Devotion Booklets for Seasons of the Church Year 2016 | Page 41

Wednesday—December 28th

Gloria!
Luke 2:10-14
When a baby is born presents are given. Onesies and outfits too many to count. Blankets and
bottles because there are never enough. Trinkets and toys because babies are enamored by
things that gleam and glow and make noise. But what present is presented to baby Jesus?
What’s the present presented to this newborn baby? Let the sight undoubtedly cemented in
the shepherd’s minds provide a hint. Imagine hundreds or thousands or millions of angels.
Picture the darkness of the night sky shattered by the brightness and brilliance of these holy
beings. Envision hearing their voices singing in joyful jubilation like ours did on Christmas night.
They were praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, to men.
As the angels presented their praise as they light up the night sky over the Judean countryside,
they remind us why glory to God is so deserved. He is God in the highest; God Most high.
Heaven itself, even the highest heavens, cannot contain him. He lives in unapproachable light.
And now we find him in a manger? Light and darkness have nothing in common. But here he is,
bridging the gap. The God of heaven and earth enters our bleak and helpless darkness. He
makes himself nothing. He becomes servant to shepherds.
The angels get it. You and I can spend the rest of our lives blissfully astonished that the God of
heaven, who does whatever pleases him, is pleased to come to us, to die for us, to save us. It's
no wonder they sing Glory to God in the highest.
The angels offered Jesus was praise. And the angels serve as our examples to render the Lord
the same. What birthday gift, then, should we bring our newborn Savior? How about praise?
Whoever you are, whatever you do: praise Jesus! Praise him for choosing you from eternity to
get to know him! Praise him for creating this world for you! Praise him for adopting you as a
child of his family by faith in him. Praise him that in Christ, the babe of Bethlehem, you have his
holiness, his forgiveness, his inheritance! Praise Jesus that for unending ages you will join Jesus
in the joy of heavenly glory!
Praise him loudly today in song! Praise him loudly tomorrow in prayer! Praise him every day,
every hour, every moment-- with all of your heart! Praise the newborn, your Savior! Glory to
God in the highest, and on earth peace, to men.
PRAYER:
Dear Jesus may I always praise you for coming to be my Savior. Amen.
ACTIVITY:
The family or individual sings Angels We Have Heard on High.

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