Corona Devo 1832
I've noticed "angels" in the news lately.
Some of my favorite pastors are writing books about angels, and sermons surrounding the purpose and idea of angels abound.
And it's not just people standing in pulpits, and sitting in church pews that are wondering about angels: the best-seller lists always have a steady stream of angel-related books and titles.
What do we need to know about angels?
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People are curious about angels. I guess we always have been. Angels are intriguing, fascinating, and awe-inspiring. Not to mention: Shocking. Most mentions of angels in the Bible begin with these heavenly-beings telling people not to fear them. But how can a human reconcile a non-human in their midst?
Like I said: people are curious about angels.
Who are they?
Why are they?
Where are they?
God knows that we want to know about angels. He also knows what we need to know about angels.
Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. (2) And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe. (3) The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven. (4) This shows that the Son is far greater than the angels, just as the name God gave him is greater than their names.
(5) For God never said to any angel what he said to Jesus: “You are my Son. Today I have become your Father.”
God also said, “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son.”
(6) And when he brought his supreme Son into the world, God said, “Let all of God’s angels worship him.”
(7) Regarding the angels, he says, “He sends his angels like the winds, his servants like flames of fire.”
(8) But to the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever. You rule with a scepter of justice.
(9) You love justice and hate evil. Therefore, O God, your God has anointed you, pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else.”
(10) He also says to the Son, “In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundation of the earth and made the heavens with your hands.
(11) They will perish, but you remain forever. They will wear out like old clothing. (12) You will fold them up like a cloak and discard them like old clothing. But you are always the same; you will live forever.”
(13) And God never said to any of the angels, “Sit in the place of honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet.”
(14) Therefore, angels are only servants—spirits sent to care for people who will inherit salvation. ~Hebrews 1:1-14
Yes, we wonder about angels, but in Hebrews Chapter 1 in the Bible, God preempts our questions and sets a boundary for our curiosities about angels.
Why?
So that we will focus on His Son (Jesus) more than the angels.
God knows that we want to know about angels. Our curiosity about them is natural. But God (instead) tells us what we need to know about angels, and that main gist is that the Son is far greater than the angels (Hebrews 1:4). Jesus is supernaturally supreme over angels, and that's what God says we need to know about angels.
What we need to know is that Jesus is supreme over angels. Jesus supersedes. Angels are special and angels are spiritual, and angels are real and documented repeatedly in the Bible. They are important, but angels pale in comparison to the Son of God, Jesus.
The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven. (4) This shows that the Son is far greater than the angels, just as the name God gave him is greater than their names. ~Hebrews 1:3-4
What do we need to know about angels? Mainly, that Jesus is more.
The purpose of God's angels is to serve those that are serving God.
Therefore, angels are only servants—spirits sent to care for people who will inherit salvation. ~Hebrews 1:14
Their purpose is to serve those who are serving him. Last verse. We want to know about angels. And God tells us all that we need to know.
~~~
What should we think about angels?
There is much talk about angels. Are they a big deal? Sure, but the Bible (God) is clear in saying that Jesus is a bigger deal.
Angels are good. But Jesus is not only good, He is great. And Jesus is not only great, He is the greatest. He is greater than angels and greater than humans. Greater than all. God says so, and that is all that we need to know about angels.
sarah
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