Still through the cloven skies they come
with peaceful wings unfurled,
and still their heavenly music floats
o'er all the weary world;
above its sad and lowly plains,
they bend on hovering wing,
and ever o'er its Babel sounds
the blessed angels sing.
Pure Poetry
I am amazed at the noble feats people have undertaken to try and make Christmas a little more normal this year.
I have heard of people rushing down the motorway to pick up a loved one before a deadline sets in, and of others rushing across the country to deliver presents before the said deadline prohibited such travel.
In the light of all the social constraints upon us this year, it is perfectly understandable that we grasp at these precious opportunities to see our loved ones.
But let all who love the Lord spare a thought and a moment for those who do not know the Gospel.
Our Carol author, Edmund Sears, or we should say, Pastor Edmund Sears, spirals away into poetic wonderland with this second verse. He imagines that the angels
still, with peaceful wings unfurled, float their music over all the weary world.
How the Good News Travels
The Gospel does indeed float across the world, not by angels but by messengers. Some of those messengers are evangelists who give their time and energy to sharing the Gospel to all near and far. Some of the messengers are pastors who are called to "do the work of an evangelist." And yet others are ordinary believers who believe that part of their calling as a believer is to fulfill the great commission and "go into all the world and make disicples."
We can invite people to watch our Sunday services online. We can put a tract in a Christmas Card. We can post on Facebook. We can be always praying for opportunities to share a word in season. And we can pray for the Gospel that goes out from our online services too, that it will have powerful effect in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Sad and Lowly Plains?
Pastor Sears imagines the angels singing their message across sad and lowly plains.
Nothing has changed. Across our world and nation there is sadness all around. The sadness of bereavement without hope. The sadness of lives messed up by sin. The sadness of hopeless circumstances and the misery of addiction. And today the additional fog of Covid-19 drapes the world in grey.
The Gospel, if not the angels, still bends on hovering wing, over the chaotic Babel sounds of the world and brings to everyone who will hear it joy and hope.
The Hope of all our sins forgiven!
The Hope of peace with God!
The Hope of the indwelling Comforter!
The Hope of eternal life!
A PRAYER FOR THE DAY
Dear Father in heaven,
We thank you for those who shared the Good News with us. Perhaps a parent, perhaps a friend, perhaps an evangelist.
We pray for every evangelist who burdened for the lost seeks to share the Good News on the highways and byways of life.
We pray that you will help us look out beyond our circle this year and would you lead us to some opportunity to share the Gospel with someone, somewhere?
So that someone will hear the Word and live, and so that heaven will rejoice at the repentance of sinners.
We ask this in the name of Jesus
Amen
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