Nougat 11

I have friends who’ve experienced up close angelic experiences and who see angels all the time. They still exist folks. What would your response be to/was your response on seeing an angel for the first time? Consider Today’s Holy Nougat

“Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified,” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭2‬:‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Angels Reflect God’s Radiance

I’ve mentioned the issue of counterfeits before – arguing that we don’t have counterfeits unless there’s the genuine, real deal. Inasmuch as we believers acknowledge the existence and presence of demonic forces (counterfeits), we ought to recognize that angels still exist and thus may be visible on this side of eternity.

Now I’m not referring to Della Reese or the rest of her cast from ‘Touched by an Angel’.

Nor am I referring to our fully costumed children during the Christmas pageant each year.

I’m not even speaking to the inscriptions placed by loving family and friends on tombstones.

I’m talking about messengers (emissaries), sent by God to update us on a particular move of God in our lives, or those who intervene in our circumstances to protect us from enemy attacks.

In our Nougat, the angelic visitation is to ordinary people. ‘Ordinary’, though some would argue that they were below the pale. Although David was selected by God as king over Israel, I strongly doubt that his ascendancy made shepherding noble in the eyes of the public. Not when one spent more time outside with the sheep than inside away from the elements. And we may also recall that David was the ‘runt of the litter.’ He was the last child, and thus got the ‘dirty work’. Shepherding was not at the top of the social chain. Nor was it associated with coveted spiritual roles.

That being said, God choose to send angels to those people. They were being brought into God’s inner circle, as God was about to reveal God’s most glorious, spectacular, and life-altering move for humanity’s gain. Those shepherds were about to hear about the birth of Jesus.

Wow!

When we read or hear of this moment, I’m sure that many of us would have loved to be there in person, to have that experience.

Have we stopped to think about that initial moment when the angel appeared ‘suddenly’? So one minute we’re minding our own business – well, our boss’ business – the next moment, there’s a light, and the distinct impression of a ‘presence’, and it was there … among them! Erm, I am not sure if I’d have heard the next words. No I’m not exaggerating, because the biblical visitations presented as walking, talking humans! The shepherds would have known each other. They’d have known how many of them were on duty, and this being appeared in their midst from nowhere. Yup, reason to be afraid, terrified even.

How would you respond?

But

The angel, and by extension the shepherds, was surrounded by the radiance of God’s glory. Proof of their Origin. The devil can present as an angel of light, but is unlikely to be able to counterfeit God’s glory. The angel’s message was partly confirmed by the radiance of Gods glory even before conveying God’s message!

Siblings, we are cautioned to treat strangers with courtesy and respect as we may be entertaining angels (see Hebrews 13:1-2). This is vitally important. The other piece of the mix, however, is what we do when we realize that we’re in the presence of God’s messenger.

When/If the fear comes and subsides, what do we do next?

John fell on his knees (see Revelation 22:8); and was told ‘worship only God!’

Abraham sought to feed them, thinking they were just passers by (see Genesis 18).

Isaiah humbled himself before God in the presence of the angels, and received the power to go forth in God’s name (see Isaiah 6).

I pray we have the opportunity to entertain angels, but more so, to receive the message from God’s emissaries, and move in obedience.

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May all we seek be found in Christ