Devotion Booklets for Seasons of the Church Year Advent-Christmas Devotional - 2017 - single page | Page 34

God Hasn’t Left You Alone
Thursday, December 28th
Luke 2:13-14
One of the songs that I always hear around the Christmas season had nothing to do with Santa Claus.
Jesus’ birth wasn’t the focus either. It seems around this time of the year I would hear a song about
loneliness. Every verse ended the same way: Alone again, naturally. It’s a dark song, yet I’ve only heard it
around Christmas. A man is stood up at the altar of his church, left alone. He was at his dad’s funeral
broken by how lonely his mom would be, left alone. Finally, she is taken away from him. He even feels God
had left him. Each haunting verse ends the same way: Alone again, naturally.
Wouldn’t it be nice if God would prove he hasn’t left us? Wouldn’t it be great if he could show you that you
are not alone? In an amazing section of Scripture, God shows a couple shepherds just how close he and his
angels are to his people:
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory
to God in the highest and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”
God’s favor rests on you. You were baptized into his family. He speaks to you in his Word. He listens to your
prayers and helps you. Jesus cared more about you than he cared about himself. He became your brother
to be one with you. He fulfilled God’s law to make you righteous in God’s sight. He died to bring you peace
with God. He sends his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. Your God isn’t ignorant to your
needs. He knows what hurts and knows how to help. Even today his angels bless you in ways you won’t
understand to heaven is your home. You are not alone. God and his angels are near to be your peace. For
all God does, he deserves glory.
Prayer & Activity: One of the most time-tested hymns in the history of the church is called the Gloria in
Excelsis, which means Glory to God in the highest. The hymn borrows from the angels’ song the shepherds
heard. Pray the Gloria in Excelsis.
Glory be to God on high, and on earth peace, good will toward men. We praise you, we bless you,
we worship you, we glorify you, we give thanks to you, your great glory, O Lord God, heavenly
King, God the Father almighty.
O Lord, the only begotten Son, Jesus Christ; O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, you
take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us. You take away the sin of the world; receive our
prayer. You sit at the right hand of God the Father; have mercy on us. For you only are holy; you
only are the Lord. You only, O Christ, with the Holy Spirit, are most high in the glory of God the
Father. Amen.
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