What If God Gave You A Message Like He Did The Angels?

I. During a Christmas pagent, one child had been forced to be in the program by his parents. The young teen continued to voice his concerns as they

practiced. He would mutter things like "How can people believe that Jesus is the Son of God?" and "just what makes everyone believe that this is the way to heaven?" He finally said "how do we know He was the Messiah and that He was the way to Heaven?". When one small girl spoke up, "She said, "We believe it because the song said it". "What song?", the teen huffed back.

She politely said, "You know what song I’m talking about, that one that God made A WAY IN A MANGER".

God made "A way in a manger!" What a brilliant message. A message that the Savior of the world was born! That the Savior, the Messiah, Immanuel, God

with us, has come to make a way for us. It was the angels message "For see I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: for unto you is

born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.... wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger".

And with the angel appeared a "multitude of heavenly host, praising God and saying, ’Glory to God in the hioghest heaven, and on earth, peace among those whom he favors". A host of angels proclaiming a message that God had made A WAY IN A MANGER!

Returning to my "What if?" questions that I have

been asking over the last several weeks: What if God spoke to you the way He did Mary? What if He gave you a mission like He did the wisemen? What if He

gave you a witness like He did the Shepherds? But now the most pressing question of all: What if God gave you a message like He did the Angels? It is a retorical question of course, because the message of the angels is the same one we are still to proclaim, that the Son of God, the Savior, who is the Messiah, Jesus Christ our Lord has been born to be the Savior of the World.

A message that God made A Way in a Manger!

So, what if God gave us this message to proclaim, and He has, how are we to respond?’ If we respond a little like the angels it will be something like this:

First, we should proclaim it individually and collectively: It is a timeless message to be spoken about in our daily lives as individuals, and when and

where possible which should join together as a multitude, the body of Christ proclaiming a message the the Messiah has come! It is the Church in

corporate witness to the world! Some people ask, "why do I need the Church?", and I do believe we need the Church, for spiritual growth, for accountability, for nurture; but I also know that the Church of Jesus Christ needs you, because together we can accomplish so much more than we can individually. Our witness and the proclaimation of the message of the good news of Jesus Christ must be individual, but must also join with the voices of others.

Second, the message should proclaim the "Glory in the Highest heaven": (1)"J.S. Bach said, "All music should have no other end and aim than the glory

of God and the soul’s refreshment; where this is not remembered there is no real music but only a devilish hub-bub." He headed his compositions: "J.J."

"Jesus Juva" which means "Jesus help me." He ended them "S.D.G." "Soli Dei gratia" which means "To God alone the praise." Our message, should be one

that proclaims the glory of God.

As Christians our message and witness to the world should be one that brings glory and praise to God, not one the degrades others, or tarnishes the glory. Our message should be clear, like that of the angels, "To God alone the praise".

Third, they proclaimed a message of "Peace on Earth to all those whom he favors". Charles Wesley once penned: (2) "I rest beneath the Almighty’s shade, My griefs expire, my troubles cease; Thou, Lord, on whom my soul is stayed, Wilt keep me still in perfect peace.

We are messengers of the peace of God. And yet how much of our day often seems filled with discontent? With strife between family and co-workers? And

yet we are to be harbingers of the message of a gospel of peace!

Lastly, our message is to proclaim that "The Son of God has been born": The angels message - is our message! The message is the same, a child has been

born, a Savior of the world!

On the History channel recently was featured a decisive battle that took place on Nazi lines just near the end of the war. A unit, made up of a rough