*This is Week 2 of a 5-part Advent Devotional Series. View our Advent page here.
Week 1 - Week 3
The Angels Worship - Luke 2:8-14
““Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
My favorite Christmas tradition is to simply take time to gaze upon a Christmas tree full of lights. I like to turn off all the other lights, grab a warm drink, cuddle up on the couch and just look at the beautiful tree. There is something about a decked out Christmas tree that gets me into the Christmas spirit and fills me with awe. We see something similar happening in Luke 2.
The news that a Savior will be born in Luke 2:8-14 causes the shepherds in the field to be filled with awe and the angels to be filled with praise. What about this news caused such a response? Why might the shepherds have been filled with fear? Why might the angels instantly rejoice? Because of the Gospel. This Creator God, the one true God, holy and perfect, will be reconciled to his people through His Son, Jesus. A people that were enemies with God because of sin now can be at peace with this holy God. How? Because of the Gospel. Jesus is to be born. He is to live a perfect life and is to die in the place of sinful people. Jesus’ life and death will reconcile people to God.
Notice the spatial imagery in verse 14. The angels are praising God who is in the highest for mending the relationship with his people on earth. Do you see the contrast with the holy God in the highest now being at peace with the lowly, sinful men on earth? For believers, we are no longer enemies with God but are at peace with God. He is now pleased with us because of Christ. Christ lived the perfect life we could not. He died in our place. As we think about God making peace with men through Christ, we should be filled with awe and moved to worship like the multitude of angels. How might you now take a moment to worship the God in the highest for making peace with men on earth?
-Mikala Butler
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
Hark! The herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled."
Joyful, all ye nations rise, Join the triumph of the skies,
With the angelic host proclaim: "Christ is born in Bethlehem."
Hark! The herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King!"
Christ by highest heaven adored, Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come, Offspring of a Virgin's womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see, Hail the incarnate Deity,
Pleased as man with man to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel.
Hark! The herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King!"
Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings, Risen with healing in His wings.
Mild He lays His glory by, Born that man no more may die,
Born to raise the sons of earth, Born to give them second birth.
Hark! The herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King!"
Text: Charles Wesley, 1739, 1753; alt.
Tune: MENDELSOHN 7.7.7.7.D.ref, Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, 1840