Follow the Examples

Throughout this year, each day of the month, I'm "Treasure Hunting" in a Psalm. I've created a "Ponder Every Morsel of Truth" Book to record the truths as I learn them. The fifteen of each month, I'm studying Psalm 8. Here's what Treasure I found today.

You made him a little less than the angels and gave him a crown of greatness and honor. Psalm 8:5 (NLV)

The angel was made immortal, intellectual, holy, powerful, glorious, and in these properties lay their likeness to the Creator. Henry Melvill, B.D., 1854

What do we know about angels?

Worship and praise - This is the main activity portrayed in heaven (Isaiah 6:1-3; Revelation 4-5).

Revealing - They serve as messengers to communicate God's will to men. They helped reveal the law to Moses (Acts 7:52-53), and served as the carriers of much of the material in Daniel, and Revelation.

Guiding - Angels gave instructions to Joseph about the birth of Jesus (Matthew 1-2), to the women at the tomb, to Philip (Acts 8:26), and to Cornelius (Acts 10:1-8).

Providing - God has used angels to provide physical needs such as food for Hagar (Genesis 21:17-20), Elijah (1 Kings 19:6), and Christ after His temptation (Matthew 4:11).

Delivering - Getting God's people out of danger once they're in it. Angels released the apostles from prison in Acts 5, and repeated the process for Peter in Acts 12.

Strengthening and encouraging - Angels strengthened Jesus after His temptation (Matt 4:11), encouraged the apostles to keep preaching after releasing them from prison (Acts 5:19-20), and told Paul that everyone on his ship would survive the impending shipwreck (Acts 27:23-25).

Answering prayer - God often uses angels as His means of answering the prayers of His people (Daniel 9:20-24; 10:10-12; Acts 12:1-17).

Caring for believers at the moment of death - In the story of Lazarus and the rich man, we read that angels carried the spirit of Lazarus to “Abraham's bosom” when he died (Luke 16:22). 

Dr. John Bechtle

I can’t do all that angels do. However, by following the examples of angels, there are things that I can do. Worship and Praise God. Strengthen and Encourage. Be Involved in Prayer. 

Worship and Praise God.  The angels sing: “Amen! Praise, glory, wisdom, thanks, honor, power, and strength be to our God forever and ever! Amen!” Revelation 7:12 Shouldn’t I do the same? 

Strengthen and Encourage. But at night an angel from the Lord opened the doors to their cell and led them out of the prison. 20 The angel told them, “Stand in the temple courtyard, and tell the people everything about life in Christ.” Acts 5:19-20 (GW) Isn’t the the encouraging message that I need to share, too?

Be Involved in Prayer. God has used angels to answer prayers and provide help. My responsibility is to pray! And need be... help if God calls on me to do so. 

If I follow the examples that the angels demonstrated, that would create a very positive, God honoring day.