Angels from the realms of glory,
  Wing your flight o’er all the earth;
Ye who sang creation’s story
  Now proclaim Messiah’s birth.
Come and worship, come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King.

Angels, from the Realms of Glory
By: James Montgomery, 1771-1854 (1816)

Listen to this simple piano version as you read, or watch the video complete with lyrics then read.  Please make certain to enjoy the video log below.

We continue our journey through Advent as we look at the second part of this stanza.  We started with the angel host, and now consider how they were there at the creation, and also present to herald the coming of redemption in the birth of Messiah, the anointed One of God.  Let’s think about this.

Start at the Very Beginning

It’s a very good place to start.  And that is where the praises of the angels began.  They sang creation’s story as it unfolded.

When the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy? Job 38:7 ESV

Angels are referred to in many different ways throughout Scripture, but one of them is “sons of God”.  Here we read that they “shouted for joy” at the creation of the world.    

Colossians 1:16 says that all things were created in Christ.  They were there when He was making all things, and they are still there as He is remaking all things through His work of redemption.  If you listen closely, you can almost hear them singing today as their echoes ring across eternity.

But what does this mean for us?  The ones who were offering praise to God as He created all things, were still the first in line when it came time to offer praise for His sending His Son.  We should follow their lead.  They joined the stars that first morning, and continued their praise, even upping the ante by revealing their glory to the shepherds, in the moment Christ’s natal star appeared.  We encourage them to continue to offer their praise, but must be willing to add ours to it.

So will you?  Today, join your voice in extending the invite to come and worship to someone.  How can you do that?  The Christmas season provides many opportunities to invite people to join in the worship of the Christ.  How can you invite someone to join you in it?  Maybe an event at church or in the community?  A Christmas Eve celebration?  Commit to find some way to invite some more character’s into this greatest of stories.

Join the Praise

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”  Luke 2:14ESV

These are the words the multitude of angels sang in grateful chorus the night of Messiah’s birth.  To proclaim it best, they gave glory to God first, and then extended peace to all who choose to please God. May we always start by giving glory to God, then extending the offer of peace to all who will walk in God’s ways.

• He was worthy at creation.  So they praised Him.
• He was worthy in Bethlehem.  So they praised Him.
• He is worthy today. So they praise Him.
• He will be worthy eternally.  So they will praise Him.

When you give glory to God by praising Him for sending Jesus to us, you are joining the eternal praises of God offered specifically for the Incarnation.  God became flesh and dwelt among us.  It is as if you are actually singing your praise with those angels over the pasture outside of Bethlehem.  Incredible!   But that is not all…

You also enter into those moments when you extend peace by sharing what Jesus has done for you.  If you have decided to spend your life ascribing to God the worth that is due His name He is pleased with you.  Even though chaos may develop in our lives at times we can still have peace despite those circumstances.  When you live that out before others, they see that something is different about you.  That gives you the opportunity to speak of the peace you have found in Christ, and that in turns gives Him glory.

It is a powerful cycle we are invited to step into, and welcome others into as well.

Have you ever shared with anyone the peace you have found in Christ?  As you consider inviting someone to join you in giving God glory with you at some point in the season, pray about an opportunity to share with them the peace you have found.  It may just make al the difference in whether they are intrigued enough to check it out for themselves.

Are these thoughts helping you to develop greater spiritual awareness?  Sign-up in the form to the right above to get updates of new tools to help you be Resonant.

Below is content always available to Subscribers, sometimes to Free Members, and occasionally to everyone.  Want to learn more about accessing all the additional material in the Subscriber Content Library, click here.  Or check out some other samples at our Free Member Content Library.  We have lots of tools and lots of options designed to help you be Resonant!  Check them out today!!

Everyone enjoy this podcast and transcript below!  It features meditative music and moments to contemplate the Scriptures and reflections shared.

Image Attributions
Ye Who Sang – https://pixabay.com/illustrations/music-clef-musical-note-background-2087771/
Creation’s Story – https://pixabay.com/photos/meadow-green-meadow-flower-meadow-2401911/
Messiah’s Birth – https://pixabay.com/illustrations/jesus-christ-god-holy-spirit-3852478/

I need Thee, oh, I need Thee;
  Every hour I need Thee;
Oh, bless me now, my Savior,
  I come to Thee.

I Need Thee Every Hour
By: Annie S. Hawks, 1836-1911 (1872)

Listen to this beautiful piano version as you read, or watch the video then read. Please be sure to experience the worship-cultivating podcast below.

As we close out these six weeks of meditating on this great hymn text, we take it home with a sincere cry for God to bless us.  We come to Him because we know we need Him.  We acknowledge that one last time together.  Let’s think about this.

Supply

What a bold prayer!  An emphatic “bless me now my Savior”.  Not only bless me, but now.

On what grounds would someone approach God so boldly?  The grounds that Scripture declares He has already made the provision of our need available to us.  Are you bold enough to ask for this blessing?

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 ESV

Did you notice where the supply for the blessing comes from?  God’s riches in glory in Christ Jesus.  This might tempt you to believe that the supply will only be eventual, when we arrive in glory. But it seems clear this Scripture speaks of a needs more immediate.  

The other amazing thing is the extent of God’s supply.  It does not say God will meet most of your needs does it?  No, it says He will supply every need of yours.  How wonderful and generous is that?  Think on that for just a moment.

But one more thing to consider.  The person of Jesus Christ.  The Father provides out of His riches in Christ Jesus.  The provision finds its source in Christ.  Jesus is the source and the conduit of the blessing.  He is the blesser and the One who delivers the blessing.  And He is the One who makes us aware our need in the first place, and then prompts us to reach out for it.  

So when was the last time you asked God to bless you?  When did you last cry out to Him and acknowledge your need?  This morning?  Yesterday?   A week ago?  Last July?  If you will approach with a humble posture confessing your need you can boldly request your blessing.  Why wait?  Do it now.

Without Demand

We do not have to demand God supply our needs.  On the contrary, He has already made the supply available even before we ask.

Yet there is something we have to do.  We have to come to Him.  We need to act on His invitation to come.

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Matthew 11:28 ESV

Seems pretty straightforward and an incredible offer.  So why do not more people come? Many reasons.

• They think they will have to give up more than they gain.  FALSE.
• They think they have to get their act together before they come. FALSE
• They are not convinced Jesus invitation is for them. FALSE
• They are not sure they qualify, if they are weary or burdened enough. FALSE

Do any of these reasons keep you from coming often, or coming at all?  Jesus is ready to give you rest.  He has already made it available to you.  There is nothing more you need to do that receive it, by coming to Him as you are.

Where does your journey begin?  The same place this hymn did.  Acknowledging you need God.

Where do many who started get lost?  Forgetting they continually need God.

Is there an area of your life that you say you have surrendered to God, but you keep trying to control?  You may lack rest because you are still striving.  Decide today to come to Jesus, with all your stuff, and sit it down at His feet and then take a seat as well.  Ask Him to show you if you have been habitually carrying something around which is robbing you of His promised rest.  If He reveals something, lay it down and find rest today.  Then repeat that exercise rest seems elusive.  It’s one way to practice your need of God.

Are these thoughts helping you to develop greater spiritual awareness?  Sign-up in the form to the right above to get updates of new tools to help you be Resonant.

Below is content always available to Subscribers, sometimes to Free Members, and occasionally to everyone.  Want to learn more about accessing all the additional material in the Subscriber Content Library, click here.  Or check out some other samples at our Free Member Content Library.  We have lots of tools and lots of options designed to help you be Resonant!  Check them out today!!

Everyone enjoy this podcast and transcript below!  It features meditative music and moments to contemplate the Scriptures and reflections shared.

Image Attributions
Bless Me – https://pixabay.com/photos/person-girl-human-joy-sunset-sun-2806280/
Hand – https://pixabay.com/illustrations/hand-helping-hand-help-assistance-1925875/

I need Thee every hour, most Holy One;
Oh, make me Thine indeed, Thou blessed Son.

I Need Thee Every Hour
By: Annie S. Hawks, 1836-1911 (1872)

Listen to this beautiful piano version as you read, or watch the video then read. Please be sure to experience the worship-cultivating podcast below.

Having established who it is exactly that we are calling out to and why, we turn our attention to the remedy and it’s implications.  Think of it in terms of possession and position.  Let’s think about this.

Possession

As I look at this second line, it appears to me to be an issue of possession.  Let me explain.

We are asking for the Most Holy One to make us His possession.  We see this as a remedy for our neediness.  If we belong to Him we assume we will have everything we need because He will supply it.   This is a reasonable assumption since He has not only chosen to meet our deepest need, salvation, but did so by becoming the provision.

Who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. Titus 2:14 ESV

Jesus made us His by offering His life on our behalf.  His sacrifice redeemed us and purified us for Him. We are His people. 

It is interesting how the Scripture decides to describe us.  Of all the ways it could characterize God’s people, it says we will be zealous for good works.  Since zealous is a bit uncommon, let me define it.  

To have zeal is to posses great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or objective.  As God’s people we must have a great enthusiasm for good works.  This preoccupation with the work God has in store for us informs our focus.  We are not fixated on our need.  Instead we are intentional about meetings the needs of others, spiritually and otherwise.

Do you see the connection between being a person of God, and doing the work of God?  Do you understand how that preoccupation takes your focus from your need and puts it squarely on the needs of others?  Where are you that continuum?  Have you asked Jesus to make you His possession?  If so, is your life marked by a desire to do the work of God?  Ask God to show you how you can shift your focus from your need to someone elses.

Position

Jesus making me His possession has some implications.  Some of them have to do with doing as indicated above, others with being.  Though there are distinctions to be made between these two, it is also important to realize the importance of the being simply because it actually informs the doing.  and our being flows out of the One who has taken possession of us.

He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”  Matthew 17:5 ESV

At His baptism and here at His transfiguration, the Father acknowledges His Son, His beloved, blessed Son.  Moses and Elijah also appeared with Him, but it was the Son whose sacrifice makes us the possession of the Father.  The Son changes our position with the Father from one of orphans to adopted children.

The three disciples on the mount with Jesus wanted to create tabernacles to worship there, one each for Jesus, Moses and Elijah, but Jesus had something else in mind.  He wanted to make them tabernacles, caring around the presence of God. He wants to do the same in us.  

And He has positioned us to be reflectors of His glory.  Our dependence on Him is one of the best ways we reflect His presence, not by pretending we have it all together, but acknowledging we know the One who does.

When we do that, we are transfigured.  We become more like Christ.  We are filled with light and love.  And God is pleased with us.

What situations do you already know will be a part of your day where you will need Him?  Determine now to reflect the position you have in Christ to the world around you.  Not sure how to do that?  Simply ask for help and trust your position in Christ to supply it.  

Are these thoughts helping you to develop greater spiritual awareness?  Sign-up in the form to the right above to get updates of new tools to help you be Resonant.

Below is content always available to Subscribers, sometimes to Free Members, and occasionally to everyone.  Want to learn more about accessing all the additional material in the Subscriber Content Library, click here.  Or check out some other samples at our Free Member Content Library.  We have lots of tools and lots of options designed to help you be Resonant!  Check them out today!!

Everyone enjoy this podcast and transcript below!  It features meditative music and moments to contemplate the Scriptures and reflections shared.

Image Attributions
Crucifixion – https://pixabay.com/photos/good-friday-crucifixion-1734261/
Transfiguration – https://pixabay.com/photos/church-window-church-window-jesus-1704825/