Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.
Luke 2:14
To ascribe glory to God is to acknowledge his splendor, his majesty and his unlimited greatness. There is no one and no thing higher than God. Christmas is a great time to consider your personal view of God. It is more common to focus on Jesus, who is God in human form. But that isn't who Jesus is anymore.
Consider the resurrected Christ, on his throne in heaven, seated at the right hand of God. Now consider the power of God, given to you through his Holy Spirit. The same power that parted the Red Sea, walked on water, and healed the sick, is the power every Christian has been given. Is your view of God high enough? Is your praise and adoration of God adequate? Now, pause and take a moment from reading this devotional and give “glory to God in the highest.”
Why is it important to give God glory? Because when you truly acknowledge the splendor, majesty and greatness of God, you are able to know his great love and compassion for you. Then you can be filled with his presence and his power—his Holy Spirit—and you are able to experience his peace. God's peace transcends circumstance, because God's peace is a gift to you from the highest.
But God's peace isn't promised unconditionally. God's peace is given to those on whom his favor rests. How do you find God's favor? Proverbs says, “Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man” (3:3-4). If you took the time to give God glory “in the highest,” then you found the path to his peace.
If you walk through this busy day anointed with his peace, someone might ask you about your sense of joy and calm. Be faithful and show God's love outwardly today, walking with a good name in the sight of God and man. And at the end of this day, you will likely have other reasons to give “glory to God in the highest.”
Written by: Dr. Denison of http://www.denisonforum.org/