Joy

Luke 2:20

Yesterday, we read Luke 2:13-14 and observed the joy of God’s angels at Jesus’ coming to Earth. Do you notice any repeated words in today’s scripture, Luke 2:20? Take a second and see if you can find them—no cheating!

Okay, welcome back. Here are the words I caught: praise and glory. And this isn’t a translation fluke either; both verses use the Greek words aineō (for praise) and doxa (for glory—sound familiar?). My point is this: the angels’ recognition and response to God’s glory is immediately repeated by the humble shepherds, on Earth as it was in Heaven. And what was their response? To glorify God, which just means to rightfully recognize the beauty He already has.

One more observation: when do the shepherds praise and glorify God? Was it after they literally witnessed terrifying, cosmic spiritual beings appear out of nowhere? Nope. It was after they witnessed their promised savior, a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger. This is our God. He makes himself known to the lowest and most humble and dwells among us as a poor and helpless infant. When I see God’s heart for us, I can’t help but praise and glorify him.

Prayer:

The shepherds could not help but tell others about what they had heard about Jesus. Who first told you about Jesus? Who might you tell next?

Question to consider:

Jesus, I praise you for coming for us. Though you are the greatest thing in the universe, you made yourself known in the most humble way, far beyond what we deserve. I praise and glorify you for all that you are!