The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Matthew 18:10,
"See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven."
The "little ones" Jesus spoke of in the above verse refer to those who enter into the kingdom of heaven as a humble person, with the lowly position as of a child. He warned that those who cause these "little ones" to stumble would pay dearly for it. Likewise he warned those who might despise these little ones because "their angels" always see our Heavenly Father face to face.
"Their angels" tells me there are apparently angels that have been tasked to believers that have, among whatever responsibilities, the care and concern for the welfare of believers. "Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?" Hebrews 1:14. These angels always have access to God and so the warning to those who might despise the "little ones" ought to be taken as serious warning.
While Jesus' comments about these angels is very brief in this account, it raises some interesting questions. Do all believers have angels tasked to them? Are they always the same angels? Might there be just one angel or a squad of them? Twenty-four hours a day? What might these angels think of us believers, since they apparently see us in all our foibles and shortcomings? Do these angels ever take vacation time, holidays? Are there substitutes for that kind of occasion?
I find it amusing to think of these kinds of things, even if some questions might be somewhat silly. They do have answers to them, but I certainly don't know the answers to many of the questions I might come up with.
We do know angels exist. We know that many are tasked to believers. We know they are very aware of what a believer might be going through (which is why it is best not to despise believers). These angels are in the presence of God (imagine, someone in our lives from day-to-day that also see our Heavenly Father face to face!)
We know there are a lot of angels, "Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?" Matthew 26:53. We know angels celebrate, "In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." Luke 15:10. Angels transport us after we die in some kind of fashion, "The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side." Luke 16:22.
Angels can talk to us when needed, "Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, 'Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.'" Acts 8:26. We don't want to get on the wrong side of an angel, "Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died." Acts 12:23.
"See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven."
The "little ones" Jesus spoke of in the above verse refer to those who enter into the kingdom of heaven as a humble person, with the lowly position as of a child. He warned that those who cause these "little ones" to stumble would pay dearly for it. Likewise he warned those who might despise these little ones because "their angels" always see our Heavenly Father face to face.
"Their angels" tells me there are apparently angels that have been tasked to believers that have, among whatever responsibilities, the care and concern for the welfare of believers. "Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?" Hebrews 1:14. These angels always have access to God and so the warning to those who might despise the "little ones" ought to be taken as serious warning.
While Jesus' comments about these angels is very brief in this account, it raises some interesting questions. Do all believers have angels tasked to them? Are they always the same angels? Might there be just one angel or a squad of them? Twenty-four hours a day? What might these angels think of us believers, since they apparently see us in all our foibles and shortcomings? Do these angels ever take vacation time, holidays? Are there substitutes for that kind of occasion?
I find it amusing to think of these kinds of things, even if some questions might be somewhat silly. They do have answers to them, but I certainly don't know the answers to many of the questions I might come up with.
We do know angels exist. We know that many are tasked to believers. We know they are very aware of what a believer might be going through (which is why it is best not to despise believers). These angels are in the presence of God (imagine, someone in our lives from day-to-day that also see our Heavenly Father face to face!)
We know there are a lot of angels, "Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?" Matthew 26:53. We know angels celebrate, "In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." Luke 15:10. Angels transport us after we die in some kind of fashion, "The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side." Luke 16:22.
Angels can talk to us when needed, "Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, 'Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.'" Acts 8:26. We don't want to get on the wrong side of an angel, "Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died." Acts 12:23.
There is a lot of information about angels in the Scriptures. I suspect that the study of angels with a good look at all Scripture has to say about them would be a lot of fun and richly rewarding.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
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