Matthew 24:10-14
“See that you do
not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their
angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.”
Many a book as
been written about angels and I am sure that you have heard someone make the
statement, that person is an angel, but on average I would guess that most
Christians would be shocked at the many encounters with angels; angels from God the Father. In Psalm 91:9-11, we have the these words from the Psalmist, “Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place—the Most High, who is my refuge—no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.” Some may say but is that not a promise for another time, and I would be quick to remind you that in Hebrews 4:12 we are told the following; “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” With that in mind, let us look to Psalm 34:7, “The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.” Do you recall the king’s command to throw Daniel into the den of lions, and how God delivered him? This is the account of how the king got tricked into throwing Daniel into the lion’s den, and this is what took place; “Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king declared to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!” (Daniel 6:16) Now the rest of the story, “Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; no diversions were brought to him, and sleep fled from him. Then, at break of day, the king arose and went in haste to the den of lions. As he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried out in a tone of anguish. The king declared to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?” Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! My God sent his angel and shut the lions' mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.”
Christians would be shocked at the many encounters with angels; angels from God the Father. In Psalm 91:9-11, we have the these words from the Psalmist, “Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place—the Most High, who is my refuge—no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.” Some may say but is that not a promise for another time, and I would be quick to remind you that in Hebrews 4:12 we are told the following; “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” With that in mind, let us look to Psalm 34:7, “The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.” Do you recall the king’s command to throw Daniel into the den of lions, and how God delivered him? This is the account of how the king got tricked into throwing Daniel into the lion’s den, and this is what took place; “Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king declared to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!” (Daniel 6:16) Now the rest of the story, “Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; no diversions were brought to him, and sleep fled from him. Then, at break of day, the king arose and went in haste to the den of lions. As he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried out in a tone of anguish. The king declared to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?” Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! My God sent his angel and shut the lions' mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.”
Now
you may still be wondering is that true about me, and the answer is in the
affirmative if you are to inherit salvation, for it is stated in Hebrews 1:14, “Are
they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who
are to inherit salvation?” It may be wise for us to pay attention to whom the angels
camp around; “The angel of the Lord
encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.” And this writer noticed that Daniel told the
king; “My God
sent his angel and shut the lions' mouths, and they have not harmed me, because
I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no
harm.”
Returning
to Matthew 18:12-14, We have Jesus telling the story of a man with on hundred
sheep and one of them has gone astray and he drops all to go in search of the
lost sheep. Taking up the account in verses 13,14, “And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he
rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of my
Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.” Now it is time to ask a question; if the Father was willing
to let His Son, His only Son step out of heaven to pay your debt, He held
against you, would He not love you enough to send His angels to watch over you?
From the Back
Porch,
Bob Rice
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