When Jesus came He embodied His followers with an amazing gift, the Holy Spirit, that came to dwell in us. The Holy Spirit came to equip us to live like Jesus, to love like He loves, to serve like He serves, to spread hope like He spreads.
Often, when we talk about angels, we think of how an angel protects us while we sleep, in a car wreck, from the the house fire, or the job loss. And yes, those heavenly beings are real and active in our broken world, but sometimes the “angels among us” are ordinary people. Ordinary people that sweep in with angel attributes, living the Jesus way, that radically improve our perspectives, our attitudes and even our circumstances.
Jesus followers are “angels” in the flesh. They are joyful, peaceful, trusting, hope filled, positive, loving, kind, generous people who are demonstrating the ways of Jesus in our very broken and pain-filled world. The true followers of Jesus are a demonstration of His power, His grace, His mercy and His loving kindness. In Jesus fashion, nothing is “about” them. The way of Jesus is humility, selflessness, surrender and sacrifice.
In the last month, the LIFT youth group of Morningstar United Methodist Church has met the definition of the Alabama song, “Angels Among Us.”
Here are the lyrics….
Angels Among Us – written by Alabama
“I was walkin’home from school
On a cold winter day,
Took a short cut through the woods
And I lost my way.
It was gettin’ late, and I was scared and alone.
Then a kind old man took my hand, and led me home.
Mama couldn’t see him,
But he was standing there,
And I knew in my heart
He was the answer to my prayer.
Oh, I believe there are Angels Among Us, Sent down to us from somewhere up above.
They come to you and me in our darkest hours To show us how to live To teach us how to give To guide us with a light of love.
When life held troubled times
And had me down on my knees
There’s always been someone
To come along and comfort me
A kind word from a stranger
To lend a helping hand
A phone call from a friend
Just to say I understand
Now ain’t it kind of funny
At the dark end of the road
Someone light the way with just a single ray of hope.
Oh, I believe there are Angels Among Us, Sent down to us from somewhere up above.
They come to you and me in our darkest hours To show us how to live To teach us how to give To guide us with a light of love.
They wear so many faces,
Show up in the strangest places
And grace us with their mercies in our time of need.
Oh, I believe there are Angels Among Us, Sent down to us from somewhere up above.
They come to you and me in our darkest hours To show us how to live To teach us how to give To guide us with a light of love.
To guide us with a light of love.”
The LIFT youth group is being taught how to live like Jesus and they make Grace Klein Community better by guiding every other community member with their light of love. Not one complaint. Not one why or do we have to? Not one I’m hungry or I’m thirsty? Not one when do we get to leave?
They come in with joy and leave with joy. They are ready to lend a helping hand. Their eagerness and their willingness is contagious. The way they jump in and serve is a demonstration of Jesus. We are better with our friends and family of LIFT.
They lift us up when the task seems overwhelming, cumbersome, never ending, because they keep going, they beat the nails until they release from the board, bag the insulation when they can hardly breathe, hang clothing when the boxes are endless, move racks, pull weeds, anything for the sake of Christ. From serving at our new community house to helping set up our No More Safety Pins event, their light shines so bright that all we can do is see their good deeds and glorify our Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:16 says, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
