Ministering Angels

Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation? Hebrews 1:14

My grandma had a picture on the wall of her house showing two children dangerously near the edge of a bridge. Behind them was an angel protecting them, the angel was there to prevent them from falling.

From the late 1980s through the mid 2000s there was a craze about angels. It was at its peak during the 1990s when the television show “Touched By An Angel” was airing. It was preceded by the show “Highway To Heaven” with Michael Landon playing an angel. In 1986 the book “This Present Darkness” was first published. The author was Frank Peretti. Many Christians will remember reading that book about Angels and Spiritual Warfare. There were also lots of other books and documentaries about angels around that time period.

Today there is not much mention of angels in the culture. Yet angels are often mentioned in scripture and play a big part in the life of believers.

Did you know that every child has a guardian angel?

“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. Matthew 18:10

In the first verse at the top of this post you will see that angels minister to believers. I will often add during my prayers a request that God have His angels watch over my family, and myself. Especially when traveling. I fully believe God sends His angels to watch over and protect us.

Jesus was strengthened by angels when He was praying on the Mount of Olives just before He went to the cross.

An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. Luke 22:33-34

I’m convinced that angels strengthen us as well. 

Years ago I was in the throes of depression. One day I was going to town and I noticed a guy with a backpack walking on the sidewalk. As my car drew near to the guy he stopped walking, turned and faced me with a big beaming smile on his face. His face and that smile followed me until my car was moving out of his sight. On the way back from town there he was again. The process repeated itself. He turned toward me and beamed that big beautiful smile until the car was out of his sight. It seemed such a ludicrous, crazy situation that I couldn’t help but smile and laugh, and I found joy rising up inside of me. And the depression lifted.

You can say that was not an angel, but anyone who has suffered serious depression knows that depression doesn't just fade away over a few minutes.

The Bible tells us we may meet many angels throughout our lives and not realize who they are. They do appear in human form.

Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. Hebrews 13:2.

There are those who have taken an unhealthy interest in angels. Indeed, some people seem to be more interested in angels than in God.  But for the believer, angels are there for us as messengers, ministering spirits, to strengthen and protect us. We should always be on our guard when it comes to how we treat strangers, you never know, it may be that you are looking at an angel in disguise.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You so much for angels. How wonderful it will be to see You face to face in heaven, and to also meet the angels who have guarded and helped us throughout our lives. Amen.