December 10

“The heavenly messenger had quieted their fears. He had told them how to find Jesus. With tender regard for their human weakness, he had given them time to become accustomed to the divine radiance. Then the joy and glory could no longer be hidden. The whole plain was lighted up with the bright shining of the hosts of God. Earth was hushed, and heaven stooped to listen to the song,--

"Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, good will toward men."

Oh that today the human family could recognise that song! The declaration then made, the note then struck, will swell to the close of time, and resound to the ends of the earth. When the Sun of Righteousness shall arise, with healing in His wings, that song will be re-echoed by the voice of a great multitude, as the voice of many waters, saying, "Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth." Rev. 19:6.

As the angels disappeared, the light faded away, and the shadows of night once more fell on the hills of Bethlehem. But the brightest picture ever beheld by human eyes remained in the memory of the shepherds. "And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

          Desire of Ages, page 47 from the chapter, 'Unto you a Saviour'

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     Last night’s television featured Birmingham City Council’s choir, an unlikely starring role perhaps, but memorable. The choir, formed by Gareth Malone for the new BBC2 series, The Choir: Sing While You Work. The choir were doing well but needed a spark to mark them out as different. A performance teacher stepped in and invited the choir to start chatting to each other just before they sang. The transition from workplace chatting to full on performance made a significant difference. The performance went from OK to exciting. They are a choir who are going places.

     The shepherds were looking after the sheep. It was night so the sheep were penned in to their folds. The shepherds lay across the door to the fold. They spoke in low voices if they spoke at all. The first angel arrived rather quietly, shining with a 20W glow, wings folded. The first few words were spoken and the glimmer began to turn to a full on dazzling blaze of glory as the rest of the choir turned up for performance.

     There are three things for us to note. If you are going to tell people about your faith in God, you start at the level of the audience. You set the scene gently. The excitement you feel will not be appreciated if you don’t set the background first. People need to know that you are real or they will be frightened off.

     The choir were not there to announce their own brilliance but reflected the glory of their Musical Director, God. It was all about Him. When we want to speak about Jesus we need to speak about Jesus, not ourselves.

     There have been moments in your life when you met God in full glory. Remember those times. You read one of Shiella’s testimonies, the angel delivering daffodils. That memory inspires her. Just like the shepherds in the fields who never forgot that wonderful performance, never forget the times when God appears to you.