ADVENT DEVOTIONAL | Day 8 | A Little Lower than the Angels

READ
4 what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? 5 Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. 6 You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet,
Psalm 8:4-6

REFLECT
During Advent we remember the astonishing truth that Jesus, the eternal Son of God, willingly stepped down into our world. Psalm 8 speaks of humanity as being made “a little lower than the angels,” crowned with glory and honor, and entrusted with dominion over God’s creation. But you might remember that last Sunday we studied Genesis 3, which shows us how we have fallen from that calling. Sin has bent our hearts, fractured our world, and dimmed the glory we were meant to bear.

But this psalm also prepares us for the miracle of the incarnation. Hebrews 2 tells us that Jesus Himself became “a little lower than the angels”—not because He lacked glory, but because we did. The One who spoke the stars into place chose to enter a manger, to take on our frailty, to feel hunger, exhaustion, and sorrow. Ultimately, He was born so that he might taste death on our behalf. He stepped into the fullness of our humanity so that He might restore the fullness of our dignity.

In Jesus, we see humanity as it was always meant to be: obedient, humble, radiant with the Father’s glory. And through His life, death, and resurrection, He lifts us back into our true calling. Today let us remember that the Promised One came down to raise us up.

RESPOND

• Consider the humility of David to ask the question that he does in verse 4. Are you humble enough to be amazed by God’s love for you?

• Jesus came down to raise us up and restore us. What would it look like for you to follow His example and sacrificially love others and treat them like they are made in the image of God?