Morning By Morning #277

Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?

Hebrews 1:14

From the pen of Charles Spurgeon:

Angels are the invisible servants of the saints of God, for they “lift [us] up in their hands, so that [we] will not strike [our] foot against a stone” (Ps. 91:12). Loyalty to their Lord leads angels to take a deep interest in the children of His love. They rejoice over the return of the prodigal to his father’s house on earth below (see Luke 15:24) and also welcome the home-going of the believer to the King’s palace in heaven above. (See Luke 15:10.)

In biblical days of old, the sons of God were blessed with the visible appearance of angels, and still today, although they are unseen by us, heaven is open and “the angels of God [are] ascending and descending” (Gen. 28:12) on the Son of man, so they may visit “those who will inherit salvation.” Seraphim still fly with “live coal[s]…from the altar” (Isa. 6:6) to touch the lips of God’s greatly beloved. If God were to open our spiritual eyes, we would see “horses and chariots of fire” (2 Kings 6:17) surrounding the servants of the Lord, for we are encircled by “thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly” (Heb. 12:22), sent to protect His royal seed. Thus, these lines from Spenser’s hymn are not poetic fiction:

How oft do they with golden feathers cleave

The flitting skies, like flying attendants

Against foul fiends to aid us militant!

Edmund Spenser, 1552?–1599

What an amazing level of dignity God’s chosen enjoy when we consider that the radiant attendants of heaven have become our willing servants! To what level of communion have we been elevated when we realize we abide with spotless heavenly beings! How well are we defended, knowing “the chariots of God are tens of thousands” (Ps. 68:17), and knowing they are armed for our deliverance! To whom do we owe this great blessing?

May the Lord Jesus Christ be forever endeared to us, for through Him, God has “seated us…in the heavenly realms” (Eph. 2:6) “far above all rule and authority, power and dominion” (Eph. 1:21). It is He whose “angel…encamps around those who fear him” (Ps. 34:7). He is the true Michael who “fought against the dragon” (Rev. 12:7).

Hail, Jesus, angel of Jehovah’s presence! To You I offer my daily vows.

From the pen of Jim Reimann:

What a blessing to know God created His angels to be “ministering spirits,” and that they are here to serve His children! Their ministry even continues after this life, for we are told of the poor man who died “and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side” (Luke 16:22). And from Joel we learn of the vastness of God’s angelic hosts: “The LORD thunders at the head of his army; his forces are beyond number, and mighty are those who obey his command” (Joel 2:11).

Believer, take comfort from these truths this morning. May the Lord’s ministry to us by His angels inspire us to serve Him with greater confidence.