“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” (Luke 2:14 NKJ)
Glorious. Now there’s a word. What does it mean? Have you ever seen anything glorious? Some may think that leaves changing in the Fall are glorious. Others may watch the moon glistening on new fallen snow and think the sight is glorious. Certainly a sunrise and a sunset are beautiful . . . almost glorious.
Such sights thrill us so much that description is beyond words. Some sights are so glorious that you “just have to see for yourself.” Perhaps that is how the shepherds felt as they watched and listened to the angels’ display of worship.
Our Christmas carol, “Angels We Have Heard On High” teaches us that that the angels sang, “Glory to God in the highest.” In other words, give the greatest honor and praise (i.e., the glory) to God. Jesus said, “You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve” (Luke 4:8 NKJ).
Can you imagine how the shepherds must have felt as the sky lit up and the angelic choir appeared? After their initial fright, it must have been an emotional experience. Did they get caught up in the praise and worship? When the glory of God reaches down and touches the earth, men and women cannot remain the same.
The shepherds truly experienced the glory of God on that premier Christmas night or morning as the case may be. It’s wonderful to sing Christmas carols and worship God in the timeless tradition of Christians from every nation, remembering our Savior’s birth. At a time when education was restricted to “upper class” people, most of these “carols” help the common folk learn the Gospel and sing the glory of God.
And despite the language or circumstances under which they were handed down to us, they still send the message of hope and joy and peace. They help us connect with those shepherds in those fields outside Bethlehem. With the right spirit and attitude, we can experience a little of the glory they experienced. And when words fail us, we can say, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward all people.”
Dear Father, thank you for sending the Christ of Christmas. Empower us with the enthusiasm and joy of those angels who brought the news of Christ’s birth. This I pray in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Be encouraged today in the glory of God,