For the last few posts I have been discussing Angels. Of course they are everywhere in our culture, but they probably never had as much attention as during the old television show, "Touched by an Angel." If you have seen it, then you probably have an expectation of what angels would communicate to humans if given half a chance.
It happens basically every show. After a long trial where a confused human has been accompanied by an angel disguised as Roma Downey or Della Reese, a very touching moment occurs. A soft glow appears around the angels face, the eyes sparkle and then the message is given. "I have come to tell you that God loves you."
It is a powerful moment, something that everyone needs to hear. It is also true. God does love us. Deeply, tenderly, intimately.
The only problem is that not once in the Bible does an angel deliver that message. Not one place in all the Scriptures, does an angel say: "God loves you."
The message of the angels is NOT “God loves you.”
Now let's be clear here. God does love you. Absolutely. He didn't send an angel to say it, because, frankly he came himself. That incredible message was personally delivered by Jesus, inspired by the Spirit and spoken over and again to the church in the letters of the New Testament.
But “God loves you” is not the message that the angels ever bring. What do they point to with all their radiance and awesomeness? It is not that God loves us, but that you and I should pay attention, be sure not to miss, to dedicate our lives to recognizing ourselves and revealing to others:
That the God who loves us is HERE! “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to all whom God favors.”
A God who is good, even a God who loves, but who stays at a distance is not worthy of our love and devotion, our praise and adoration. Respect and fear? Certainly. But love and devotion, dedication and trust? Probably not.
When the Angels sing “Glory to God in the highest heaven” they are proclaiming that God deserves to be seen, honored and praised, because the great, all powerful and awesome God left his throne to bring peace to his creation. That God took on human flesh to become the suffering King, that the great God became like you and me, so that we could become like him. That God is worthy of glory because he has come as a child "wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger." (Luke 2)
And when God sent the angels to appear first to the shepherds, they made it perfectly clear that no one, no one, would be excluded from experiencing the favor and peace of God if they sought his son, Jesus.
The Message of the Angels is NOT that they are watching over you and it’s NOT that God loves, you, their message is that GOD is worthy of praise, God is worthy of our devotion, that God is worthy of all glory in all of the universe, because God is watching over you (not just an angel!), and that the God who loves you is here.
While the world finds comfort that there are heavenly messengers (which is what the world “angel” means), the messengers want us to get the message that Jesus the King is now amongst us (which is the ultimate comfort, is it not?).
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to all whom God favors.”
P.S. These are my two favorite screen angels: Clarence and Michael
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