December 15th, 2021
By Rodney Boylan
I have been considering that TV stations and our radios or streaming services are flooded with so-called “Christmas movies”. What if, for a moment, we desired THE Christmas story? What if we prayed for God to break through and bring a special message to us directly from Heaven?
An angel broke through to Joseph in Matthew 1 v:20:
“But as he considered these things (divorcing Mary because she was with child before their marriage), behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.”
God needed to step into humanity. Heaven needed to cross-over to get us back on track.
In Luke 1, Heaven steps in again. This time it’s Mary’s visit, and it’s not just any angel. From verse 26-38:
“In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, 'Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob's descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.' How will this be,' Mary asked the angel, 'since I am a virgin?' The angel answered, 'The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.' I am the Lord's servant,' Mary answered. 'May your word to me be fulfilled.' Then the angel left her."
One of the lead citizens of Heaven, a creature from a realm that is not normally open to mankind, steps in to proclaim the great message of both realms! Can we comprehend the magnitude of glory that happened in these two visits? We know that the Holy Spirit is with us, unseen in this world. But to complete the salvation of the world, God opens the portal between the two places, Heaven and Earth. That reminds me of the carol where “Heaven and Nature sing.” The words marvelous and awesome are appropriate here, but please read those words slowly. I write them with every intention packed into them, with a glaze over my face of marvel and my mouth open in awe.
But, as they say, “you ain’t seen nothing yet.” Contrary to popular nativity displays, the Bible doesn’t say there were angels at the Nativity. The REAL BIG announcement was happening outside of Bethlehem in the fields where the shepherds were. Luke 2:8-14,
“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.' Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.'
Maybe Gabriel wasn’t at this spectacle, but the shepherds didn’t just get one angel, they received “a great company.” The word “company” was used to describe a military encampment, (John MacArthur Study Bible). It may be safe to say that the shepherds were shocked AND outnumbered! It’s worthy to note that this “army” was used to bring an announcement of peace.
I just wondered why society has tried so hard for years to make movies, music, and TV shows about all the feel-goods of Christmas when the story about Heaven and Earth coming together to birth the Savior is far more exciting and glorious! Eventually the shepherds went and saw about what the heavenly host told them. They praised God and went back to their lives, but not they way they used to be. They were forever changed.
This Christmas, may you seek Heaven on Earth in the company of your co-workers, your friends, and your families. May you be filled with the glory of God that enriches your spirit and changes your life.
I have been considering that TV stations and our radios or streaming services are flooded with so-called “Christmas movies”. What if, for a moment, we desired THE Christmas story? What if we prayed for God to break through and bring a special message to us directly from Heaven?
An angel broke through to Joseph in Matthew 1 v:20:
“But as he considered these things (divorcing Mary because she was with child before their marriage), behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.”
God needed to step into humanity. Heaven needed to cross-over to get us back on track.
In Luke 1, Heaven steps in again. This time it’s Mary’s visit, and it’s not just any angel. From verse 26-38:
“In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, 'Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob's descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.' How will this be,' Mary asked the angel, 'since I am a virgin?' The angel answered, 'The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.' I am the Lord's servant,' Mary answered. 'May your word to me be fulfilled.' Then the angel left her."
One of the lead citizens of Heaven, a creature from a realm that is not normally open to mankind, steps in to proclaim the great message of both realms! Can we comprehend the magnitude of glory that happened in these two visits? We know that the Holy Spirit is with us, unseen in this world. But to complete the salvation of the world, God opens the portal between the two places, Heaven and Earth. That reminds me of the carol where “Heaven and Nature sing.” The words marvelous and awesome are appropriate here, but please read those words slowly. I write them with every intention packed into them, with a glaze over my face of marvel and my mouth open in awe.
But, as they say, “you ain’t seen nothing yet.” Contrary to popular nativity displays, the Bible doesn’t say there were angels at the Nativity. The REAL BIG announcement was happening outside of Bethlehem in the fields where the shepherds were. Luke 2:8-14,
“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.' Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.'
Maybe Gabriel wasn’t at this spectacle, but the shepherds didn’t just get one angel, they received “a great company.” The word “company” was used to describe a military encampment, (John MacArthur Study Bible). It may be safe to say that the shepherds were shocked AND outnumbered! It’s worthy to note that this “army” was used to bring an announcement of peace.
I just wondered why society has tried so hard for years to make movies, music, and TV shows about all the feel-goods of Christmas when the story about Heaven and Earth coming together to birth the Savior is far more exciting and glorious! Eventually the shepherds went and saw about what the heavenly host told them. They praised God and went back to their lives, but not they way they used to be. They were forever changed.
This Christmas, may you seek Heaven on Earth in the company of your co-workers, your friends, and your families. May you be filled with the glory of God that enriches your spirit and changes your life.
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