December 19, 2022: Luke 2:13-14 - Glory to God in the Highest!

“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!’” - Luke 2:13-14

Now, the angel that proclaimed the good news of Christ the Lord’s birth to the lowly shepherds, is joined by a heavenly host of angels praising God, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

The Lord Jesus is the King of kings, Lord of lords, and Lord of hosts! The Hebrew word for “hosts” is “armies,” referring to the angelic armies of heaven. God’s hand of protection over Israel through His armies of heaven has protected Israel from the beginning. How many times has Israel been on the verge of being annihilated but God intervened to save a remnant. God will never be defeated, and He will never let His chosen people be destroyed completely. That is true then and that is true now. Satan knew that Jesus would be born of the Jews, and he did everything he could to try and stop Jesus’ birth by persecuting them, and he failed every single time.

Two thousand years ago at the birth of Jesus, the One who provides the only way of redemption from sins for both Jews and Gentiles, God’s glory had come to the earth! What goodwill, love, and mercy God has shown to us sinners! Jesus truly is glory to God in the highest, for it is only through God’s goodwill that true peace - peace between each individual and God - can come and that is by believing in Jesus as who He is: God’s only begotten Son sent by God to offer salvation from sins for all who would believe.

Jesus Messiah, Emmanuel, God with us, is the only way to God the Father. Let us who believe in Him join with the heavenly host of angels and proclaim, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” 🙌🏻✝️