And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” (Luke 2:13-14)
The Hope of CHRISTmas is amazing!
How is this CHRISTmas season finding your heart? For some, I am sure it is hectic, for others a drag. For some filled with joy, and others filled with sorrow. For some this is a time of fond memories and others painful shadows. To each of us, right where we are– I want to draw us to the amazing hope of CHRISTmas! I want to point you to the announcement that the angels declared about that night that Jesus was born…and draw you…and me…after its declaration this year.
It was an astounding, reverberating announcement!
I wonder how many angels were a part of this birth announcement of Christ? It tells us that there was a multitude of them praising God and declaring the joy of this day. When God uses such a term to describe the number of them, the idea is that the sheer number of them is mind numbing. There is something so powerful in this. Throughout Old Testament history, angels had been involved in being messengers of God’s announcements, yet most often it was one angel that made a declaration. But on this day…so many of them are a part of this – a massive multitude! This incredible group of angels are so excited over what is happening that they all crowd into this everlasting declaration.
First and foremost – it is a day to glorify God. a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highestThere is a sinful part of man that exalts us, puts man first and becomes man centered in all of life. It is easy for us to jump straight to the part of this that effects us directly – yet if we do so….where we do so…we miss the heart of the message, we miss the quality, the wonder, the power and more. This day that took place at the birth of Christ was an incredible day of glory for and to God. Only where this is true and received can we get to the next word in the declaration which is “And” that shows us what God has done for us here. Today, and this season, if we respond to it rightly, it is a time to glorify God! May it be so this season! Will you join the angels this season in this declaration?
Second – it is peace to men. a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highest And on earth peace, goodwill toward menPeace…what an incredible thing. Peace in the midst of world that knows nothing really about it. A world where war, pain, selfishness, sorrow, emptiness…and at the heart of it – sin – robs us of peace. The heartbeat of this season, in regards to man, is that it is the brining forth of peace.
What peace is this speaking of? Real peace! Peace that begins with our relationship with God (Rom 5:1) and incredible working of God’s grace is permeating lives today and in God’s perfect timing will be complete in our eternal home in heaven.
The question here for you is this – do you have this peace? The NASB Bible gives a better rendering of this passage this way:
And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.
So who are those with whom God is pleased? Those who come to Him through Christ. For He Himself is our peace … He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. (Ephesians 2:14–18)Only Christians have what this season is about…the peace that we have in Christ. Not to be too silly by using a bumper sticker kind of slogan to apply this…but here is the reality.
No Jesus, No peace Know Jesus, Know peaceToday, if you do not know this peace…then I call you to Christ and His work in brining us peace.
Today, if you know this peace…I wonder if in this season God is not calling us to come alongside the multitude of angels and echo their declaration in our hearts and through our lips….with great joy! I wonder if God would not draw us to consider this announcement as the theme of this season…and prayerful, the echo of our hearts.
a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highest And on earth peace, goodwill toward men (men with whom He is pleased.)Jim
