Advent
Meditation
December
11th
19.
A Sign for You?
Luke
2:12-14 This
will be a sign to 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."
There
is a desire in most of us that says, “Show me, give me a sign.” We feel
sufficiently insecure that we desire to be able to see, to have our
way ahead lit by a sign that says, this way, it's all right. The strange
thing though, when we come to the Bible, is that God isn't very good
with signs. The shepherds were offered a sign: a baby in a manger –
but that meant they had to go down to the town first to find the sign:
act then get the sign.
We
come to God asking for clarity, light on the path ahead, and He tells
us that we are to live by faith not by sight (2 Cor 5:7). Faith in the
Bible is responding to what God says, so our light is His word and that
becomes a lamp to our feet (Psa 119:105), that's why we need to read
it more and more. We're also called to be led by His Spirit (Gal 5:16,25)
which again is something that happens within us, not through our eyes.
When
Moses was talking with God at the burning bush, the Lord gave him a
sign to prove He was with him – the promise that when he had led Israel
out of Egypt,
they would worship at this mountain (Sinai). In others words, when you've
done it you'll know it was me with you! When God speaks words of prophecy
it is so often like that: He says it, you look for it, but don't find
it, He then does it and you look back and realize that it was Him. So
often, it seems, God's ‘signs' require us to move first.
John
in his Gospel speaks of the miracles that Jesus did as ‘signs' (Jn 2:11,
4:54 etc.),
but of course they were only recognized as such by those whose hearts
were open and seeking. Others simply criticized and asked for more ‘signs'
(e.g. Jn 2:18). It seems again and again the Lord wants us to respond
to what He says and then, and only then, it becomes clear. It's when
we step forward trusting, that a voice comes from behind us
saying, “This is the way walk in it” (Isa 30:21). So if you're looking
for a sign from God, in His graciousness He may just give you one (e.g.
to Gideon – Judges 6:36-40),
but more often than not, He waits for you to act in faith before the
sign comes.
So
the angel tells them about the baby who will be God's Chosen One, the
Christ or Messiah (v.11). The fact that he's there, as I said, will
be sufficient for you to believe what I've said is true, is what the
angel is saying. When you look, you will find – but you need to look
first. That's how it works with God – then and now!
Then
it's as if heaven couldn't contain itself for suddenly there is a great
company – very many – angels, all singing of God's greatness.
The Christmas story is littered with angelic appearances. It's as if
heaven is coming to earth to accompany the coming of the Son. Of course
it wasn't until much later that Jesus himself spoke about how he had
always existed and had come down to earth from heaven (Jn 6:33,38,41,51,58).
The glory that had been in heaven, now somehow compressed, was now on
the earth (Phil 2:6-8). The presence of the singing angels is not the
incredible thing; it's the presence of the very Son of God who is the
incredible thing, God on earth. This presence on earth of the Son was
evidence of the wonder (glory) of God's plans for mankind, peace that
will be brought between God and man, through this Son. The angels are
singing of the wonder that is possible for you and me – peace with God!
If
you wish to e-mail us any comment on this meditation please click here
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tony.thomas@rochfordcc.co.uk
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