Let the greeting be a prayer

¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Luke 2:13-14 NIV

Merry CHRISTmas!!!  This season greeting helps us focus on the central idea of this holiday season.  It is about the day Jesus birth.  God’s answer to the problem of man’s sinful dilemma has arrived.  He will bring peace between the chasm of broken relationship between God and mankind.  This truly was good news.  Even the angels get to participate in heralding the message that this was a special day.

Some may ask why we focus on his birth when it was his sacrificial death that paid for the penalty of our sin.  His resurrection is the sign and promise that God will remove our sinful ways  and create a new person inside us.  As God brought forth Jesus from the dead, he will also resurrect those who place their hope and trust in him.

But the angels also made another declaration that morning.  Glory to God in the highest heaven.  As much as the focus is on the birth of Jesus, it is equally important to recognize God’s glory in the event.  The angels are helping us follow the action of the moment.  It starts with God’s glory.  If you just focus on the birth of the baby, you might miss the setting for the entire night.  God is at work.

The glory of God is the beauty of His presence as revealed in all his character attributes.  What God did on the day of Jesus birth was an extension of his glorious power.  God became man.  Jesus was fully God and fully man at the same time.

I know this sounds more like a sermon.  But I wanted us to take a moment to add some value to our season greeting.  To say “Merry Christmas” should also be a reminder of God’s glory getting involved in our world.  Here is the catch.  If God moved into our world through the birth of Jesus, then God can move into the darkest moments of our lives.  To say, “Merry Christmas” is also a declaration that God’s glory is being revealed among us.  The angels sang the song to the shepherds.  Focus first on God’s glory and then see how it is revealed among us.

May your season greeting become a prayer that you speak over people.  To you, “Merry Christmas” means “May you experience God’s glorious presence and the accompanied peace that comes from a relationship with Jesus.”  I know that is a longer prayer.  But let the greeting be a code for your prayer.  “Merry Christmas” to the cashier.  Our prayer- “May this cashier experience God’s glory and the peace that comes from a relationship with Jesus Christ.”

The Angels said it first.  A savior is born and this reflects God’s glory.

Have a very Merry Christmas with your family and friends.