GREAT CHURCH, DON’T FORGET THE ANGELS!

Here we are, dreaming about being a Great Church, where Great Leaders are together with Great People are fulfilling the Great Vision.  Some may even smirk “Yeah! Good luck!”

But we need more than “good” luck, a Great Motivation, if we are to build the momentum for God’s inspired Greatness.  As I open the “Steps to Christ,” a classic on spiritual motivation, I read in the second chapter a reminder that we are not great, the originally endowed noble powers and well-balanced mind were perverted through disobedience long ago, and in our strength we will never amount to Greatness.  But I also am reminded of God’s interest to make us great.  People who do not get to heaven are “shut out by their own unfitness for its companionship,” basically, because they did not want it. 

And at the end of the chapter the author describes the Great Motivation “Motives stronger and agencies more powerful could never be brought into operation...when we contemplate the amazing sacrifice that has been made for us...when we try to appreciate the labor and energy that Heaven is expanding to reclaim the lost, and bring them back to the Father’s house....Enjoyment of heaven society of angels, communion and love of God and His Son, the elevation and extension of all our powers through eternal ages – what could be more mighty encouragement to urge us to give the heart’s loving service to our Creator and Redeemer?”

What really got me was the last paragraph. Considering the “Jacob’s ladder” experience (Genesis 28:12) the angels ascending and descending were there not “for decoration” only.  The ladder itself was a mystic metaphor for Christ, and the angels were seen to communicate their fellowship in our lives.  She concludes “Let us place ourselves in right relation to Him who has loved us with amazing love.  Let us avail ourselves of the means provided for us that we may be transformed into His likeness, and be restored to fellowship with the ministering angels.”  WOW!  Did you get that?  How’s your fellowship with your ministering angel?  When were you last aware of your ministering angel, beside you?  Are you ministering together with angels for the sake of people around you?

I believe we can become the Great church, the Great people of Great God, the Great leaders, accomplishing the Great Vision, because we also have Great Angels ministering on our side.  I pray for our fellowship to be restored that we would experience God’s presence in all its fullness as we worship, work, and witness from day to day.