As soon as an audible quote of, or reference to, the following Bible verse commences, I chime right in, my rote memory kicking in:
“Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” Luke 2:10b-12, KJV
During my elementary years, I attended a Monday afternoon religious education class at the CCD center of the Roman Catholic church I attended growing up. One Christmastime, I was selected for the role of head angel. (Perhaps this is because I was the tallest student in my class!?!) I recited the above verse from Luke, draped in a white gown and, if I remember correctly, feathery wings and a golden tinsel halo. I stood at the apex of a heavenly host of young angels on risers, declaring this great news to whosoever would listen.
One of the definitions of the term ‘angel’ is ‘a messenger or harbinger’, and many add ‘from God’. I only know a few people who have seen actual angels, spirit beings who’ve never been human, but I have met people who have served as messengers of God to me, and I trust that I serve in that capacity for some of the people I encounter in my lifetime.
I have had the privilege of sharing the ‘Good News,’ or the ‘Gospel’ with others. It’s not that different from the message I delivered in an angel costume at around six years of age from some risers at St. Bartholomew’s Church. God CHOSE to come to earth in the form of a man, as Jesus Christ (Yeshua, in Hebrew), because He LOVES YOU. He knew you and I would be imperfect, but He wants to have a relationship with us, and to enjoy our company and our worship, and to have us enjoy HIS company, now and forever. Thus, He came, born as a babe, to die in our places (yours and mine), so that we can rise again after our physical bodies die, to live with Him forever. The price for our imperfections and our purposeful choices which hurt God, ourselves and others, is death and eternal separation from a perfect God. “What fellowship has light with darkness?” ( 2 Corinthians 6:14) the Scriptures ask. God is absolute light, and we choose to allow darkness into us. However, …the Gospel, the Good News, is that we can be cleansed, forgiven and made right, through the blood of Jesus… something we celebrate at Easter, but which can be celebrated every day of the year, including at Christmastime, when we celebrate His birth… Christ + mass = Christmas.
May your Christmas be joyful, and may you know that you will enjoy eternity with God! (We each make the choice whether or not we will.)
“If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” Romans 10:9-10, KJV
CHALLENGE…
- Have you ever seen, or talked to someone who has seen, an Angel?
- Share a time when you acted like an Angel by sharing the Good News with someone.
Refill with Randy 