ANGELS…..THE MANY AND THE MIGHTYWhat would Christmas be without angelic hosts to proclaim the Saviour’s birth, watching in awe as “He became flesh, and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). In his book, Come Thirsty, Max Lucado tells us that wherever you see them in the pages of Scripture, and there are more than 300 listings, the adjectives that most describe them are these: many and mighty. He says “Angel study is Biblical whale watching. Angels surface just long enough to grant a glimpse and raise a question but then disappear before we have a full view.” Unlike our modern view, they are not magical servants who find lost keys and rescue wandering pets or other mundane chores. No, the angels of Scripture are heavenly messengers who are always about their assigned tasks.
Over and over we read of “thousands and thousands of angels” in joyful assembly (Heb.12:22), coming down from Sinai (Deut. 33:2) and “ten thousand times ten thousand” pictured coming with the Lord in Revelation 5:11. They offer unending praise before the heavenly throne and rejoice as sinners repent and come to salvation (Luke 15:10), and from time to time they reveal themselves to us. They are the many, and they are also the mighty.
2 Thessalonians 1:7 tells us that Christ “will come with his mighty angels,” and the word for mighty is dunameos in Greek, the word from which we get dynamite—tremendous power in a small package. Over in Psalms, David said that angels were “mighty creatures who carry out His plans” (Ps.103:20). They exist to do God’s bidding, and they are at work, among us, even to this day. They are His ministering spirits, and they “watch over us wherever we go” (Psalm 91:11).
But most of all, angels exist, not for their own purpose, or reputation, or accomplishment, or glory…but solely to glorify the One who created them and do His will. Maybe, with all the “angelic” reminders this holiday season, we can purpose in our hearts to follow their good example as we go about our daily life. Maybe, just maybe, we can keep the focus where it belongs this Christmas season: on the Christ of Christmas!
Merry Christmas from all of us at Thy Word Network!
2am, December 5, 2007
"Christmastime is here ..."
This past Monday night saw me racing home from a session at Swonder Ice Arena to catch a very important Television Event. No, it wasn't the "Dancing With the Stars" season finale (that was my reason for racing home last week). It was ... the 2007 broadcast premiere of the classic "A Charlie Brown Christmas".
Silly as it may be, I have watched this television special every Christmas season for as long as I can remember, and without this little tradition of mine, the weeks leading up to Christmas just would not be the same!
I have to admit that, for me, one of the best things about the Holidays is the traditions that have accumulated in the past 2.9 decades of my life. There's just something about knowing that there are certain things that only come around once a year, and looking forward to participating in them once again.
Here at Thy Word Network we've got some traditions of our own that many of our listeners have been able to participate in. Each year we offer a great lineup of special programming to help you focus on the true meaning of Christmas - the birth of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. This year's list includes some old favorites (like Candlelight Carols - now in its 53rd year!) and a few new programs (such as The Hope of Hanukkah ... Jesus and the Festival of Lights). For a complete list and brief descriptions of each program, visit our Special Christmas Programming page.
Let us be your station for Christmas music, too! Whether you like the beloved classics or appreciate new original music, we've got hundreds of songs in our music catalog in a wide variety of styles that all proclaim the Good News of Christ. As our Christmas gift to you, we'll play nothing but Christmas music beginning at Noon on Christmas Eve and continuing for the next 24 hours. This music would be a great way to introduce friends and family to Thy Word Network, too!
For some fun for our younger listeners, we've got the return of our Annual Children's Coloring Contest (download the entry form and coloring page here), and then after December 14, you'll have the chance to enter to win one of two "A Christmas Odyssey" CD sets from Focus on the Family's Adventures in Odyssey!
So as you enjoy your own traditions this Christmas, we hope that you'll take some time to enjoy a few of ours. Merry Christmas!
