by Dan Jones
(Photo by Tracy Jones. Used by permission.)
This past Saturday, I had the distinct honor, privilege, and blessing of being able to attend the Minnesota Adult and Teen Challenge Christmas Concert at Grace Church in Eden Prairie.
Just before the event began I bowed my head and prayed that the Holy Spirit and a great company of angels would fill that place to the glory of the name of Jesus Christ.
Less than thirty seconds into the first song, I could not control the tears running down my face.
There were 350 people in front of me singing praises to their God with all their souls. The gratitude, the worship, and the heartfelt certainty that they had been saved not just from the death of their mortal bodies but of their eternal souls filled the expanse of that great hall.
“Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:13-14 (NIV)
On that night outside Bethlehem when the mighty angel armies of the LORD appeared to those humble shepherds and filled the night sky praising God, the Bible does not number the size of this “great company” but there are two other instances in Scripture (Psalm 68:17 and Daniel 7:10) when such an assembly of the heavenly host is amassed and it is numbered at “ten thousand time ten thousand.”
Now, I’m not about to say those 350 people are anything like a hundred million angels. In fact, not a one of them would claim to be an angel and more than one of them testified that night that they had certainly not lived a past anything like an angel.
Neither would Mike Weaver of Big Daddy Weave who sang, “All my life I have been called unworthy, Named by the voice of my shame and regret.” (Lyrics from “I am Redeemed.” )
And that’s the point.
That little baby born in that stable wrapped in swaddling clothes and placed in an animal’s food trough is still worthy of the praises of a hundred million angels because He is still saving lives.
He is still Proclaiming Good News to the poor.
He is still giving sight to the blind.
He is still breaking chains and setting prisoners free.
He is still saving souls.
Jesus Christ is still LORD and Savior.
And so I, with those 350 voices and all the staff at Kinship Christian Radio shout “GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST” and a truly blessed and glorious Christmas to all on whom His favor rests through the precious, holy gift of His only begotten Son.
Amen.
Today’s Praise
- Truly He taught us to love one another;
- His law is love and His gospel is peace.
- Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother;
- And in His name all oppression shall cease.
- Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
- Let all within us praise His holy name.
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- Christ is the Lord! O praise His Name forever,
- His power and glory evermore proclaim.
- His power and glory evermore proclaim.
- (Partial lyrics from “O Holy Night” by John Sullivan Dwight, 1855.)