Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.” – Luke 2

So, Angels.

I know, even talking about these heavenly beings runs the risk of slipping out of good theology and into what I often refer to as “woo-woo” spirituality.

Don’t worry, I am not going there.

But angels do play a part in the biblical narrative, cropping up numerous times and in various guises. They guard the gates of Eden, they sing praises to God, they deliver messages, they sometimes intervene, they provide editorial commentary, and – on one occasion at least – they assert a little bit of attitude.

In short, angels are not to be discounted.

Rebekah has already explained (or tried her best) that she does not collect angels. Yet, like the un-collection of teapots that came to pass in Pensacola and Brandon, the moment people see more than one in her office they seem to start flying in in droves.

Messengers!

My devotional word this morning is about the opportunity we have to be messengers. Angels know God, they live in the presence of God, they love God, and they are not shy when it comes to delivering messages from and about God.

Our messenger task is simple. We are supposed to tell the good news story. Not condemn. Not browbeat. Not coerce. Not threaten. Not brag. Not make stuff up. Not crow. None of those things but simply this: Share the good news, make the invitation, tell the story.

So I looked around our home after we had decorated (actually there is no “after” – it’s a continual exercise), and started to count. I gave up at seventy-five angels. That’s a lot of excited, highly motivated celestial beings sharing some joy!

Here are some of my favorites:

I have to begin with our “Dresden Angel” who tells the story of hope and promise and resurrection. Then there is the angel fro Haiti, who preaches God’s special interest in the poor, the hungry, and the dispossessed. The delicate golden angel from the Appalachian mountains the Christmas we were expecting Andrew. Rebekah’s bold “Angel with Heart” on the wall. Paper angels. The lace-winged angel watching over Bethlehem…

There are so many. But their message is consistent.

• “Tell the story!”
• “Sing God’s praise!”
• “Invite people home!”
• “Joy to the world!”
• “The newborn king is born!”

Amen to the angel song. Let us all be messengers too! – DEREK