Picture this: while Mary is crying out in pain giving birth to the baby Jesus, the angels are crowding around to get a front row seat to this world-changing event. The scriptures are clear that angels have a limited knowledge of the plans of God. Peter writes in his first letter when referring to the miracle of salvation…

Even angels long to look into these things. 1 Peter 1:12 NIV

Angels were created by God to serve His purposes and be messengers of His grace. The scriptures also say that human beings are more important in God’s kingdom than the angels and that, when a person dies, he or she becomes a glorified saint rather than an angel with wings.

Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation? Hebrews 4:14 NIV

After the birth of Jesus, God ordered an angel to appear to some shepherds out the fields. (I like to imagine that the angels clamored in heaven to all be involved in the announcement so God sent them all!)

An uncountable number of angels descended above these shepherds with only one angel visible at first. This angel speaks first…

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Luke 2:8-12 NIV

Then, in an instant, the sky is filled with the whole host of angels speaking (not singing as so many songs portray) as one voice:

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

The sound of the host of angels all speaking together must have been deafening!! Did the shepherds have to cover their ears? Could people in Bethlehem hear the angels? It must have been quite the sight because the shepherds immediately decided this was something they needed to see for themselves.

Prayer Emphasis: Meditate today on the idea that God created to angels to be His messengers and to minister to you in your times of need.

For Family Discussion…
How does it make you feel to know that you are God’s most precious creation and that the angels were created to minister to you?
If you were one of the shepherds to whom the angels appeared, how would you have reacted to the entire sky being filled with angels?