Sent to Serve
Heb.1:14
12-13-2009
“Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?” (NIV)
What do you think of when you think of angels? Mythical winged creatures from old legends and fairy tales or beings from a reality just as sure as you are setting where you are at this very moment? Are they creatures of some distant bygone days or are they still in the presence of God and mankind alike?
Angels have been involved in the lives of humanity since our creation and have ever since played a vital role in the unfolding events of our past, our present and our futures. They are servants who carry out the will of the Almighty and His Son Jesus who now rules on the throne of the Father. (1Pet.3:22; Eph.1:20-23; Col.1:16)
Angels have a deep interest in the affairs and lives of humanity. (Lk.15:7,10) They have been laboring on our behalves as eternal creatures since time had its beginning. When the times were ripe for the salvation episode of God’s vision, angels moved at His command to bring about those pre-planned events.
Daniel, who was chosen by God to see many wonderful things, prayed to God for his people and nation, it took an angel 21 days to bring an answer because his way was blocked by an angelic conflict. (Dan.10:10-14) This very same, long lived angel was also sent to Zechariah, to Mary, to Joseph, and also the shepherds. (Mat.1:20; Lk.1:11, 19, 26; 2:8-12) (one of the few angels we know by name – Gabriel)
These things are important for us to know because even yet angels participate in our future because for our future God also made provisions. (Eph.1:9-12) Like men and women of days long since vanished we too could experience visitations concerning our present or future circumstance. (Heb.1:14; 13:2)
It is good to know that God loved mankind even in their tarnished state of existence. It is good to know that Jesus was willing to obey the Father’s will by committing to a journey that would make Him just like us; flesh and blood. (Heb.2:14-17) In the months leading up to the Birth Event of Jesus the angels labored with great intensity on behalf of God’s son who was already wombed for birth.
Satan and his demonic hoards would have slain this young mother and her human son if they could but the Holy angels of God prevailed. (Rev.12:1ff possibly point to Mary and Jesus but also point to the Church as the mother of Christians) It is a good thing to praise our God and thank His faithful servants. Because of their faithful service Mary accepts her role, Joseph accepts Mary as wife and her son as his own. Because of their labors the Magi and shepherds located and paid tribute and honor to the Christ. Because of their warnings Jesus survived. (But worship God, not angels. See Rev.22:8-9) Jesus’ birth a calculated risk. Halleluiah