongs to Him.

Prayer:
Lord, thank You for the star that led the Magi to Christ. Thank You that You still guide seeking hearts to the Savior.
Help me to follow Your leading with gratitude. May every sign point me to Jesus, and may I worship Him with all that I am.

Luke 2:7 (NASB)
“…and she laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”

Devotional Thought:
The world had no room for Him, yet heaven made room in a manger. Gratitude remembers that Christ still seeks hearts that will receive Him.

Three Comments:

1. Gratitude opens the heart to make room for Christ.
2. His rejection at birth foreshadowed the rejection He would endure at the cross.
3. Gratitude remembers that the greatest gift may come in the most overlooked places.

Poem – “Making Room”
No room was found in the inn,
The doors were closed to the King,
But heaven opened the stable,
Glory filled the manger,
Salvation entered the world.

The world turned Him aside,
But God made a way,
Rejected yet chosen,
Despised yet beloved,
The Savior was given.

Gratitude opens its door,
Faith welcomes the King,
Hope makes room for His presence,
Love prepares Him a place,
Christ is received.

Prayer:
Lord, thank You that even when the world had no room for Jesus, You made a place in the manger. Thank You that His rejection became our redemption.
Teach me to always make room for Him in my heart. May gratitude prepare Him space each day, for He is worthy of all.

Luke 2:7 (NASB)
“And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”

Devotional Thought:
The Savior was wrapped in swaddling cloths, like any other newborn. The Son of God fully entered our humanity, clothed in our weakness. Gratitude grows when we remember that He became like us to save us.

Three Comments:

1. Gratitude remembers that Christ took on our full humanity.
2. The humility of His birth points to the humility of His cross.
3. Gratitude rejoices that God’s Son entered fully into our condition.

Poem – “Wrapped in Humanity”
The cloths were simple and plain,
The Son lay helpless and small,
The Word became flesh,
God wore our weakness,
Heaven was wrapped in humanity.

No throne received Him,
No robe clothed His form,
But love stooped down,
Grace embraced the lowly,
The Savior was born.

Gratitude sees the wonder,
That God became man,
To lift us from sin,
To clothe us in righteousness,
To bring us home.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You that You came in full humanity, wrapped in swaddling cloths. You did not avoid our weakness but embraced it.
Teach me to marvel at the humility of Your coming. May gratitude fill my soul for the Savior who became like us so that we might become like Him.

Luke 2:12 (NASB)
“And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Devotional Thought:
The King of kings was not born in a palace but laid in a manger. God’s greatness was revealed in humility. Gratitude bows before the God who stooped so low to lift us so high.

Three Comments:

1. Gratitude marvels that God chose poverty as the cradle of His glory.
2. The manger is a sign that His kingdom is not of this world.
3. Gratitude bends the proud heart, teaching us the beauty of humility.

Poem – “The Sign of the Manger”
The cradle was rough with straw,
The King was wrapped in rags,
Heaven’s glory lay low,
The eternal became small,
God drew near in humility.

The sign was not golden,
But common and plain,
The Savior of the world,
Rested in weakness,
Strength hidden in humility.

Gratitude bows at the manger,
The heart is quiet in awe,
The gift of God is here,
Wrapped in cloth and love,
Peace rests on earth.

Prayer:
Lord, thank You for the sign of the manger, where glory met humility. Thank You that Jesus came not in wealth but in weakness to reach us.
Teach me to bow low before Him. May gratitude shape my life to embrace humility, for there I find the greatness of God.

Luke 2:28–30 (NASB)
“Then he took Him in his arms, and blessed God, and said, ‘Now, Lord, You are letting Your bond-servant depart in peace, according to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation.’”

Devotional Thought:
Simeon waited a lifetime to see the Christ. When he held the Child, he knew he held salvation itself. Gratitude rejoices not just in promises but in their fulfillment in Christ.

Three Comments:

1. Gratitude waits patiently because God always keeps His word.
2. Salvation is not a concept but a Person—Jesus Christ.
3. Gratitude sees Christ as the fulfillment of all hope.

Poem – “My Eyes Have Seen”
The years of waiting are over,
The promise is in my arms,
Peace rests on my soul,
The Lord has kept His word,
Salvation is here.

The child is light for the nations,
The hope of Israel’s song,
The answer to every prayer,
The end of every longing,
The fullness of God’s plan.

Gratitude departs in peace,
Faith has seen the promise,
Hope has touched salvation,
Love holds the Christ,
Joy is complete.

Prayer:
Lord, thank You for Simeon’s testimony that his eyes had seen salvation. Thank You that Jesus is not just the hope of Israel but the hope of the nations.
Teach me to wait with gratitude, knowing Your promises will never fail. May I live each day with eyes fixed on Christ, my salvation.

Luke 2:15 (NASB)
“When the angels had departed from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, ‘Let’s go straight to Bethlehem, then, and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.’”

Devotional Thought:
The shepherds didn’t debate or delay—they went. Gratitude responds to revelation with obedience. The good news of Jesus is never meant to be heard and ignored, but believed and pursued.

Three Comments:

1. Gratitude does not hesitate but runs to where Christ is.
2. The gospel is both heard and seen—truth confirmed in Christ.
3. Gratitude moves us from receiving the word to responding in faith.

Poem – “Let Us Go”
The sky grew quiet again,
The angels’ voices faded,
But the shepherds’ hearts burned,
The call was clear and strong,
Let us go to Bethlehem.

Faith does not linger in doubt,
Hope does not wait in fear,
The word was enough to move them,
The promise was enough to guide,
The Savior was waiting.

Gratitude quickens the step,
Obedience follows the call,
Joy meets the journey,
Peace crowns the sight,
Christ is found.

Prayer:
Lord, thank You for the shepherds who ran to Bethlehem at the word of the angels. Thank You that faith moves quickly when gratitude fills the heart.
Help me not to delay in obedience but to seek Christ daily with eagerness. May gratitude lead my feet to follow wherever You call.

Luke 2:10–11 (NASB)
“And so the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.’”

Devotional Thought:
The gospel was first preached not in a palace but in a field. To shepherds in the night came good news of great joy: Christ the Lord was born. Gratitude swells because this Savior is “for you.”

Three Comments:

1. Gratitude rejoices that the gospel is for all people, including the lowly.
2. The birth of Christ is not just news but good news—joyful and saving.
3. Gratitude hears the words “for you” and bows in worship.

Poem – “Good News for All”
The night was ordinary,
The field was still and dark,
But heaven broke the silence,
Joy filled the earth,
Good news was declared.

Not for the strong alone,
Not for the noble or proud,
But for the shepherds in fields,
For the poor and the weak,
For all people everywhere.

Gratitude hears the gospel,
Joy receives the gift,
Faith bows before the Savior,
Hope rests in the Lord,
Christ is born for us.

Prayer:
Lord, thank You for the good news announced to shepherds. Thank You that the Savior was born not just for some but for all, including me.
Teach me to live in gratitude that Your salvation is personal and universal. May my life echo the angel’s message: Christ the Lord is born.

Luke 1:68–69 (NASB)
“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people, and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David.”

Devotional Thought:
Zechariah, once silent, now sings. Gratitude turns silence into praise, for the Lord has visited and redeemed His people. The birth of Christ is heaven’s answer to earth’s need.

Three Comments:

1. Gratitude grows when we see God’s visitation as redemption.
2. The horn of salvation is Christ, strong and mighty to save.
3. Silence can become a song when God’s promises are fulfilled.

Poem – “The Song of Redemption”
The tongue once bound is free,
The silence is broken with praise,
The Redeemer has come,
The horn of salvation is raised,
The Lord has visited His people.

David’s house bears the promise,
The covenant is alive,
The Savior stands as strength,
Redemption is accomplished,
Mercy fills the earth.

Gratitude sings the song,
Faith rejoices in the promise,
Hope rests in His coming,
Peace follows His reign,
Glory belongs to God.

Prayer:
Father, thank You that You visited us in Christ to redeem us. Thank You that salvation is not our work but Your strong act of grace.
Turn my silence into song. May gratitude flow from my lips as I remember that the Savior has come and redemption is mine in Him.