Bible League: Living His Word Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?Although angels are superior to human beings in terms of intellectual understanding and in terms of power, God has ordained that they should be ministering spirits for those who will inherit salvation. In this capacity they are "sent forth" by God to render aid to Christians as they do their part to advance and enhance the Kingdom of God on earth. Angels do many different things for the people of God. Here are just four of them: First, they deliver messages to us from God. Luke 1:30-31 tells us that an angel told Mary about her future role: "And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS." Luke 2:10-12 tells us that angels told some shepherds about the birth of Jesus: "For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." Acts 1:11 tells us that while the disciples were gazing up during Jesus' ascension to heaven, two angels said: "This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven." Second, they defend, protect, and deliver us. Acts 5:19 says that an angel delivered the apostles from prison: "But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out." Psalm 34:7 says that "The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, And He delivers them." II Kings 19:35 says that an angel destroyed Sennacheribe's army: "And it came to pass on a certain night that the angel of the LORD went out, and killed in the camp of the Assyrians one hundred and eighty-five thousand." Third, they strengthen us when we are tempted. I Peter 5:8 says that "your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." The holy angels do the exact opposite. Luke 22:43 says that when Jesus was tempted in the Garden of Gethsemane "an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him." Finally, angels apparently escort us to heaven when we die. Luke 16:22 says that Lazarus the beggar "was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom." And although angels are not specifically mentioned, Luke 24:51 says that Jesus was "carried up into heaven" at His ascension. Given what the Bible says about angels, don't rule them out from your life and experience. Don't rule out the possibility that one may show up and help you just when you need it most. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingAmos 4, 5, 6 Amos 4 -- Israel Has Not Returned to Me NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Amos 5 -- Seek Me that You May Live NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Amos 6 -- Woe to those at ease in Zion; Abhorrence of Israel's Pride NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Revelation 6 Revelation 6 -- The First Six Seals NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion Don't speak evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters. If you criticize and judge each other, then you are criticizing and judging God's law. But your job is to obey the law, not to judge whether it applies to you. God alone, who gave the law, is the Judge. He alone has the power to save or to destroy. So what right do you have to judge your neighbor?Insight Jesus summarized the law as love for God and neighbor, and Paul said that love demonstrated toward a neighbor would fully satisfy the law. When we fail to love, we are actually breaking God's law. Challenge Examine your attitude and actions toward others. Do you build people up or tear them down? When you're ready to criticize someone, remember God's law of love and say something good instead. Saying something beneficial to others will cure you of finding fault and increase your ability to obey God's law of love. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Ruth 1:14 Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.Both of them had an affection for Naomi, and therefore set out with her upon her return to the land of Judah. But the hour of test came; Naomi most unselfishly set before each of them the trials which awaited them, and bade them if they cared for ease and comfort to return to their Moabitish friends. At first both of them declared that they would cast in their lot with the Lord's people; but upon still further consideration Orpah with much grief and a respectful kiss left her mother in law, and her people, and her God, and went back to her idolatrous friends, while Ruth with all her heart gave herself up to the God of her mother in law. It is one thing to love the ways of the Lord when all is fair, and quite another to cleave to them under all discouragements and difficulties. The kiss of outward profession is very cheap and easy, but the practical cleaving to the Lord, which must show itself in holy decision for truth and holiness, is not so small a matter. How stands the case with us, is our heart fixed upon Jesus, is the sacrifice bound with cords to the horns of the altar? Have we counted the cost, and are we solemnly ready to suffer all worldly loss for the Master's sake? The after gain will be an abundant recompense, for Egypt's treasures are not to be compared with the glory to be revealed. Orpah is heard of no more; in glorious ease and idolatrous pleasure her life melts into the gloom of death; but Ruth lives in history and in heaven, for grace has placed her in the noble line whence sprung the King of kings. Blessed among women shall those be who for Christ's sake can renounce all; but forgotten and worse than forgotten shall those be who in the hour of temptation do violence to conscience and turn back unto the world. O that this morning we may not be content with the form of devotion, which may be no better than Orpah's kiss, but may the Holy Spirit work in us a cleaving of our whole heart to our Lord Jesus. Daily Light on the Daily Path Galatians 6:2 Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.Philippians 2:4,5,7 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. • Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, • but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Mark 10:45 "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." 2 Corinthians 5:15 and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf. John 11:33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled, John 11:35 Jesus wept. Romans 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 1 Peter 3:8,9 To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; • not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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