The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. Psalm 34:7.
The experience of Philip, directed by an angel from heaven to go to the place where he met one seeking for truth; of Cornelius, visited by an angel with a message from God; of Peter, in prison and condemned to death, led by an angel forth to safety—all show the closeness of the connection between heaven and earth.
To the worker for God the record of these angel visits should bring strength and courage. Today, as verily as in the days of the apostles, heavenly messengers are passing through the length and breadth of the land, seeking to comfort the sorrowing, to protect the impenitent, to win the hearts of men to Christ. We cannot see them personally; nevertheless they are with us, guiding, directing, protecting.
Heaven is brought near to earth by that mystic ladder, the base of which is firmly planted on the earth, while the topmost round reaches the throne of the Infinite. Angels are constantly ascending and descending this ladder of shining brightness, bearing the prayers of the needy and distressed to the Father above, and bringing blessing and hope, courage and help, to the children of men. These angels of light create a heavenly atmosphere about the soul, lifting us toward the unseen and the eternal. We cannot behold their forms with our natural sight…. The spiritual ear alone can hear the harmony of heavenly voices….
God commissions His angels to save His chosen ones from calamity, to guard them from “the pestilence that walketh in darkness” and “the destruction that wasteth at noonday.”
Again and again have angels talked with men as a man speaketh with a friend, and led them to places of security. Again and again have the encouraging words of angels renewed the drooping spirits of the faithful and, carrying their minds above the things of earth, caused them to behold by faith the white robes, the crowns, the palm branches of victory, which overcomers will receive when they surround the great white throne.
Conflict and Courage p. 337
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Prayer Requests
—–Please pray for Uriyah. He is 23 years old and doctors say he had a heart attack. His blood pressure was extremely high for so long it affected his kidneys. He only has 30 percent kidney function. He did not tell anyone until his vision got blurry. Pray for healing please. God is able. Marlene
—–Please pray for a friend’s son-in-law who was visiting from Houston and had to be admitted to the hospital last night. I don’t have any details. Diane
—–Please pray for wisdom on an upcoming trip. L
—–A tooth that I had had filled years ago split apart and today I go to the dentist. Please pray that he will be able to save the tooth as I need all of the teeth that I have left. R
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Dear Friends,
I have a little dachshund mix named Cocoa. She is a rescue dog whom we got when she was seven weeks old. We heard of a frantic plea from a woman whose husband was going to put the litter of puppies into a gunnysack and throw it the lake. I told a lady that I knew who rescued dogs and found them good homes. She said that she would take the ones that I did not want, so Ron and I drove more than two hours to get them.
Cocoa is a good family dog, but she loves me the most. She follows me everywhere. Sometimes I can tell that she would like to stay in some comfortable spot and sleep but if I leave the room, she gets up and follows me anyway.
We have a Rescuer Who came farther than a couple of hours to rescue us. Indeed, He Whom all the Universe adored was willing to leave it all, to come to this dark, sinful planet to snatch us from an enemy who is far worse than the evil man who wanted to drown a litter of puppies.
Do we follow our Rescuer with as much devotion as Cocoa has for me? Do we deny ourselves in order to “follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth”? Rev 14:4 Our Dear Saviour bids us, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” Luke 9:23
May our joyful response be the words of this well-loved hymn by James Elginburg.
“I will follow Thee, my Savior,
Wheresoe’er my lot may be;
Where Thou goest I will follow,
Yes, my Lord, I’ll follow Thee.
Refrain:
I will follow Thee, my Savior,
Thou didst shed Thy blood for me;
And though all men should forsake Thee,
By Thy grace I’ll follow Thee.
Though the road be rough and stormy,
Trackless as the foaming sea,
Thou hast trod this way before me,
And I gladly follow Thee.
Refrain:
I will follow Thee, my Savior,
Thou didst shed Thy blood for me;
And though all men should forsake Thee,
By Thy grace I’ll follow Thee.
Though ’tis lone and dark and dreary,
Cheerless though my path may be,
If Thy voice I hear before me,
Fearlessly I’ll follow Thee.
Refrain:
I will follow Thee, my Savior,
Thou didst shed Thy blood for me;
And though all men should forsake Thee,
By Thy grace I’ll follow Thee.
Though I meet with tribulation,
Sorely tempted though I be,
I remember Thou wast tempted,
And rejoice to follow Thee.
Refrain:
I will follow Thee, my Savior,
Thou didst shed Thy blood for me;
And though all men should forsake Thee,
By Thy grace I’ll follow Thee.
Though Thou leadest through afflictions,
Poor, forsaken though I be,
Thou wast destitute, afflicted,
And I only follow Thee.
Refrain:
I will follow Thee, my Savior,
Thou didst shed Thy blood for me;
And though all men should forsake Thee,
By Thy grace I’ll follow Thee.”
Rose