“As a result God highly exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus
every knee will bow
—in heaven and on earth and under the earth—
and every tongue confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord
to the glory of God the Father.”
Into the Text
The glory which the shepherds had seen in the fields did not last very long. When the angels went back to heaven, it was dark again. The night was quiet, and the sheep continued grazing. But these men’s lives were not the same. After they had gone to see Jesus, we are told that they “returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen.” God’s glory had come into their hearts, just as it comes into the heart of every Christian.
We have spent four weeks rejoicing in the Advent songs of the gospel of Luke. We have learned from Zechariah, Simeon, Mary, and the angels. Together with them, we have seen some of God’s glory when we look at His wonderful attributes, His holiness, strength, tender mercy, and compassion. May we remember this glory and grow more and more in the knowledge of Him. May we do so with singing in our hearts.
May we experience true joy in our Savior, who came on that first Christmas over 2000 years ago. We know that He has done the most important work at His first coming, carrying our sins away and defeating our enemy.
May we trust Him who continues to come to us daily in all our worries and pain. He is our best friend, our Prince of Peace, and our comforter. We can pour out our hearts to Him and look to Him for help.
May we patiently wait for Him who will soon come back in power and majesty. The next time He comes, He will judge all those who have rejected His mercy, who were too proud and self-sufficient to turn to Him. And He will take His own, those who have fled to him for shelter, to enjoy His glory in heaven forever.
Until then, let’s live like the shepherds and tell many other people about Jesus, the wonderful Savior who loved us so much that He left heaven to come to us.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank you for coming to us that first Christmas. Let your glory shine brightly in my heart today and in this coming year. As I wait for your glorious return, let me be a witness and tell others about you. Amen.