Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? Hebrews 1:14.
The plan by which alone man’s salvation could be secured, involved all heaven in its infinite sacrifice. The angels could not rejoice as Christ opened before them the plan of redemption; for they saw that man’s salvation must cost their loved Commander unutterable woe. In grief and wonder they listened to His words as He told them how He must descend from heaven’s purity and peace, … and come in contact with the degradation of earth, to endure its sorrow, shame, and death….
The angels … offered to become a sacrifice for man. But an angel’s life could not pay the debt; only He who created man had power to redeem him. Yet the angels were to have a part to act in the plan of redemption. Christ was to be made “a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death.” Hebrews 2:9. As He should take human nature upon Him, His strength would not be equal to theirs, and they were to minister to Him, to strengthen and soothe Him under His sufferings. They were also to be ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who should be heirs of salvation. They would guard the subjects of grace from the power of evil angels, and from the darkness constantly thrown around them by Satan.
Angels are ever present where they are most needed, with those who have the hardest battles with self to fight, and whose surroundings are the most discouraging. Weak and trembling souls who have many objectionable traits of character are their special charge. That which selfish hearts would regard as humiliating service, ministering to those who are wretched and in every way inferior in character, is the work of the pure, sinless beings from the courts above.
All the angels of heaven are united in the work of bringing to man the infinite treasures of the better world.
God and Christ and the heavenly angels are fighting with you…. In the strength of the Redeemer, you can be more than conquerors.
The Faith I Live By p. 79
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Prayer Requests
—-Prayers please for a friend suffering with fibromyalgia, knee pain and fatigue. Sylvia
—-Please pray for God’s guidance for my children. Buck
—-Please pray God will listen and help me solve my big problem of a matter and health and care for my mother. KE
—-pray today that everything will be ok, especially for my doctors appointment today, I hope and I pray that the result of my ultrasound will be ok, NO surgery please. Jenny
—-I need prayer for a full time job. I also need prayer for my neighbor Jack I am scared for my safety. I think he will hurt, kill me and my cats. Thanks Ann
—-Please pray for Sharon who is having a procedure to put in stents in her kidneys today. Mike
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Dear Friends,
On Facebook this morning, someone posted a picture of a school book that I remember from third grade social studies. It was full of the biographies of the founders of our city. As a child, I really enjoyed that book with its many stories of people long ago.
Just so, God’s Holy Word is full of stories of God’s people millennia ago. How often we read the biographies in the Bible of those who are more famous, yet there are others who walked just as closly to God but are largely forgotten. Joses was one of these men. God’s Holy Word says that he “was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord” through his ministry. He had been a landowner who, because of his love for his Saviour, sold his land and traveled wherever the Spirit led. “And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.” Acts 4:36,37
A son of consolation he truly was. It was Barnabas who believed that Paul was truly converted when the other believers shunned him from fear. He patiently listened to Paul and, in turn, was able through the Holy Spirit to help Paul in his Christian walk. All the other disciples were sure that Paul’s conversion was unreal, a trick to catch them and throw them in prison or worse. “But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.” 9:27
This was the beginning of an evangelistic team that outshone all others. Although each went their separate ways for a time, after seeing the need and opportunity in Antioch, traveled “to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people.” 11:26 The Holy Spirit especially teamed the patient Barnabas and the ardent Paul together because where one was lacking the other possessed strength. (13:2,3)
Then the two men went out conquering for Jesus and taking with them Barnabas’ nephew Mark. Being an evangelist in those days was a dangerous and often fatal occupation. Young Mark became frightened and went back home to Mama. Barnabas, though disappointed, understood, but Paul was disgusted. This one incident colored his opinion of this young man. He made up his mind that Mark would never become a worker for God.
Over the next few years, Paul and Barnabas worked tirelessly spreading the good news of salvation. Finally, they returned to Antioch the place where they began working together. After staying there for awhile, “teaching and preaching the word of the Lord”. . . Paul said unto Barnabas, ‘Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do.’ And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus.” 15:35-39
Praise God! Barnabas did not give up on Mark. No! Instead he carefully taught him, patiently worked with him until Mark became a mighty worker for the Master. It was this Mark who wrote the Gospel of Mark. It was this Mark who stuck by Paul when he was imprisoned. Paul finally saw that Barnabas was right. He wrote to Timothy, “Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.” 2 Tim 4:11 How Mark must have cherished those words!
How important it is that we become a Barnabas giving those who have failed us a second chance. How vital it is to their salvation and ours that we do as he did—forgive them, and beyond this patiently leading, teaching, helping them until success is theirs.
May we take the time to help those who need a second chance. May we have a loving, forgiving heart as did Barnabas. May we be very careful in our dealings with others that we and they may someday look up and say, “Lo, this is our God, we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” Isa 25:9
Rose
Our Angel Friends and Guardians