Monday, February 21, 2011

Glory

“Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.” (Luke 2:9)

Christmas Eve focuses on the birth of Jesus most of the time, but there may be a bigger, more foundational theme in the story. Consider: In the announcement to the shepherds in the fields the glory of the Lord illuminated the fields all around them. After the announcement more angels appeared, praising God, and the first words from their mouths were, “Glory to God in the highest.” After the shepherds had rushed to Bethlehem to see the baby and had returned to the fields, they praised and glorified God along the way. Do you see the common element?

Glory. Glory. Glory. Maybe Christmas as about much more than a humble birth story. It is about glorifying God. This baby was born to the glory of God, and He grew up and did just that. He glorified God His Father by his total obedience to the Father, a demonstration of His love for the Father. He glorified God His Father as well by taking that obedience to the ultimate level – to His sacrificial death on the cross of Calvary. His sacrifice was to the glory of God.

The birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus not only glorifies God, but it also serves as an invitation to us to join Him in glorifying God. We glorify Him when we walk with Him in a personal faith.

Lord, to You be all glory, honor, and power now and forever. Amen.

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