A Christmas Devotion #6

Luke 2:13-14; And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased".

Several years after the angels had proclaimed this, Peter and John were on their way to the temple and as the past through the Gate called Beautiful they saw a lame beggar asking for alms. We all know the story, that this beggar was healed in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. When all the people saw this miracle they were amazed, but it is what Peter said that really catches my attention. He said to the people ‘why do you look so intently at us, as if by our own godliness we made him walk, it is by the name of Jesus Christ that this was possible’. It was Peter's intent to make sure that all the Glory goes to God. This is a good example for us today. We now live in what is quite possibly the most narcissistic and self-glorifying age yet. An epoch of time where the spirit of man is so strong that the words ‘I did that’ or ‘I deserve this’ seem to come from people thinking that is their inalienable right to be number one. Apparently it is so easy to take credit for something that we have been a part of, when really the credit and the glory should go to God and to God alone. It was Isaiah who wrote, ‘I am the Lord, that is my name; I will not give My Glory to another’. Sometimes we can quickly forget just how 'Awesome' God truly is and that He is the Maker of all things and one day every knee shall bow before Him. This is the God that we serve, a God of supreme Sovereignty, an all powerful God. Let us not forget this fact.

If God has said He will not share His Glory with another, let us remember that when God does something through us of Eternal significance, that we are merely a willing tool in the Hands of an almighty God. Through our obedience we become that piece of clay that Jeremiah talks about, being molded by our Creator into a shape and a design for His purpose. I say that there is nothing more satisfying in life than to know that you have made yourself pliable in the Hands of our Lord. He is the One who has done the great things in our lives today.

So, be like the angels heralding Glory to God and be like Peter and John and make sure that the people who witness the Power of God through you, see Jesus and not you.

"Glory to God in the highest".