What do memoirists have in common with angels?

Last week we compared memoirists to Christmas shepherds keeping watch over their flocks by night. (If you missed it, click on What do memoirists have in common with shepherds keeping watch over their flocks at night?)

Today let’s see how memoirists are like the Christmas angel who spoke to those shepherds in their fields.

Angels: Even though I’ve read about them in the Bible and sing Christmas songs about them, I admit I haven’t given them a lot of thought. But here’s what I’m learning:

The Hebrew word for “angel” means “messenger.” In the Bible, we see angels as messengers sent by God, agents of God.

“God has a limitless host of heavenly messengers who watch out for us, help us, and inspire us,” writes Lloyd Ogilvie in Silent Strength for My Life.

“The New Testament is filled with references to angels. They announced Jesus’ birth, ministered to Him after the temptation . . . and were present at the tomb on Easter morning.

“Angels mediated strength and hope to the apostles and played an active part in the growth of the early church.”

And then Ogilvie points out this: “And they are active in our lives today.”

Have you ever thought about angels being active in your life?

Maybe, like me, you’ve assumed angels were ancient beings from Bible times, but no, God still sends His angels to minister to you and me and our loved ones.

Think about that for a minute. Think about the time when someone looked you in the eye and spoke words to sustain you. Did it occur to you that he might be an angel, a messenger of God?

Maybe when you were scared out of your wits, someone encouraged you to be brave instead of afraid. Had God sent you an angel?

Perhaps a friend sent you a card when you were sick and promised to pray for you. An angel?

Maybe someone called and prayed with you. An angel?

But there’s another aspect of angels, messengers of the Lord.

“You and I are meant to be angels,” Lloyd Ogilvie continues. “We are to be messengers of the Good News, hope, and encouragement. . . . We know how much people need love, affirmation, and practical help.”

When I read that, it occurred to me that memoirists and angels have that purpose in common: to be messengers of all kinds of good news, hope, and encouragement.

Let’s look at that Bible passage about the Christmas angel:

“An angel of the Lord appeared to them [the shepherds],

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 of great joy

that will be for all the people.

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you;

he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you:

You will find a baby wrapped in cloths

and lying in a manger.’”

(Luke 2:9-12)

First, try to imagine how startled those shepherds must have been

when, on that silent night,

out of the vast, black, hushed heavens,

“God’s angel stood among them

and God’s glory blazed around them.

They were terrified” (Luke 2:9, The Message).

“The darkness was replaced by a glorious light—

the shining light of God’s glory” (The Voice).

“Suddenly . . . the radiance of the Lord’s glory

surrounded them” (NLT).

Those shepherds were frightened! Terrified! Wouldn’t you be, too?

But the angel hurried to reassure them: Don’t be scared. Just listen: I have good news for you.

Think about a memoir you could write—a memoir you need to write before it’s too late. Writing a book can be a daunting, rugged task, but if you finish it and hand it to others, you, a messenger of God, could encourage readers not to be afraid (verse 10).

If you finish your memoir, because of you, as an angel, a messenger of God, others might: 

• learn about the Savior (Luke 2:11)
• choose to be an overcomer
• change their parenting style
• love their spouse in a better way
• eat healthier food
• choose joy instead of bitterness
• make God the top priority (see Mark 12:30)
• learn how to avoid mistakes and make good decisions
• live a life of integrity rather than compromise
• choose generosity over selfishness
• forgive others
• realize they aren’t alone in fighting addictions
• cling to hope despite illness and repeated years of disappointments (see Kathleen Pooler’s new memoir, Just the Way He Walked: A Mother’s Story of Healing and Hope)
• open their eyes to new possibilities and change the course of their lives
• and so much more!

Writing books, speaking words, sending handwritten notes—all are ministries carried out by the Lord’s angels.

Believe it—

God can use you as one of His angels,

one of His messengers

of all things good.

What an honor. What a privilege.