Bible League: Living His Word For He shall give His angels charge over you,To keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone. Among the many promises that God makes with reference to those that trust in Him is the promise of our verse for today – He gives His angels charge over us. That is, He commands His angels to take care of us. In Hebrews 1:14 it says, "All the angels are spirits who serve God and are sent to help those who will receive salvation." Angels are created spiritual beings that God assigns to continuously watch over those who trust in Him. Indeed, the continuous presence of the angels watching over us necessitates their setting up camp around us (Psalm 34:7). The angels watch over us in order to keep us in all our ways. This passage reminds us of the angel that was sent by God to guard and guide the Israelites on their journey to the Promised Land (Exodus 23:20). For those who trust in God and go forth in life in His service there is an angelic security detail that guards us and guides us in all the ways that we go. The idea is not that we can expect an angelic guard no matter where we decide to go in life, but wherever we go in service to the Lord – just as the servant of Abraham was guarded and guided by an angel in his journey to find Isaac a wife (Genesis 24:7, 40). The angels that encamp around those who fear God also deliver them from trouble (Psalm 34:7). They bear us up in their hands lest we dash our foot against a stone. This means that the angels deliver us from, and help us overcome, the many obstacles of life that loom up and threaten us with harm. Whatever may happen to the believer, whether it be easy or difficult, it cannot happen unless it has been determined to be for their good as determined by the Lord Himself (Romans 8:28). The angelic security detail is a guarantee of that fact. Although many Christians believe they have the authority to command angels to do their bidding, there is no biblical warrant for that belief. However, there is certainly no biblical objection to asking God to send His angels to do everything they can do for us. Bible in a Year Old Testament Reading2 Chronicles 23, 24, 25 2 Chronicles 23 -- Jehoiada Makes Joash King; Athaliah Slain; Worship of God Restored NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB 2 Chronicles 24 -- Joash Repairs the Temple; Idolatrous Reign of Joash; Aram Defeats Judah NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB 2 Chronicles 25 -- Amaziah Succeeds Joash in Judah, Defeated by Jehoash King of Israel NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading John 16:16-33 John 16 -- Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit, Foretells His Death and Resurrection NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion “So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today.”Insight Planning for tomorrow is time well spent; worrying about tomorrow is time wasted. Sometimes it's difficult to tell the difference. Careful planning is thinking ahead about goals, steps, and schedules, and trusting in God's guidance. When done well, planning can help alleviate worry. Worriers, by contrast, are consumed by fear and find it difficult to trust God. They let their plans interfere with their relationship with God. Challenge Don't let worries about tomorrow affect your relationship with God today. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Psalm 97:10 Ye that love the Lord hate evil.Thou hast good reason to "hate evil," for only consider what harm it has already wrought thee. Oh, what a world of mischief sin has brought into thy heart! Sin blinded thee so that thou couldst not see the beauty of the Saviour; it made thee deaf so that thou couldst not hear the Redeemer's tender invitations. Sin turned thy feet into the way of death, and poured poison into the very fountain of thy being; it tainted thy heart, and made it "deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked." Oh, what a creature thou wast when evil had done its utmost with thee, before divine grace interposed! Thou wast an heir of wrath even as others; thou didst "run with the multitude to do evil." Such were all of us; but Paul reminds us, "but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." We have good reason, indeed, for hating evil when we look back and trace its deadly workings. Such mischief did evil do us, that our souls would have been lost had not omnipotent love interfered to redeem us. Even now it is an active enemy, ever watching to do us hurt, and to drag us to perdition. Therefore "hate evil," O Christians, unless you desire trouble. If you would strew your path with thorns, and plant nettles in your death-pillow, then neglect to "hate evil:" but if you would live a happy life, and die a peaceful death, then walk in all the ways of holiness, hating evil, even unto the end. If you truly love your Saviour, and would honor him, then "hate evil." We know of no cure for the love of evil in a Christian like abundant intercourse with the Lord Jesus. Dwell much with him, and it is impossible for you to be at peace with sin. "Order my footsteps by thy Word, And make my heart sincere; Let sin have no dominion, Lord, But keep my conscience clear." Daily Light on the Daily Path Luke 18:1 Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart,Luke 11:5-8 Then He said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and goes to him at midnight and says to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves; • for a friend of mine has come to me from a journey, and I have nothing to set before him'; • and from inside he answers and says, 'Do not bother me; the door has already been shut and my children and I are in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.' • "I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will get up and give him as much as he needs. Ephesians 6:18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, Genesis 32:26,28 Then he said, "Let me go, for the dawn is breaking." But he said, "I will not let you go unless you bless me." • He said, "Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel; for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed." Colossians 4:2 Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; Luke 6:12 It was at this time that He went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer to God. 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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