Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:13–14 NIV
Heavenly Father, some culinary delights are to be savored like a delicacy, not consumed as a quick snack. The gospel is the most exquisite of delicacies, deserving unrushed, distraction free savoring. Early in Advent, we praise you for the privilege of relishing the riches of the gospel—the benefits that come to us freely, because you gave Jesus for us fully.
There’s no way to calculate the worth of this declaration, “peace to those on whom his favor rests.” It’s more than we could ever expect, yet that for which we have been made. Through the coming and work of Jesus, you have placed us in your full, permanent, unwavering favor. Jesus took our disgrace and disfavor, and gave us your grace and full favor.
If unredeemed angels were in awe of such good news, how much more should we be staggered and astonished, humbled and grateful, liberated and transformed? By your Holy Spirit, enflame our hearts, stir our affections, restore to us the joy of so great a salvation during this Advent season. The more alive we are to your favor, the less we look for it anywhere else.
We invest much of our energy seeking favor—wanting to be noticed and longing to be needed, seeking to be valued and working to be celebrated… by mere men. But behind all relational restlessness, angry demandingness, and our perpetual busyness lies the quest to find our rest and peace in you—to know you love us, desire us, greatly delight in us.
Wonder of wonders, we have it in Jesus; we have it fully in Jesus right now. Hallelujah. Free us from our unbelief, Father. Make your favor more real to us than anything else. Fill us with your peace. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ holy and loving name.
