Angels. What comes to mind? Cupid with an arrow? Fat, naked babies with wings? Maybe a halo? Dressed in white singing in a choir in Heaven? Angels are mentioned almost 300 times in the Bible. There are many ideas of what they look like and also what their roles and functions may be:
They can be decorations…do you have an angel on top of your Christmas tree? Maybe you have a statue or a fountain.
They are represented in art and paintings…in the 1500s, artist Raphael became famous for his cherubs in the Sistine Madonna…the cherubs were at the bottom of the painting with the Christ Child being held by the Madonna.
Angels are often talismans for good luck…guardian angels…on necklaces or medallions. Ever heard, “Don’t drive faster than your guardian angel can fly”?
Angel-noun-1) A spiritual being believed to act as an attendant, agent, or messenger of God, believed conventionally represented in human form with wings and a long robe. OR 2) A person of exemplary conduct or virtue.
a) I would like to think that I am an agent or messenger of God…that I am “the hands and feet of Jesus” for many people.
b) I cannot say that I have lived my life in the past setting a great example for others, but I have changed so much in the last 15 years and I know I will continue to grow and mature as I draw closer to Him.
#1…Protectors/Guardians-“For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.“-Psalm 91:11
Christian singer Amy Grant’s song “Angels Watching Over Me” says:
Angels watching over me, every move I make,
Angels watching over me!
Angels watching over me, every step I take,
Angels watching over me!…..though I never see with human eyes, the hands that lead me home.
Country Group Alabama has a song called “Angels Among Us”…I love how they view an angel’s role:
Oh, I believe there are Angels Among Us,
Sent down to us from somewhere up above.
They come to you and me in our darkest hours
To show us how to live
To teach us how to give
To guide us with a light of love.
#2…Messengers-
In Luke 1:26, an angel comes to Mary and tells her that she is highly favored and that she will give birth to the Son of the Most High. In Matthew 1:20-21, an angel comes to Joseph and tells him not to worry about taking Mary as his wife and that Jesus would save his people from their sins. And in Luke 2:9-12, angels come to the shepherds out in the field and tell them that Jesus has been born and that He is the Messiah. Luke 2:14-“And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.” When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.”…they were going to tell of the good news, too!
#3…Comforters-
Upon seeing that Jesus’ body was missing from the tomb: “Two angels in white were sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying. And they said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping?’…she turned around and there was Jesus in a new unrecognizable form and He told her not to despair that she would see Him again -John 20:12
Luke 22:43 is about an angel coming to Jesus while He is in the garden praying in the hours before He is to be crucified…”now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him.” Letting Him know He was not alone…bringing a bit of comfort.
- I would do anything to protect my kids, my family and my friends
- I try to be a messenger of good things and not the bearer of bad news
- I am definitely an encourager and comforter and try to be helpful…but I am no angel.
In the book of Revelation, it says that angels will be in Heaven waging war against the dragon (Satan)…so fighting against the evil realm and the Enemy himself!
So whatever the type of angel it may be or what their appointed role is, they are obedient to God and they are fulfilling His will in some way…so they are good…just as GOD IS GOOD…ALL THE TIME!
Luke 2:14-“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” Merry CHRISTmas!!!
Passions, Pitfalls and Plenty of Prayer 
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