Ever been in a packed stadium singing your national anthem? It’s an incredible, spine-tingling experience to be united with others in song.

Take that feeling and multiply it a million times and perhaps we might get close to the experience of the shepherds on that night.

We read:

“Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God.”

Can we even comprehend the scene? A great company of angelic beings singing praise to King Jesus. Heavens doors flung wide and open and angels streaming out unable to contain themselves with joy and wonderment at the announcement of the rescue mission.

Luke records the two things that capture their attention - two things worth singing about…The glory of God and the peace of God.

The glory of God

What is this? Much ink has been spilt over the centuries to try and define the glory of God. For this moment, this will suffice as a definition:his infinite worth and immeasurable beauty.

That’s what the angels sang about. A whole army of them unable to keep it to themselves. All bursting with praise and worship to God.

That’s our purpose for living. That’s what God created the whole of his creation to do: to praise and worship him.

There is no better way to do this than to use your God given abilities in sport to play, praise and worship Him. He is not only the giver of all good things but has now restored and enabled us, through the saving work of Jesus, to glorify God and enjoy him forever - that, (says the Westminster Shorter Catechism) is the chief end of every human being.

It’s worth stopping now and thanking God for saving you or asking that he would save you. Thank him that now, in your sport, you can play (with the angels) to the glory of God.

Peace to those in whom his favour rests.

Only those who receive Jesus as Lord and saviour experience the peace he brings. This wonderful peace has three aspects:

Peace with God

This is foundational to all our pursuits of peace. Romans 5:1 says, “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

To be “justified” means to be declared by God as righteous before him, to be right with him. That means no longer facing his wrath we deserve. The wrath of God has been poured out onto Jesus. Jesus takes your sin and gives you his perfect righteousness in return which enables peace with God. - incredible!

Peace with yourself

Because of the peace you now have with God, any sense of guilt or anxiety that can paralyse you in sport or life can be dealt with by Him. There are so many things in sport that can prevent us from having peace with ourselves. Bring them before God now.

Peace with others in your sport

Sport provides a big context of tough relationships. Bitterness, abuse, anger, selfishness are all so often experienced in our sport. But for the Christian, peace, even with trickiest of people, is now possible. God has given you a new heart to “be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

This is the heart of Christmas. That God would get glory and that we would know his peace.

It’s the greatest news – ever!

Let's finish with the verse from Hark the Herald as we head into Christmas:

Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the new-born king”
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled"

Joyful all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With angelic host proclaim
"Christ is born in Bethlehem"

Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the new-born king"
"Glory to the new-born king”

Amen.

Pray for yourself

Father God, thank you that at Christmas we see something of your glory at the start of your rescue plan for mankind. Thank you for the peace with you, we now get, because of Christmas. Please help me to be at peace with myself and at peace with others this Christmas-time. Amen

Pray for your friends

Finally, take a few minutes to pray for those in your sport - that God will open a door for his message in your club or team this Game Day. Amen

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