HomeWord - Dec. 3, 2008

A Look at Angels
This devotional was written by Jim Liebelt

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 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, good will toward men. Luke 2:10-14 (KJV)

Angels from the realms of glory
Wing your flight over all the earth
Ye, who sang creations story
Now proclaim Messiah's birth
Come and worship, come and worship
Worship Christ the newborn King
(from Angels from the Realms of Glory)

To the shepherds keeping watch over their flocks, angels appeared to announce the birth of Jesus. Today, we don’t need angels to appear in the sky in order to hear the great news of Jesus. We have the Bible, our churches, fellow-believers, music, and so much more to know that God became man. But, it’s worth noting 2,000 years after the fact, the celebration of Jesus began in a lonely field, to lowly shepherds, who received the news through perhaps one of the most spectacular displays ever seen by human eyes.

Going Deeper:

Why do you think God used angels to announce the birth of Jesus?
Why do you think the angels appeared specifically to the shepherds? Why not to people who might seem more important?

Family Time: Use the content above as your family decorates your Christmas tree this year. Put an angel on the tree and take time to remind everyone of the role the angels played in proclaiming the birth of Jesus.

Jim Liebelt is Senior Editor of Publications at HomeWord.