I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents. – Luke 15:10
The world gets a little sentimental about angels, but the Bible is clear about who they are and what their job is. Popular teacher, David Jeremiah sums it up easily, angels are “messengers, ministers, warriors, and worshipers.”
As messengers, they traverse history communicating God’s important messages to people. They represent God, not themselves, refusing human worship, telling John in Revelation, “I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets” (Revelation 22:9).
As ministers, God’s angels move into action bringing comfort to God’s people. A beautiful example is in Matthew 4 after Jesus has been tempted by the devil. In His exhaustion from withstanding the challenge, angels come and give Him comfort.
As warriors in God’s Kingdom, angels are charged with protecting and providing for God’s people upon His command. In 1 Kings 19, the prophet Elijah is running from a lethal and enraged Queen Jezebel, ending up in the desert, depressed, hungry, and thirsty. God dispatches an angel to refresh him, reviving his strength, and giving him courage to continue.
As worshipers, angels live in God’s holy presence. Jesus used analogies of finding lost sheep and lost coins to describe the kind of celebration angels engage in before the Lord when one human realizes his need for a Savior, and turns to Christ (today’s verse).
As you meditate on the purpose of God’s beautiful angels in Heaven, give them reason to break out in joyous worship by sharing your faith and inviting someone to join you in fellowship with Christ. Pray God will send angels of mercy to minister to those serving America in places of opposition and struggle.
Today’s Verse: Luke 15:10
Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: Hebrews 1:2-9
2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
5 For to which of the angels did God ever say,
“You are my Son,
today I have begotten you”?
Or again,
“I will be to him a father,
and he shall be to me a son”?
6 And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says,
“Let all God’s angels worship him.”
7 Of the angels he says,
“He makes his angels winds,
and his ministers a flame of fire.”
8 But of the Son he says,
“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever,
the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.
9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;
therefore God, your God, has anointed you
with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.”
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
