Peace

ANGELS WATCHING OVER YOU

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ANGEL, SHEPHERDS
Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields,
keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord
stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them,
and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid,
for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.
For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ
the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped
in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was
with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
       “ Glory to God in the highest,
      And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
Luke 2:8-14

When most people think of angels, they imagine some nondescript being that has no form or feelings just floating around in the clouds. And in the background they picture God sitting on a golden throne holding a joystick and controlling their every move. (I know…I get a little carried away with my descriptions!) But can you relate?

However, angels are real beings (although created beings) who think and have emotions. If that were not so, Satan could not have talked one-third of them into rebelling against God. I Peter 1:12 says, “Even angels long to look into these things (salvation).” So apparently angels have desires and even curiosity, although their primary desire is to serve God. Angels can appear as men, as they did to Abraham on their way to Sodom and Gomorrah. He prepared a meal and they ate with him. And of course, we know that the Bible is full of instances where Angels defended and protected people. “For He will give His angels [especial] charge over you to accompany and defend and preserve you in all your ways [of obedience and service].” (Psalm 91:11 AMP)

But did you know that the Lord also assigned them to be servants to those who believe in Him? “Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?” (Hebrews 1:14) Many a time I have called upon Angels to help me with something or do something for me. Now let me make this clear, I do not pray to angels. Angels are not to be worshipped. And whenever I feel that angels have assisted me in a situation, I give thanks to God, not them. You make think I’m a little “flaky”, but I believe help from Angels is readily available to us according to the scripture.

And of course, in the passage in Luke above, we see that they rejoiced at the birth of Jesus. They displayed joy and gladness. So from biblical accounts, Angels are actual beings which were created by God with emotions and thinking capabilities. We can’t normally see them, although some people say they have. But we can be assured of their existence and their interaction with mankind…especially if you believe!

NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE

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MARY, GABRIEL

Since this is the Christmas season and only a short time until Christmas Day, I would like us to focus on events relative to that celebration in our upcoming devotionals. In particular I would like to examine the people who took part in that first Christmas, the birth of our Lord, and their reactions to it. In so doing, I hope that we can get some insight into our own feelings and emotions relating to the season.

In the sixth month God sent the angel Gabriel . . . to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph.
Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman!
The Lord is with you!”

Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean.

“Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.
He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High…
His Kingdom will never end!”

Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.”

The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God . . . For nothing is impossible with God.”

Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her. Luke 1:26-38

Wow! Can you imagine having an angel visit you? Like Mary, you probably would be a little apprehensive, wondering why he was there! Put yourself in her place for a moment and try to think the way she may have thought. You’re busy, going about your everyday life when suddenly an angel appears right in front of you! To say you’re surprised would be an understatement! Afraid…of course! Apprehensive…no doubt! Confused… inevitably! Well, Mary experienced all of those things as well. But the most important thing recorded relative to Mary’s reaction was submission…obedience to the will of God, and after that…overwhelming peace and joyful anticipation.

We can learn a valuable lesson from Mary’s story. Often when new or unexpected circumstances appear in our lives, we are initially taken by surprise. Then fear tries to grip us, as we become apprehensive about the outcome. Sometimes we are confused, thinking, “Why me?” But if we can ultimately get to the point where we turn it all over to God and submit to His divine will and purpose…if we can trust in His loving kindness and mercy that is new every morning, how can anything but hope arise in our heart? Then, as with Mary, surely overwhelming peace and joyful anticipation of good things to come will follow!

“. . . For nothing is impossible with God.”