The term ‘angel’ in its most simplistic form is defined as ‘messengers.’ The messengers of Christmas include the angel that appeared to Mary, the angel that appeared to Joseph, and the angel that appeared to the Shepherds. Though we are not angelic beings, for we are much more since we are created in the image of God; we too are messengers of Christmas. We are called to go and tell the Good News just as the Shepherds who were so compelled to spread abroad the things that they saw and believed in. As messengers of Christmas for today, it is our purpose that Christ be magnified in us. Philippians 1:20 says, “According to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.”[1] All that we know of as Christmas is wrapped up in Jesus. All the celebrations that we enjoy with the tasty food and the exchanging of gifts is meant for one purpose: that Christ is magnified. We celebrate for what Jesus has done for us. The greatest way in which we can celebrate, the greatest honor we could bestow upon Him; is that Christ is magnified in us so that others may know Him as we do. We are the messengers and as the messengers of Christmas for today, Jesus Christ alone must be magnified in and through us.
The Apostle Paul stated that the expectation and hope of his life was that Christ is magnified in his body whether by life or death. Paul’s desire above all else was to make Jesus known. That Jesus would increase as Paul decreased. This should also be our desire. That we should live to make Jesus known. That Christ alone would be lifted up so that all may come and know Him. This is our God-given purpose. This is who we are. Messengers of Christmas for today.
Meditating on Philippians 1:20 we must ask ourselves: what does it look like for Christ to be magnified in me? How should I live so that Christ alone is magnified? As the messengers of Christmas for today Christ should be magnified both in Word and in Deed.
In Word. The angels appeared to Mary, Joseph, and the Shepherds in the most unique and magnificent ways. To Mary it was a simple visit in her home. To Joseph it was in a dream. To the Shepherds, it was an amazing display of the glory of God. In all three occurrences, it was obvious to all whom the angels appeared that the message spoken was from the Lord. And in all three occurrences the angels did not just put on a show, they spoke. They used words to declare the Good News that the Savior has come. You and I have been given the task to be the messengers of God’s Word today. We are the ‘called out ones’, we are ambassadors of Christ, we are the church. Therefore, we must use our mouths to sound out the message that we have been steward with.
There are two questions to consider as we seek for Christ to be magnified in Word. The first question is simply: what should we speak? The message we are to proclaim is the same message declared by the angels. We are to speak the Gospel. We are to proclaim with our mouths the Good News of Jesus. Romans 10:14 says, “But how can they call on Him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about Him? And how can they hear without a preacher?”[2] A preacher is not limited to the task of a pastor. To preach is to proclaim. Therefore, all who proclaim are preachers. Who is to preach? All, who know Christ as their Savior. We are all called to preach or proclaim the Good News of Jesus. There is a lost and dying world all around us. Millions of people are living out their days on this earth with no hope. You and I have been given a message of hope. We are God’s messengers, and the message we are to proclaim is the hope of the Gospel. Apart from preaching. Apart from the proclamation of the Gospel, no one can be saved. They cannot believe without a preacher who proclaims the Gospel to them.
A second question to consider is: how are we to speak? Much study is given to methodology. Many books have been written on various methods of sharing the Gospel with the lost. However, the manner by which we proclaim the Gospel can be narrowed to a two-fold emphasis. First, we are to speak with boldness. In the preaching of the Gospel, one must not shy away from the truth. The Gospel must be preached with bold clarity. It cannot be watered down. In Paul’s request to the church to pray for him, he asked the Ephesian church to pray “…for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”[3] How can one come to saving faith in Jesus unless they hear and understand the Gospel? How can they hear and understand the Gospel if we do not open our mouths? There is too much at stake. It is a matter of life and death. It is a matter of Heaven or Hell. We cannot be silent. Secondly, we are to speak with love. Ephesians 4:15 says, “But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into Him who is the head —Christ.”[4] As we proclaim the message of Christmas, the Gospel; we should do so with an attitude of love. There are a couple of considerations to meditate on from Ephesians 4:15. One is that we speak the truth because we love. It is imperative that we understand that to love someone is to be truthful with them. Patting them on the back and condoning their sin is not love. Rather, love is when you show them in scripture the error of their ways and their need for repentance. The most unloving thing you can do is to leave someone in their sin and not help them to get things right. Therefore, we speak the truth of the Gospel because we love. We must also speak the truth in love. This has to do with our methodology. Sometimes, the issue to not what we say but how we say it. This requires a certain level of discernment. For everyone responds in different ways. There may be one with whom you can be a little more blunt and firm, while there may be someone else that needs to be handled tenderly. Praying for the Holy Spirit to give discernment in how we proclaim the Gospel in various circumstances and with various people is key to being faithful messengers of Christmas.
In Deed. In addition to Christ being magnified in word, he should also be magnified in deed. As messengers of Christmas, Christ should be magnified not only in the words that we speak but also in the deeds that we perform. As it is often said, “actions speak louder than words.” There are three ways in which Christ is magnified in our deeds. First, Christ is magnified through simple acts of kindness. There is nothing that gets someone’s attention more than a simple act of kindness. Just a simple thing such as bringing someone a cup of coffee, or for non-coffee drinkers such as myself, a smoothie, can go a long way to encourage them and to put a smile on their face. Other acts of kindness may include sitting with a homebound person or helping someone with home repairs. Such actions draw people to Christ and as result, Christ is magnified.
Another way we as messengers of Christmas can magnify Christ in our deeds is through gifts of love. The Bible teaches us to give sacrificially. We should be faithful in tithing but also in giving sacrificially out of a heart of love. Such giving opens the door for the advancement of the Gospel. You see, a messenger of Christmas is one who proclaims the Gospel because they love people. The thing that drives them is their love for God and for people. As the scripture says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. And love your neighbor as yourself.” Loving God and loving people is the starting and ending point of evangelism. We are to be motivated by love. As we offer gifts of love, we show our love for people which softens their hearts and opens the door to share the Gospel.
A final way that we as messengers of Christmas can magnify Christ through our deeds is to have a Christ-like attitude. Philippians 2:1-7 says, “If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, sharing the same feelings, focusing on one goal. Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, sharing the same feelings, focusing on one goal. Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage. Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men.”[5] What was the attitude of Christ? It was one of self-sacrifice. It was an attitude of humility. As messengers of Christmas, we are to live with such an attitude of self-sacrifice and humility. One with a Christ-like attitude is one who desires the best for others. What is the best? That we may know Jesus and make Him known. This should be our desire for one another. That we would grow to know Jesus more and to live to make Him known to a lost world. One with a Christ-like attitude will humbly seek the best in others so that Christ may be magnified all the more.
As the messengers of Christmas for today, may Christ be magnified in Word and in Deed so that the world may know of the Saviors love for them.
[1] The New King James Version (Php 1:20). (1982). Thomas Nelson.
[2] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (Ro 10:14). (2009). Holman Bible Publishers.
[3] The New King James Version (Eph 6:19–20). (1982). Thomas Nelson.
[4] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (Eph 4:15). (2009). Holman Bible Publishers.
[5] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (Php 2:5–7). (2009). Holman Bible Publishers.
Pastor Chris Noland 