Come to Bethlehem and see
Him whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee
Christ, the Lord, the new-born King.
Gloria in excelsis Deo.
This morning, I got a text message from a friend announcing the birth of her son, Milo. He arrived unexpectedly early during the wee hours of the morning in spectacular fashion shocking both his parents. God loves to surprise us.
The birth announcement of Jesus Christ was also unpredictably wonderful. A blaze of light and glory broke through the dark night as a choir of angels declared the Messiah’s arrival to an astonished group of shepherds.
When we see the glory of God first hand, the response is always awe and wonder. Our hearts are filled with praise.
Warren Wiersbe calls this our “theology” transforming into “doxology.” Doxology comes from two Greek words: “doxa,” which means “glory,” and “logos,” which means “word, say, saying.”
When you know who God is, the natural result is an outpouring of speaking His praises. Paul exemplifies this in Romans 11:36 when He declares: “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen.”
This Advent, we can join the praise party with Paul and the shepherds by shouting out God’s glory to the watching world because
- All things are OF Him: God created everything you own and everyone you rub shoulders with on a daily basis. He planned out your redemption through Christ before the ages, and not one detail of your life is outside of His careful attention. No circumstances are by haphazard chance or in vain. He is sovereign over every moment, and His purposes for you will prevail.
- All things are THROUGH Him: No matter how chaotic this world may seem, God is at work providentially orchestrating events. His counsel is often beyond our limited understanding, but He surrounds us with His strength and power and will preserve us as we stand on His promises.
- All things are TO Him: Our purpose is to know Jesus and to make Him known. We were designed by God to declare His praises to a watching world.
When the shepherds got a glimpse of the glory of God, Luke says that with great joy they “returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.”
How will we joyfully declare His praises with our lives this Advent?
John MacArthur challenges: “Doxology is the only appropriate response to saving truth—truth that settles, fixes, confirms, and establishes us in the middle of a shifting, purposeless, wavering, shakable humanity.”
Salvation has come. Our Savior has set us free.
As we adore Christ on bended knee, the world is watching. We are inviting the lost to come to Bethlehem and see.
May our worshipful lives point to Him and shout “Gloria in excelsis deo.” All glory to God forever and ever. Amen
Keeping the Faith,
Lyli
What a privilege it is to have Lyli Dunbar (LGG Mentor & Encourager Teams) on the blog today! Lyli enjoys road trips with her husband, connecting with women through Bible study, and reading way too many books. She shares how everyday experiences help flesh out her faith at 3-D Lessons for Life. A disciple, wife, educator, and mentor, Lyli is just a girl working to keep the faith day by day.
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Such a beautiful post and an excellent reminder that God deserves ALL our glory. It is His and HIS ALONE!! Let this go deep into my soul!!
Let’s worship Him with all our hearts! 🙂
I cannot quote who said this , but I haven’t written in my Bible, and it just amazes me. ” Jesus sinless life to atone for our sin and to satisfy the righteousness and holiness of God . He died as our representative- the wisdom of God has ordained a way for the love of God to deliver us from the wrath of God, without compromising the justice of God. Oh, the awe of God!
Oh, that is good, Connie! Thank you for sharing that. What an amazing gift it is that God has not appointed us to wrath! Praise Him for His mercy to us!!!
Isn’t so beautiful that “All things are of Him”, reminds me of the word, ‘we came to this world naked and we will depart to this world naked”, this just merely says, we are nothing, that all things are of Him. Good reading this Friday as we closed Week 3 of God With Us. Yes, indeed, ‘Gloria in excelcis deo’.
Empty handed, but thanks to Him, our hearts are full! There is so much to celebrate this Christmas. Christ has set us fully free!
Starting over, so I understand! God is good, and I’m full with his son Christ within me!