Glory to God in the Highest
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Luke 2
8. And there were shepherds living out in the fields near by, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they
were terrified.
10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all
the people.
11 Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.
12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and
saying,
14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favour rests."
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's
go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this
child,
18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
If our need had been information
God would have sent us an educator.
If our need had been technology,
God would have sent us a scientist.
If our need had been money,
God would have sent us an economist.
If our need had been pleasure,
God would have sent us an entertainer.
But our need was forgiveness,
So God sent us a Savior.
On the first Christmas day, something happened that not only changed the history of the world – it
changed the spiritual condition of man forever.
On that day a Savior was born
- forgiveness came to man
- salvation came to man
- a new relationship with God was made possible
- a relationship that was pure and clean and without the conditions and restrictions of laws and
rules – for it was a relationship based on grace and love rather than one based on how accurately we
could follow the rules.
On that day, God came to earth. The Creator of life stepped into our lives and intervened in the
course of life.
A number of years ago, a friend of mine worked in a hospital. In the course of his work, he noticed
that some of the doctors were not treating the patients properly. When he tried to speak to them
about it, they ignored him and told him to mind his own business. He asked our pastor, “How can I get
these people to listen to me? I’m trying to help them.” The pastor said, “Well, if you want to help
them, you will just have to become a doctor – become one of them – and then they will hear you.
When you are one of them, they will believe that you understand their situation.”
That is what God did. He became one of us so that he could save us from our sinful ways.
Every one of us is stained with sin. We have all strayed from the perfect ways of God. We have all
done things wrong.
But God, in His love, has reached into our lives – has visited our world – and has paid the price of
forgiveness and salvation for us all.
The price of sin is death – separation from God. But the gift of God is life – eternal life – life that
never ends, never runs out, and is always more than enough for us.
This Christmas – receive His gift.
This New Year – start over with His life – His salvation. It is all available through Jesus Christ. If you
will pray to Him – ask Him to forgive you – ask Him to be your Savior – then He will save you and give
you a new start – a new life.
8. And there were shepherds living out in the fields near by, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they
were terrified.
10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all
the people.
11 Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.
12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and
saying,
14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favour rests."
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's
go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this
child,
18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
If our need had been information
God would have sent us an educator.
If our need had been technology,
God would have sent us a scientist.
If our need had been money,
God would have sent us an economist.
If our need had been pleasure,
God would have sent us an entertainer.
But our need was forgiveness,
So God sent us a Savior.
On the first Christmas day, something happened that not only changed the history of the world – it
changed the spiritual condition of man forever.
On that day a Savior was born
- forgiveness came to man
- salvation came to man
- a new relationship with God was made possible
- a relationship that was pure and clean and without the conditions and restrictions of laws and
rules – for it was a relationship based on grace and love rather than one based on how accurately we
could follow the rules.
On that day, God came to earth. The Creator of life stepped into our lives and intervened in the
course of life.
A number of years ago, a friend of mine worked in a hospital. In the course of his work, he noticed
that some of the doctors were not treating the patients properly. When he tried to speak to them
about it, they ignored him and told him to mind his own business. He asked our pastor, “How can I get
these people to listen to me? I’m trying to help them.” The pastor said, “Well, if you want to help
them, you will just have to become a doctor – become one of them – and then they will hear you.
When you are one of them, they will believe that you understand their situation.”
That is what God did. He became one of us so that he could save us from our sinful ways.
Every one of us is stained with sin. We have all strayed from the perfect ways of God. We have all
done things wrong.
But God, in His love, has reached into our lives – has visited our world – and has paid the price of
forgiveness and salvation for us all.
The price of sin is death – separation from God. But the gift of God is life – eternal life – life that
never ends, never runs out, and is always more than enough for us.
This Christmas – receive His gift.
This New Year – start over with His life – His salvation. It is all available through Jesus Christ. If you
will pray to Him – ask Him to forgive you – ask Him to be your Savior – then He will save you and give
you a new start – a new life.