THE ROLE OF ANGELS

But to which of the angels has he ever said, "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet"? Are not all angels spirits in the divine service, sent to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?
(Hebrews 1:13-14, NRSV )

Devotion 9 of 11

THE REAPERS

There is coming a time when the saints of the Lord will be gathered together from every corner of earth and heaven. This will be the ultimate service the angels will perform for those
inheriting salvation. How grand will be the occasion! "The enemy that sowed them (the tares) is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels . . . The Son of man shall
send forth His angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them
which do iniquity . . . So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and
sever the wicked from among the just" (Matt 13:39,41,49). "And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other" (Matt 24:31).

You may rest assured they will not miss a single believer! Throughout the saint's sojourn upon the earth, the angels faithfully ministered to them. Then, when the heavens and the earth are passing away, they will have an interest in the gathering of the faithful and the removal of the wicked. They will do their work with precision and dispatch. Wherever a person remains upon the earth with faith, they will find him, even though well hidden from the eyes of men. Also, wherever hearts have remained unjust, the faithful angels will find them, even though they may have appeared good to men. The angels will serve the saints by gathering them together to the Lord. They will also serve the saints by gathering the wicked for removal from the presence of the Lord and the glory of His power.

INTERESTED IN HUMANITY
When sinners repent

The interest of angels in the affairs of men is proclaimed in Scripture. When, for instance, a sinner repents, the angels rejoice."Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth" (Luke 15:10). And why is there joy in the presence of God's angels when a sinner repents? It is certainly not the response of personalities being entertained. They are not simply spectators, beholding the workings of their great God--although that is involved. Remember, they are the designated "ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation." Sinners that "repent" are coming within the scope of their ministry, and they delight in such prospects. Is it not written that they "excel in strength" and "do His commandments, hearkening unto the voice of His word." What greater joy for these heavenly messengers than to see the number of personalities to whom they faithfully minister increase!

They want to look into the Gospel

The angels of God know about the Gospel we have received, and they desire to probe into it. They have never had a gospel addressed to them. They have never had a message of recovery preached to them. Those of their number that fell have never been recovered. Yet, they behold a fallen race being recovered by means of a message--a message of grace! That message has remarkable power, even the power of God (Rom 1:16). While the professed church has frequently neglected that message, it continues to intrigue the heavenly host. Thus is it written, "Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things" (1 Pet 1:10-12).

Not only, therefore, are angels ministers to the heirs of salvation, they are intensely interested in their work. They want to comprehend more of the glorious message that we have embraced! Such good ministers they are! God be praised that they are not only on our side, but aggressively involved in every aspect of our great salvation--even in desiring to look into the Gospel! Would to God such intense desires were as common among the recipients of salvation. Let us learn from these heavenly ministers to think highly and unceasingly of the Gospel of Christ.

PRAYER POINT: Father, I anticipate the ministry of the holy angels in gathering the saints together in the great and notable day of the Lord. I thank You my Savior, Your Son, will dispatch them to this holy work, as well as to the removal of all that offend your kingdom. In Jesus' name, give me grace to be ready for the great ingathering!

-- TOMORROW: GOD REMEMBERS! --