(THIS WEEK: Smart Christmas Shoppers.)
COMMENTS: awaken@Sonrisen.com
One of the perennial first-stops for spiritual Christmas shoppers is attending Handel’s Messiah.
From the moment the conductor walks to the stage to the dramatic violins opening Handel’s Messiah to the Hallelujah Chorus to the trumpets sounding to a musical-and-audience “Amen,” there is not a role within the orchestra and vocalists that doesn’t prove pivotal in delivering this masterpiece.
What is ironic about Handel’s Messiah is that of the great possibility that a share and possibly a majority of those in attendance do not recognize Jesus as their one and only messiah - the expected and anointed one who takes away their sin. It’s even plausible that the same percentage of those who do not know Jesus as their personal messiah in the audience is similar to the percentage of the world’s population of those who do not know Yeshua.
This percentage loves the genius of the music but rejects or is ignorant of the significance of the message behind this oratorio. This is analogous to those who love the beauty that only God can be responsible for and yet somehow dismiss the maker of ALL beauty.
Nevertheless, like evangelistic efforts, Messiah must continue to be performed no matter the reaction of the listener. In the very “body” of the text is the scriptural reference that “By his stripes we are healed.”
Whether at home or work or at play and whether in deed or action or both, this beautiful invitation is to be offered by every member of God’s “orchestra” and choir.
It’s only by keeping our eyes on The Conductor that Messiah will continue to draw an “Amen” from a listening heart.
PORTAL TO HEAVEN: In order for Jesus the Messiah to be proclaimed in such a way that the entire globe hears heaven’s call, each member of the Body of Christ in every village, town and city must have their gift tuned and ready for the direction of the conductor. I must ask myself, “Is this the case?”
I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will[e] believe in Me through their word…For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another…Christ also is the head of the church…And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;
John 17:20 (NIV), Romans 12:4,5 (NASB), Ephesians 5:23 (NASB), Ephesians 4:11 (NASB)