March 3rd 2019
Do You Believe You Have A Guardian Angel? Jesus May Have Told Us We Do!
Matthew 18:10-11 (NKJV)
"Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.” For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.
When the KJV of the Bible was developed another verse was added to this verse, see this version following. "Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.” For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost. Matthew 18:10-11(NKJV). I looked at the Interlinear Bible and verified that verse 11 was not included in the Greek translation of the Bible that was used. Verse 11 is excluded from most of the modern English translations. Following is the NIV translation. See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. Matthew 18:10 11(NIV). I liked the NKJV and decided to use it here!
Some people believe that there are angels that God assigns to individuals to protect them from harm, these are sometimes called guardian angels. Do you believe in guardian angels? Referring to what Jesus said in the selected verse it appears that Jesus believed that angels sometimes would protect an individual from harm. It also may appear that Jesus thought such protection may have been only afforded to children. However, Jesus may have been using this term meaning children of God! If it is true that each person has an angel assigned to them for protection, the question then becomes, when is this assignment made? Would it occur at birth, or at the second birth, also known as salvation! This seems more appropriate as angelic protection was given in the Old Testament to God’s chosen people. What do you think about when this assignment would take place?
Of course, there are people who do not believe in guardian angels, as a matter of fact, some people do not believe in angles of any kind! I do not know how anyone who has read the Bible, would not believe in angels as real beings. It certainly seems that Jesus believed in them, and as in the selected verses, He told His disciples about them often. In the book of Acts, we read about how Peter was released from prison by an angel. Then Peter came to himself and said, "Now I know without a doubt that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were anticipating." (Acts 12:11). Read Acts 12:5-19 for the rest of this story! The writer of the book of Hebrews wrote about when an angel may be assigned to those who have accepted salvation. Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation? (Hebrews 1:14). Have you inherited salvation, which is to say have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? The terminology here may indicate that angels are not assigned to saved individuals, but they are available to all of mankind that may accept salvation!
This term “children of God” indicates an inclusive grouping of people, but it is also indicative of a select group. As Jesus’ perfect sacrifice was made for all of mankind, but it will not save your immortal soul unless you accept it! How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. (1John 3:1-2). John wrote about this term “children of God” and clarified it to be an attribute of all those who are disciples of Christ Jesus. Note what John wrote here about how becoming a child of God causes you to be separated from the worldly people. What an amazing statement John wrote here, “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.” When Jesus comes back to live on this earth, and then on the new earth, “we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.”
Jesus talked about the difficulty of finding that so called narrow path to salvation. Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. (Matthew 7:13-14). There are many temptations in this world that can take us down a path with a wide gate that leads us to destruction. If you are not sure which path you are on, it is very important for you to pray about where you are headed in this life. Remember, you cannot save yourself, because salvation is only available through being a follower of Jesus Christ. Now for the Good News, Jesus died for your sins, and if you accept His offer of salvation, “your immortal soul will be saved!”
John the Baptist warned all of us to be seeking Jesus Christ to obtain this Good News. After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!" (Mark 1:14-15). Mark wrote about Jesus proclaiming this free gift of salvation. Jesus tells us we must repent of our sinful lifestyle, and then receive the Good News. Have you accepted the salvation offered by Jesus? Some people have trouble accepting this offer of salvation, as being too easy, as we are only required to accept it, because Jesus already paid the full price. The price was not easy for Jesus, but then think about it, could you be sinless, and thus deserve to be saved. Believe it, accept it, and start working on becoming more Christ-like every day! That is what Jesus wants His disciples to do!
Be careful what you believe, as there are people who will attempt to pull you away from Jesus and toward Satan. Are we in the Last Days, some people believe we are? Paul wrote about how people may be fooled by those who do not really believe Jesus is who He says He is! The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. (1 Timothy 4:1). We live in a time of turmoil in the USA with many factions being formed, most of which are not being guided by Jesus. Be careful what you believe, and what you try to teach. From Psalms we read about the threat of hell for the wicked. The wicked shall be turned into hell, And all the nations that forget God. (Psalm 9:17, NKJV). Pray for our nation, as we see it moving away from Jesus more each day. Most of our youth do not attend a church, and thus, they are never hearing the truth that God gave us to be learned from the Bible.
Paul wrote some encouragement for us about what our salvation offers in peace of mind. All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. (2 Corinthians 4:15-17).
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
Matthew 18:10-11 (NKJV)
"Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.” For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.
When the KJV of the Bible was developed another verse was added to this verse, see this version following. "Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.” For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost. Matthew 18:10-11(NKJV). I looked at the Interlinear Bible and verified that verse 11 was not included in the Greek translation of the Bible that was used. Verse 11 is excluded from most of the modern English translations. Following is the NIV translation. See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. Matthew 18:10 11(NIV). I liked the NKJV and decided to use it here!
Some people believe that there are angels that God assigns to individuals to protect them from harm, these are sometimes called guardian angels. Do you believe in guardian angels? Referring to what Jesus said in the selected verse it appears that Jesus believed that angels sometimes would protect an individual from harm. It also may appear that Jesus thought such protection may have been only afforded to children. However, Jesus may have been using this term meaning children of God! If it is true that each person has an angel assigned to them for protection, the question then becomes, when is this assignment made? Would it occur at birth, or at the second birth, also known as salvation! This seems more appropriate as angelic protection was given in the Old Testament to God’s chosen people. What do you think about when this assignment would take place?
Of course, there are people who do not believe in guardian angels, as a matter of fact, some people do not believe in angles of any kind! I do not know how anyone who has read the Bible, would not believe in angels as real beings. It certainly seems that Jesus believed in them, and as in the selected verses, He told His disciples about them often. In the book of Acts, we read about how Peter was released from prison by an angel. Then Peter came to himself and said, "Now I know without a doubt that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were anticipating." (Acts 12:11). Read Acts 12:5-19 for the rest of this story! The writer of the book of Hebrews wrote about when an angel may be assigned to those who have accepted salvation. Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation? (Hebrews 1:14). Have you inherited salvation, which is to say have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? The terminology here may indicate that angels are not assigned to saved individuals, but they are available to all of mankind that may accept salvation!
This term “children of God” indicates an inclusive grouping of people, but it is also indicative of a select group. As Jesus’ perfect sacrifice was made for all of mankind, but it will not save your immortal soul unless you accept it! How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. (1John 3:1-2). John wrote about this term “children of God” and clarified it to be an attribute of all those who are disciples of Christ Jesus. Note what John wrote here about how becoming a child of God causes you to be separated from the worldly people. What an amazing statement John wrote here, “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.” When Jesus comes back to live on this earth, and then on the new earth, “we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.”
Jesus talked about the difficulty of finding that so called narrow path to salvation. Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. (Matthew 7:13-14). There are many temptations in this world that can take us down a path with a wide gate that leads us to destruction. If you are not sure which path you are on, it is very important for you to pray about where you are headed in this life. Remember, you cannot save yourself, because salvation is only available through being a follower of Jesus Christ. Now for the Good News, Jesus died for your sins, and if you accept His offer of salvation, “your immortal soul will be saved!”
John the Baptist warned all of us to be seeking Jesus Christ to obtain this Good News. After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!" (Mark 1:14-15). Mark wrote about Jesus proclaiming this free gift of salvation. Jesus tells us we must repent of our sinful lifestyle, and then receive the Good News. Have you accepted the salvation offered by Jesus? Some people have trouble accepting this offer of salvation, as being too easy, as we are only required to accept it, because Jesus already paid the full price. The price was not easy for Jesus, but then think about it, could you be sinless, and thus deserve to be saved. Believe it, accept it, and start working on becoming more Christ-like every day! That is what Jesus wants His disciples to do!
Be careful what you believe, as there are people who will attempt to pull you away from Jesus and toward Satan. Are we in the Last Days, some people believe we are? Paul wrote about how people may be fooled by those who do not really believe Jesus is who He says He is! The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. (1 Timothy 4:1). We live in a time of turmoil in the USA with many factions being formed, most of which are not being guided by Jesus. Be careful what you believe, and what you try to teach. From Psalms we read about the threat of hell for the wicked. The wicked shall be turned into hell, And all the nations that forget God. (Psalm 9:17, NKJV). Pray for our nation, as we see it moving away from Jesus more each day. Most of our youth do not attend a church, and thus, they are never hearing the truth that God gave us to be learned from the Bible.
Paul wrote some encouragement for us about what our salvation offers in peace of mind. All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. (2 Corinthians 4:15-17).
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
|
|
|