“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him,
and given him a name which is above every
name: That at the name of Jesus every knee
should bow, of things in heaven, and things
in earth, and things under the earth; And that
every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is
Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
(Philippians 2:9-11)

Many of the Christmas carols we sing
mention the angels’ glorious announcement
of Christ’s birth.  It is true that no birth in
history has ever been announced with as
much heavenly majesty as Christ’s.

But the exaltation of Christ at His birth
is just a shadow of the glory that will one
day be given him.  When he was born, there
were only a few people who were told.  Mary
and Joseph knew.  The shepherds were told
by the angels.  The wise men saw the birth
announcement written in the sky and came
from afar. 

Jesus had a humble birth, He lived a
humble life, and He died a humiliating
death. But there is coming a day when He
will be exalted above everything. Everyone
who has ever lived will see the glory of
Christ and bow their knee to Him. They
will also confess that He is Lord, even if
they refused to acknowledge that truth
during their lifetime.

Either we can bow before Christ now,
as the shepherds and the wise men did or
we can bow later. But we will bow, and it
is far better that we humble ourselves
before Christ now, receive Him as our Savior,
and live for His glory.