Morning, October 3
Go To Evening Reading
“Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them
who shall be heirs of salvation?”
Hebrews 1:14
Angels are the unseen attendants of the saints of God; they bear us
up in their hands, lest we dash our foot against a stone. Loyalty
to their Lord leads them to take a deep interest in the children of
his love; they rejoice over the return of the prodigal to his father’s house below, and they welcome the advent of the believer to the
King’s palace above. In olden times the sons of God were favoured with
their visible appearance, and at this day, although unseen by us,
heaven is still opened, and the angels of God ascend and descend upon
the Son of man, that they may visit the heirs of salvation. Seraphim
still fly with live coals from off the altar to touch the lips of
men greatly beloved. If our eyes could be opened, we should see horses
of fire and chariots of fire about the servants of the Lord; for we
have come to an innumerable company of angels, who are all watchers
and protectors of the seed-royal. Spenser’s line is no poetic fiction, where he sings—
“How oft do they with golden pinions cleave
The flitting skies, like flying pursuivant
Against foul fiends to aid us militant!”
To what dignity are the chosen elevated when the brilliant courtiers
of heaven become their willing servitors! Into what communion are
we raised since we have intercourse with spotless celestials! How
well are we defended since all the twenty- thousand chariots of God
are armed for our deliverance! To whom do we owe all this? Let the
Lord Jesus Christ be forever endeared to us, for through him we are
made to sit in heavenly places far above principalities and powers.
He it is whose camp is round about them that fear him; he is the true
Michael whose foot is upon the dragon. All hail, Jesus! thou Angel
of Jehovah’s presence, to thee this family offers its morning vows.