Pause
Advent — a season of mystery. A swaddled baby born to save the world. Angels bearing tidings with curious wonder.
Over two millennia of celebrations, yet the mysteries of God taking on flesh continue unfolding. Open your eyes. Watch and wait. Glorious secrets still await you.
Let the mystery in like a gentle breeze.
Ponder
“And now this Good News has been announced to you by those who preached in the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen.”
If there is one set of characters that dominates the drama of Christ’s birth, it is the angels. What would the Christmas story be without Gabriel stunning Zechariah in the Temple? Or announcing God’s call to Mary? Or appearing in Joseph’s dreams? Or filling the night sky with a glorious chorus for shepherds?
But the angels’ involvement stretched far beyond the holy family’s humble beginnings. They warned Joseph of danger, cared for Jesus in the wilderness, and strengthened Him in Gethsemane. You almost sense they hovered nearby — watching, waiting, longing for the moment they might minister to Him.
As it turns out, that is exactly what they did. When Peter drew his sword as the religious elite arrested Jesus, He told His disciples that He could call down more than twelve legions of angels — tens of thousands — to fight for Him if He desired.
Consider those angels — waiting on high, listening for their Master’s direction. Can you imagine Gabriel sharing details with his fellow angelic beings about the Almighty’s plan to enter a woman’s womb? Can you hear that heavenly host gathering to sing over a band of peasants on a hillside? What would they have thought as they watched their Master sacrifice His life to redeem humankind? Would these things ever make sense to the angels who existed to do Christ’s bidding?
At first glance, the answer would seem to be no, but Paul offers this breathtaking truth: God is making His wisdom known to the heavenly realms — through us. Through our redemption stories. Through the ways Christ’s light transforms our weaknesses into beauty. Angels lean in, watching with wonder as the gospel continues unfolding in our ordinary lives.
So as we celebrate the mysteries of salvation this Christmas, let us remember that heaven watches with awe. May your life and mine tell a story that fills angels with wonder.
Pray
Consider that your life is part of God’s ongoing revelation of His wisdom to the heavenly realms. What would you want your life to say to the angels today about what God has done for you?
Make a list of what Christ has redeemed, restored, or carried in your life. Give thanks. Worship Him for the wonder of being His beloved child.
Practice
Look around for angel decorations — on trees, wreaths, store shelves, or glowing lights. Each time you see one, pause and remember this profound truth: God is revealing the beauty of His redemption story through your life, and heaven is watching with wonder.
Heaven is watching with wonder.