Day 19 – It Came Upon a Midnight Clear

Many years ago in Greenville, Texas, a young college student arrived at my front door. At that time, opening the door was safe, so I did. I listened to him attempt to sell encyclopedias. I watched his face and saw only a tired, lonely teenager. As a young pastor’s wife and mother, we had no money for anything extra, particularly encyclopedias, so instead I spontaneously invited him to share dinner with our family that evening.

He gladly accepted and we spent the evening encouraging him and sharing the truth of Jesus Christ with him….that God had a perfect plan for His life and in following that plan, he would find peace. We also told him not to feel he failed if he pursued a different path. We could tell when he left that he was encouraged, relieved and… actually happy.

We never saw him again. It was such a seemingly random event that I’ve often wondered in years since, if he was an angel disguised actually to encourage us. The words we spoke about rejecting discouragement and defeat were words we, too, needed to hear as we ministered in a tiny mission church. We were also encouraged when he left our home.

Do you ever think about angels? Several years ago people seemed fascinated with them. One television station carried, “Touched By An Angel” which presented scenarios where angels might be found playing a part in our lives and Billy Graham wrote a wonderful book entitled, “Angels: God’s Secret Agents.”

Angels are real. They appeared to the shepherds to announce the coming of Jesus and as this carol reflects, “Still through the cloven skies they come…” Angels are still sent by God to work in the lives of men. We are told in the Bible, “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.” (Hebrews 13:2)

As you listen to today’s carol, thank God with me that He sends His angels as messengers to both guide and protect us. You may never know you’ve been guided by, visited by, or protected by an angel. God is always watching over you, caring and overseeing all the affairs in your life, working even the difficult ones ultimately for your good and His glory. He is there for you. You can trust Him.

It came upon the midnight clear,
that glorious song of old,
from angels bending near the earth
to touch their harps of gold:
“Peace on the earth, good will to men,
from heaven’s all-gracious King.”
The world in solemn stillness lay,
to hear the angels sing.

Still through the cloven skies they come
with peaceful wings unfurled,
and still their heavenly music floats
o’er all the weary world;
above its sad and lowly plains,
they bend on hovering wing,
and ever o’er its Babel sounds
the blessed angels sing.

And ye, beneath life’s crushing load,
whose forms are bending low,
who toil along the climbing way
with painful steps and slow,
look now! for glad and golden hours
come swiftly on the wing.
O rest beside the weary road,
and hear the angels sing!

For lo! the days are hastening on,
by prophet seen of old,
when with the ever-circling years
shall come the time foretold
when peace shall over all the earth
its ancient splendors fling,
and the whole world send back the song
which now the angels sing.

“For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;” (Psalm 91:11)

“Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people.” (Revelation 14:6)

“Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” (Revelation 5:11-12)