An angel of the Lord appeared to (Zacharias) . . . Luke 1:11
The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a virgin . . . and the virgin’s name was Mary . . . Luke 1:26
An angel of the Lord suddenly stood before (the shepherds) . . . Luke 2:9
Encounters with heavenly messengers, Luke is loaded with them. After 400 years of silence, God starts to speak and He does so by interrupting the everyday lives of ordinary individuals with angelic sightings!
What about today? Are angels active in our modern world?
I have a friend who was helped to safety after a rear-end collision on a busy New York interstate by a stranger. When she turned to thank him, he was no where to be found. She asked others nearby where the man had gone, but they had seen no one.
I remember my mother reading me portions of a book entitled Angels: God’s Secret Agents. The book written many years ago by Billy Graham records several miraculous stories of angelic intervention. Recently, I found a copy of this same book in an antique shop and I’ve just finished reading it to my own children.
What does the Bible have to say about visiting angels? Is it possible, even Biblical, that they remain active in our world today?
Hebrews 13:2 admonishes believers, “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing this some have entertained angels without knowing it.” (NASB)
Doesn’t that make you curious? I’ll tell you, it puts me on alert and causes me to be careful how I approach those “random” encounters with folks I don’t know.
Again in Hebrews 1:14 we’re told, “Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?” (NIV)
We are those who will inherit salvation. You and me. Those who have trusted Christ and received Him. How are angels serving us this very hour?
And, Matthew 18:10 says, “See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven continually see the face of My Father who is in heaven.”
How many times have our own children been spared tragic consequences because of divine intervention at the hands of one of God’s angels? We won’t know for sure until heaven.
Although we tend to think of angels being active only during Bible times, the truth is, angels are still God’s messengers and servants today. This side of eternity so much about God’s Kingdom remains a mystery, hidden from our physical sight. Surely, now we see through a glass darkly but one day we’ll see face to face.
God’s gift of ministering angels is just one more thing we have to be grateful for as children of a good, loving and victorious King!
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