Advent Devotional 12-20-24

Scriptures for Week 4:  Micah 5: 2-5; Psalm 80: 1-7; Luke 1: 39-55; Hebrews 10: 5-10.

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David.  The virgin’s name was Mary.  He came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.”  Luke 1: 26-28

Angels are prominently included in the story of the Messiah’s birth. Zechariah encountered an angel who revealed that his prayers for a son (John) were being answered. An angel appears to Mary and shares that she will bear a son without being with a man.  Joseph dreams of an instructing angel that guides him to accept Mary as his wife and child.  Angels appear to the shepherds on the night of Jesus’ birth and are told to go and worship him. In each instance, the mortal being visited is overcome with fear-so much so that the angel’s first concern is to say:  “Be Not Afraid!! I come with good news”. Or “You have found favor with God.” Or “Your prayers have been heard.”

Angels have appeared previously in the Old Testament:

• The seraph with the sword sent to guard the gate of Eden
• God’s messengers sent to Sodom to save Abraham’s relatives there
• Angels ascending and descending the ladder to heaven in Jacob’s fitful dream
• The angel of death who passed over the homes of God’s faithful in Egypt
• The stately six-winged seraphim Isaiah saw before the throne of God
• The angel who slew 186,000 enemy troops to deliver Hezekiah and Jerusalem in the days of Isaiah
• And Daniel wo was preserved alive in the lions’ den as were his 3 friends in the fiery furnace

The psalmist proclaims that “God will give his angels charge of you to guard you in all your ways.” (Psalm 91)  I find these stories and scriptures very comforting.  In this world of chaos and confusion, God is still listening to our prayers; our concerns; our fears.  Most of us will never see or experience an “Angel Visit”, but perhaps we have been visited by “angels unaware”.  In Hebrews 13: 1-3 the writer shares: “Let mutual love continue.  Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.” I am certain that angels have cared for me, watched over my family and been a companion in my dark days.

As our family adds the angels handcrafted by my mother to our trees each season, it sweetly reminds us of the love-gift God sent us that first Christmas. What God’s angels were sent to tell is not an announcement of some distant birth of a friend or relative, but a birth that truly matters to each of us. Jesus’ birth is an “Up close and personal” event.  “Unto YOU is born this day in the city of David!” Jesus’ birth was over 2000 years ago, but he is born anew in our hearts each day of the year – but each of us have to prepare our hearts and invite Him in to our lives each season!

Prayer:
Dear Lord and Savior:  Thank you for sending your angels to continually share the good news with us. Help us to serve as caring servants to others so that the world might see you amid our fear and the world’s darkness.  May your light be reflected in all we do.  Amen

Chyrl Budd