At Christmas - Giving Glory To God Our Savior

"Today's Devotion" For December 15, 2005

Read: Luke 1:46-56; Psalm 29

AT CHRISTMAS - GIVING GLORY TO GOD OUR SAVIOR

"And Mary said, 'My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior...'" (Lk. 1:46, 47a)

Years ago, one of the more common descriptions of a sailor in a dress blue, Navy uniform was "glorified bellhop." It wasn't intended to be kind, nor was it necessarily intended to be hurtful. It was, however, a statement made by those who wanted to "tone down" the lofty conceptions of both sailors and the public as to their importance. By giving an unflattering description of a sailor based upon the uniform, it was a way of humbling those who were seen to be "preening" in their spiffy uniforms.

Perhaps you've also heard the term, "glory hound." Again, this is a term that takes us back not just a few years. For many people, this terminology hasn't been heard in their lifetime. It's a phrase that implied that an individual, ofttimes a star athlete, was just "too big for his britches." Rather than humbly and graciously accepting the accolades and praises such a person might have received for his feats in athletic competition, the person upon which such a designation was hung often acted as if the "sun - and his team's fortunes - rose and set on him."

Ultimately, to be praised for one's actions, for doing well in an endeavor, and doing good things for others is a wonderful thing. But praising someone for his or her actions isn't the same as giving them glory. Glory implies exaltation of one who is seen to be superior and more distinctive in their achievements and is most often and, it would seem to me, most properly to be applied to God. God Himself reminds us through the prophet Isaiah (42:8), "My glory I will not give to another." For all His wonders and marvels that He performs each day in the lives of human beings, our God is due all glory and praise. To ascribe glory to anyone for the works of God is to deny the very grace, mercy, and love of God for His Creation.

King David's song of praise in I Chronicles 16 is filled with pictures of God's mighty works and deeds among His people for which He deserves glory and praise. David declares, "Sing to the Lord, all the earth; proclaim His salvation day after day. Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous deeds among all peoples. For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; He is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the Lord made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before Him; strength and joy in His dwelling place. Ascribe to the Lord, O families of nations, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength, ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name..." (I Chronicles 16:23-29a).

Mary's "Magnificat" in Luke 1, in response to all she was experiencing - from the visit by the Angel Gabriel to her visit with Elizabeth and the baby leaping for joy in Elizabeth's womb - is a powerful declaration of why God deserves all glory and praise. He is redeeming His people and doing so through the "humble state of His servant" (v. 48) and He is to receive glory because "His mercy extends to those who fear Him" (v.50). Mary so vividly reminds us of the longing of God's people for redemption and salvation over the centuries as they believed God's promises and waited for His time. Her declaration, "He has helped His servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and His descendants forever, even as He said to our fathers" (vv. 54, 55), focuses our attention on the true meaning and purpose of Christmas. It's a special time for us to glorify God for His gift of life and salvation from Sin, Death, and Satan as we celebrate the birth of our precious Savior, Jesus Christ.

Following David's and Mary's examples, giving glory to God for the gift our Savior is what we take the time to do in a special way at Christmas. No Christmas "spirit," Christmas shopping, Christmas partying, Christmas decorations, or even people wishing us a "Merry Christmas" instead of a "Happy Holiday" is going to give God the glory and praise due His name. Instead it will be the humble spirit in which God's people seek to glorify His name by sharing His love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness in Jesus in our interactions with the world. Perhaps it doesn't make any difference how the world "celebrates" Christmas, whether it wishes us a "Merry Christmas" (my personal greeting is always "Have a Blessed and Happy Christmas and New Year") or a "Happy Holiday." Perhaps what really makes a difference is how we as God's redeemed and forgiven children in Jesus Christ observe Christmas, the solemn feast of Jesus' birth. Rather than debating the world's ignorance of the "true meaning of Christmas" it might be better for us, no matter how difficult the circumstances (remember Jesus told us that if they treated Him badly we shouldn't expect to be treated any better), to be seen giving glory to God and truly living the "reason for the season."

Prayer: Father, it's too easy for me to grouse and complain about the lack of "Christmas spirit" and the loss of the "true meaning of Christmas" in the world around me. I get over saturated with the grumblings of too many other Christians who are frustrated with the world's lack of respect for Christian culture, not to speak of its lack of respect and honor of You. Yet, what's so very important for me is to be a faithful witness to Your love, grace, and mercy in Jesus for a sinful world. Help me to approach the Christmas celebration of Jesus' birth as a time to give glory to You for Your goodness and love. Send Your Holy Spirit upon me so that I might be a living witness to Your glory and love as I live a life of preparation for Jesus' return to take me home to heaven. Let me be a living example of why You deserve all glory and praise, so that through my life of faith others might be touched by Your love. In Jesus' precious name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright @ 2005 The Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.