And gently lead those that are with young. Isaiah 40:11

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Angels Around Us

There are days we face hardships, pain, and even scorn; it can be difficult to find meaning or peace. But God’s Word tells us that angels have been sent to guard and protect us. There are hundreds of references in the Old and New Testaments to these beings who were created by God to be His helpers in the work of salvation.


The word “angel” means messenger. The Archangel Gabriel announced the births of John the Baptist and Jesus. The choirs of angels announced Jesus’ birth to shepherds near Bethlehem. In the Old Testament, the "angel of the Lord" presented the will of God to the holy Patriarchs.


I believe God also sends “earth angels” into our lives to be His messengers and bringers of hope in difficult times. They are His voice saying to us, “I am here. You are not alone. I will help you.”


Do you see “angels” in your lives? They may be in the form of doctors, nurses, family members, or friends. They may be the elderly man who smiles at you in the food store, or the woman at the ice cream stand who patiently takes your child’s order. Maybe your angel is the social worker at the hospital who helped you with the government forms, or the woman at church whom you did not know who sent you an email greeting.


Each of these people are earth angels who have been sent to give encouragement, hope, and help.


The Bible says that love is kindness in action. We need not look far to find those in need. When Jesus delivered His Sermon on the Mount, He lifted up the quiet, the meek, the lowly, the poor in spirit, and blessed them, calling the rest of us to do the same. Being an earth angel is one of the most God-like things we can do.


So pay a local teenager to shovel the sidewalk of your elderly neighbor's home. Leave your change in the soda machine for the next person. Say hello to the special needs man collecting carts in the grocery store lot. Mother Teresa said, "If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one." We are all capable of lifting up at least one person in loving kindness each day.


PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your angels who guard and protect us. Thank you for sending me Your “earth angels” when I have needed them. Help me to give to others as they have given to me. Help me to remember that a full measure of life is in pouring it out freely for others. Amen.


A little girl was outside on the street in a thin dress without a coat in the middle of winter. Her mother was asking passers-by for money. Angry I asked God, “Why do You permit this? Why don’t You do something about it?”

To this God replied, “I did do something about it. I sent YOU.”


Love,

Theresa