Awesome Father in heaven, You frame the world with Your Word. You alone deserve my worship, my praise, my adoration. I give you my heart, soul and mind now. Amen WHAT THE ANGELS announced ON CHRISTMAS DAY / 23 DECEMBER
CHRISTMAS AWE
HEBREWS 1:1–9
1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.
3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. 4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.
5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, ‘You are my Son; today I have become your Father’? Or again, ‘I will be his Father, and he will be my Son’? 6 And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, ‘Let all God’s angels worship him.’ 7 In speaking of the angels he says, ‘He makes his angels spirits, and his servants flames of fire.’ 8 But about the Son he says, ‘Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a sceptre of justice will be the sceptre of your kingdom. 9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.’
LET ALL GOD’S ANGELS
WORSHIP HIM.
HEBREWS 1:6
Iwas in London one night for a meetng. It was pouring rain, and I was late� I rushed through the streets, turned a corner, and then stopped stll. Dozens of angels hovered above Regent Street, their giant shimmering wings stretching across the trafc. Made of thousands of pulsing lights, it was the most amazing Christmas display I’d seen. I wasn’t the only one captvated. Hundreds lined the street, gazing up in awe�
Awe is central to the Christmas story. When the angel appeared to Mary explaining she would miraculously conceive (LUKE 1:26–38), and to the shepherds announcing Jesus’ birth (2:8–20), each reacted with fear, wonder—and awe� Looking around at that Regent Street crowd, I wondered if we were experiencing in part what those frst angelic encounters felt like.
A moment later, I notced something else. Some of the angels had their arms raised, as if they too were gazing up at something. Like the angelic choir that burst into song at the menton of Jesus (VV. 13–14), it seems angels too can be caught up in awe—as they gaze on Him�
“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representaton of his being” (HEBREWS 1:3)� Bright and luminous, Jesus is the focus of every angel’s gaze (V. 6). If an angel-themed Christmas display can stop busy Londoners in their tracks, just imagine the moment when we see Him face-to-face. o
SHERIDAN VOYSEY
Read today’s passage again. When was the last time you felt a sense of awe? How can you rekindle a sense of awe over Jesus this Christmas?
Father, I worship You. Thank You for the gift of Your awesome Son.