Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God … made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. Philippians 2:5-7
“You’re an angel!” we might say to someone who has been especially kind. But the original meaning of angel is ‘messenger.’ Thus when God sent the message for which the human race had waited so long, He sent an angel: “Today … a Saviour has been born” (Luke 2:11).
As important as the angel was, he was still only the messenger. The message itself was lying in a manger—none other than the incarnate Son of God, come in human flesh to reconcile us to God and restore us to God’s family. God Himself is the ultimate missionary. He crossed the borders that separate earth from heaven, the Creator from the creature. He left eternity and entered time and space so that we might be rescued from sin and receive the gift of eternal life.
The church is rightly concerned about sharing the Good News of salvation with the whole world. But no matter how faithful—or successful—the church is in that task, it remains only the messenger. The church does not exist for its own sake or to attract people to itself. It is God’s instrument, His messenger, to deliver the message from the heart of God to a broken and sinful world.
Prayer: We thank You, loving Lord, that You were willing to become one of us, that we might forever be one with You. Amen.
My Bold Action for Today: When you talk with others about gifts received, add a comment about the real gift you received in Jesus Christ.
Rev. Dr. Edwin Lehman
Today's Bible Readings: Genesis 4-6 Matthew 2
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