“This will be a sign unto 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, and on earth peace to
men on whom his favor rests.”
Devotional: Sometimes maybe even an angel is not enough to impress us with the significance of God's communication to us. These men are working at night trying to stay awake to protect the sheep. Surely the angel appeared to them and told them of the good news of Christ's birth, and they responded with fear; but sometimes, maybe we are less prone to trust in the reality of any experience that happens at night. So now the angel gives a fact to them about the reality of the revelation. The shepherds can discern a baby has been born in a barn in Bethlehem, and they can find that baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.
Then accompanying the angel a whole host of heavenly beings sing the song of God's reconciling act toward earth in Jesus Christ. With peace from God comes peace in human society. Jesus was specific about this aspect of the relationship between God and God's creatures, and between human beings. “My peace I give unto you”, says the Christ. It is the peace of God that passes all understanding, and it is universal.
The heavenly hosts proclaim the new reality in Jesus Christ, a potential for the world now and the essence of the Kingdom of God.
So the proclamation of the angel and the song of the heavenly hosts constitute the promise of God in Jesus Christ. This promise is of the ultimate fruition of God's love for this world of strife and conflict among nations and people and with God.
Jesus is the Prince of Peace for all who trust life into His W ill and care.
Perhaps our prayers for this holiday might be for peace on earth, good will toward men. And in the name of Jesus Christ, may we risk being agents of His peace in families, between enemies and among nations. Internally may we experience the peace and joy that comes from a life invested in the babe born in a manger two thousand years ago.
Prayer: Come, Lord Jesus.
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