“The angel said to the shepherd, “Don’t be afraid! I have good news for you,
a message that will
fill everyone with joy.” ~Luke 2:10
I find myself thinking about ‘angels’ a lot lately.
That’s probably due to a
couple of reasons; one is our Advent Bible Study: The Angels of Christmas: Hearing God’s Voice in Advent. The other
comes as we draw closer to Christmas Eve and its greatest declaration for all
time that we see in the above Bible passage from Luke.
My childhood version of angels
was typical Hollywood; shimmering beings lighter than air with feathery wings
that existed somewhere well outside my earthly life.
However, as I grew older I
knew there was more to angels than this…but just what those details were was
pretty vague. What did that “more” look like? Act like? Do?
Trying to get a better sense
of ‘angels’ I went to the Anchor Bible
Dictionary where under the subject ‘angels’ it has: “In modern usage the
term angels refers to heavenly beings whose function it is to serve God and to
execute God’s will.”
Hmmm…if we’re all given the
gift of God’s Holy Spirit doesn’t that bring us within the definition of
heavenly beings? And as Jesus Christ followers, aren’t we to function by
serving God and executing God’s will?
Because if so…does this
suggest God might possibly consider me to be an angel?
And as I try to understand how
this works for myself, then Hebrews 13:2 comes to mind: “Do not neglect to show
hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels
without knowing it.”
Would this then mean that our
first approach to everybody should begin with us looking for the angel in them
too? Starting with kindness and generosity; making sure their needs are met?
Because as Advent prepares us
for a Christmas that celebrates the birth of the Christ child, just maybe this
will be the first step in bringing the true meaning of Christmas - and not the
Hollywood or advertiser’s version - to life in those around us.
Together
We Serve,
Pastor Mike