The “Glorious Appellation” – Sunday Thought For The Day

As most of my readers know, I am a word-person.  I love words and I love studying the etymology of them.  I especially embrace the study of words found in scripture.  The words used by the writers of the holy bible and their meaning boost my spirit as I am reading and studying the word of God.  Often are the times that I ruminate on one or two words for days.  For me, time spent accordingly is like sitting alone with my Savior, who is my instructor and mentor, my friend, my counselor and my Lord.

Thus it was yesterday morning as I returned to Luke 2:14 (KJV), a verse which I have taught, preached and used in public discourses many times.  It was like returning to greet an old and very dear friend.  My friend above all others.

I imagined how special the moment must have been that night as even the heavenly host rejoiced, and praised God at the conclusion of the angel of the Lord’s announcement of the Christ Child’s birth.  Angels in heaven, who themselves will never experience the atonement, i.e., salvation that we are blessed to receive by faith.

As I read and absorbed the words of the angel once again, my heart was moved once again by the words of the heavenly host.

Imagine what it must have been like for the shepherds who first received the announcement of the birth of Messiah.  The words or as some believe the lyrics of the heavenly host singing out: “…on earth peace, good will toward men” are impossible for me to collect in the space of what Bengel called, “a glorious appellation.”

Think what it must have been like as a lonely gathering of shepherds keeping watch over their flocks of sheep in the dark of night, had their space suddenly invaded by “the” angel of the Lord who was sent bearing the message righteous men had long waited to witness.  Then, while having  not an instant to digest what the angel of the Lord had just spoken unto them, there “suddenly appeared a heavenly host.  The transliteration of the original word “exaiphnés” translated “suddenly” in v.13, is used to describe an action or event that occurs unexpectedly or without warning. It conveys the sense of something happening abruptly or instantaneously.

The heavenly host concludes with the unshakable promise of God, for which the Messiah was born that night: “…on earth peace, good will toward men.”

But, that promise can only be claimed “by grace, through faith.”  Not by being baptized as a baby nor by confirmation and not by good works.  By faith alone we can be saved.

I would be remiss, if I did not note that just as “suddenly” as the heavenly host appeared seemingly out of nowhere, even more so will be the second coming of Christ Jesus, to gather His own, i.e., born again believers in the air, i.e., the rapture, which will be followed on aerth by the great tribulation.

This is important to remember, because if we have not accepted Christ as our Savior at that time, we will be left behind.  After the angel of the Lord’s announcement and the choral of the heavenly host, the shepherds went with haste to see the Christ child.

If the Lord returns before we have accepted Him, the price for our rejection and delay will be great. We must decide if our rejection this moment is worth taking that risk.

READ:

Luke 2:8-14 (KJV)

8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.