“Wanting”

Today’s reading - Acts 12:20-23 (NIV): Then Herod went from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there a while. 20He had been quarreling with the people of Tyre and Sidon; they now joined together and sought an audience with him. Having secured the support of Blastus, a trusted personal servant of the king, they asked for peace, because they depended on the king's country for their food supply.

21On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. 22They shouted, "This is the voice of a god, not of a man.

23Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.

Wanting can be crippling if a person allows it to creep into their lives. Here we see that the people wanted for peace, so they ‘used’ someone to try to get peace. Herod wanted to be powerful over everyone so he used his kingship to advance. Then there are those that wanted security and they shouted that Herod was a god.

They all received the opportunity, whether they believed or didn’t believe, to actually see God put an angel of the Lord into action. Wow, I’d like to see an angel. Actually I believe that we do see the angels that God chooses to send to us. With our minds and hearts open and willing to believe, God grants us opportunities to experience His angels. They surround is always, watching over us, protecting us, praising God on our behalf, singing hallelujah awaiting us to join the angel choir some day.

During this winter season, scan the dark night sky looking to the heavens and enjoy the stars; which them glimmer, recognize hope in them and realize the God of the universe is the God of heaven and nature, then sing your angel song, wanting for nothing because you have everything through Christ Jesus.

Dorothy Drago Brucks
Aldersgate UMC
Nixa, Mo.
www.aldersgatechurch.com