Were creation suddenly articulate
written and performed by Cory Asbury
With a thousand tongues to lift one cry
Then from north to south and east to west
We’d hear ‘Christ be magnified!’
Were the whole earth echoing His eminence
His name would burst from sea and sky
From rivers to the mountain tops
We’d hear ‘Christ be magnified!’
[Chorus]
O! Christ be magnified!
Let His praise arise
Christ be magnified in me
O! Christ be magnified!
From the altar of my life
Christ be magnified in me
When every creature finds its inmost melody
And every human heart its native cry
Then in one enraptured hymn of praise
We’ll sing ‘Christ be magnified!’
[Chorus]
How big is your God? How big is your Jesus? Probably not big enough. Every time I try to picture the magnificence, the preeminence, and the glory of God, I simply cannot reach a level beyond which I wouldn’t hear “Go bigger.” He’s always bigger.
Principle: God’s ever-increasing glory is beyond our words.
Aim: To have Christ be magnified in me.
At Christmas, a prayer: Lord Jesus, please cover my heart and keep me from picturing You as a perpetually tiny newborn, someone so finite I could hold You in my arms. Help me to remember always that in some mysterious way, the Creator of the Universe was fully man during Your earthly ministry. It makes no sense, but I know it’s true because Your Word tells me so. Help me to see that both the good and the bad that come into my life are designed so that this also “comes from the LORD Almighty, whose plan is wonderful, whose wisdom is magnificent.” (Isaiah 28:29). That Your plan is never to harm me but so You will be magnified in my life. Be magnified in our church. Be magnified in the prayers of Your people! May we go forth proclaiming this good news of great joy for all the people on whom Your favor rests so that all may join in one voice proclaiming Your greatness and glory! Be magnified! Amen.
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Acknowledging inquiries about an entire season’s devotionals for your study group’s planning purposes, Seminary Gal’s prior seasons’ Advent devotionals can be accessed via the search feature to the right and are as follows:
- “Visitation Principles” was the theme of last Advent’s devotional series. It delved into reasons Jesus came as outlined in the Book of Hebrews. They are archived beginning December 1, 2024.
- “From the Jews for the World” was an important devotional exploration of how Jesus’ Jewish heritage was necessary for the salvation of Gentiles, too. It is archived beginning December 3, 2023.
- “Awaken Remnant” was the devotional topic for 2022. It began November 27, 2022, and highlighted the remnant found throughout Scripture as evident in Jesus’ lineage.
- The multi-faceted Interlude between the promise of a Deliverer and the birth of our Messiah and King was the theme of 2021’s devotional series. It is archived beginning November 28, 2021.
- 2020’s Devotional Series Divine Intervention began on November 29, 2020 and explored God’s activity on behalf of a hurting world and nations in tumult– Intervention for you and for me when our status as sinners required nothing short of a miracle.
- God’s Christmas list explored what might be on God’s Christmas list, learning what He wants from us. It began December 1, 2019.
- Storyteller began December 2, 2018 and entered into the Christmas story through its telling.
- The 2017 series Still Christmas, began December 3, 2017 and was the Advent complement to the Lenten series, Be Still and Know that I AM God.
- The 2016 season devotionals were called “Timeless: The Message of Christmas for All Ages” and explored how the message of Christmas is timeless truth, for all ages of people, and for all ages at all times. Timeless hope, encouragement, grace, peace, and love as we looked into the Word, saw the face of our Lord Jesus, and experienced restoration in His presence. His goodness and His Gospel are truly Timeless. The 2016 devotionals began November 27, 2016.
- The 2015 season devotionals were titled Incarnation and involved digging deep–and yes, I mean deep– in this important mystery of Christian theology. They began November 29, 2015.
- Carol Me, Christmas! remains one of my most popular offerings and tells the Christmas story through our most beloved Christmas hymns and carols. You can access all of the numbered devotionals from 2014 via the archives. They began November 30, 2014.
- The 2013 series was Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up in Person and examined the Prologue to the Gospel of John. It began December 1, 2013.
- The 2012 series focused on Expecting the Unexpected…the unexpected, unlikely, and uniquely divine qualities of God’s perfect plan outlined in Luke’s account of the Christmas story. It began December 1, 2012.