Christmas: All About Praise And Glory

Christmas
All About Praise And Glory!

When the angel announced the birth of the Savior to the shepherds, Luke records: “Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest’”(Lk. 2:13). In addition to that, “the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified” (Lk. 2:9). And why not? These angels were the messengers of the King of kings.

In the opening verses of Hebrews, readers are introduced to the Preeminent One: “When God brings His firstborn into the world, He says, ‘Let all God’s angels worship Him’” (Heb. 1:6). There is no salutation. All eyes are immediately fixed on the Divine Person. He does not speak for God, as the prophets did, because He is God.

As the reader proceeds, he finds that the official glory of the Lord shines forth from the verses. The One before him is the Son of God. He is the Voice of God. He is the Heir of all things. He is the Creator of all things. He is the Source itself shining – not a just a reflection, but the Splendor itself in all its brightness. He is the Upholder of all things. He is the Purification of sins. He is seated on the right hand of the Majesty on high. He is the Excellency – so much better than the angels that they worship Him (Heb. 1:1-4).

When we read this statement of the official glory of the Lord, are we awe struck, as those shepherds were when they were introduced to His glory in Bethlehem? When we get a glimpse of His glory, do we fall down in worship, recognizing Him for what He is and ourselves for what we are? Shouldn’t we, like the shepherds, return from His presence praising God for all the things which we have heard and seen (Lk. 2:20)? What a witness to the world this would be!

By Larry Ondrejack