Luke 2:13-14 KJV
[13] And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, [14] Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, good will toward men.
The verses above immediately follow after the focus for yesterday. We saw men who you would call forgotten and inconsequential being given a front view to the excitement and joy that was going on in heaven, because the Son of God had been born. One of the things that struck me in this story is how ordinary the world at the time considered the birth of this boy, and how heaven was just sending messages of goodwill to all categories of people on earth. We considered prophets from a different generation, as well as people who lived in the same space as the One to be born, and we also now see the message of hope that has been laid out even for future unborn generations. This is one of the many things that gladden my heart as I consider the events of Christmas. There is no one so far gone that s/he is beyond the message of hope and life that God brings.
Heaven knew the value, and God wanted the earth to also know. The message to the shepherds who were taking care of their flock at night was clear: this gift is for everyone, even those the earth forgot. One angel came to deliver the message, but a multitude soon joined the angel to declare God's mind and publicly testify to the grace and mercy that was now revealed and released to the whole world. We do not know the number of angels that came to support the one who delivered the message, but we are told is it was a 'multitude of the heavenly host'. That is a number beyond counting; the message was from the whole of heaven to the whole of the earth, and the message is that God's glory is now revealed and made known to man, and we now have hope for a bright future. When things get tough and rough, remember the message that was delivered at the birth of the One.
The message is that peace and good will have been made available to all men. The birth of the Prince of Peace means that anyone who allows Him live in his/heart will get an endless supply of whatever it is that God is making available. It is not the kind of peace that is pretentious or enforced by the threat of violence or retribution, but the peace that secures a man's heart so that no matter what is going on around him, the heart is at rest IN the One who has been born. It is not a peace you can buy with influence, connection, riches or words, but by submission to the authority and control of the One who is born. God will always be given glory in heaven, as His power and authority are without question. He wants us to also experience heaven on earth, and this we get by embracing His gift. Do not be content to just read or hear about Him; make sure He lives in you. That is what ensures that the birth of the One has also been born in you. God's time of favour is here.
No comments:
Post a Comment