“But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out and said, ‘Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life’” Acts 5:19-20. This is the time of year that many speak of angels and their role in announcing Jesus’ birth before going back to ignoring their presence in the rest of scripture. In Acts 5, the apostles were arrested for preaching the gospel, and an angel opens their cell so they could preach the gospel. In addition to understanding the strength of God’s will over man’s, we can see another of the varied ways in which God uses these servants for those who will inherit salvation (Hebrews 1:14). Instead of “Angels we have heard on high …,” what if we had songs about their other work: perhaps, “Angels who have opened doors …”? This happened again in Acts 12 when an angel rescued Peter after Herod had thrown him in prison. Notice, though, that the angel left Peter before the closed door of the church that was praying for him. The apostle had to knock to be let in. Jesus too stands at the door of our hearts and knocks as well, waiting to be let in. He won’t open it. We have to open. Will you let Him in?    

“The LORD lives, and blessed by my rock, and exalted be the God of my salvation” Psalm 18:46. A quarter of century ago now, my family took a support trip at a time when our home church sang the song based on this verse a lot. Suddenly from her carseat in our van our active, older daughter in pigtails broke out in her two year-old version: “… and let the God of my salvation be exhausted.” God, we were sure, was fine, but her parents, trying to keep up with her, certainly weren’t! David, as the psalmist, describes the LORD as his rock, fortress, deliverer, and … savior. In his distress he called upon God, and the LORD answers because He is angry that His cherished child is in trouble. After describing his rescue and the loving way in which the LORD deals with him, David breaks out in praise for what He’s done for him—much like a two year-old with pigtales in a van on a long road trip who has no idea where she’s going or why. Instead, she just trusts her father to drive and take care of her while they take joy in each other. Is that the relationship you have with your heavenly Father as He includes you in the purpose for the trip He’s brought you on? Are you singing imperfect praise?  

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” Hebrews 12:1. Written to Jewish Christians under persecution who wanted to return to their lives before they obeyed the gospel, Hebrews shows how life in Christ is better. By showing them many Old Testament greats who were all looking forward to what was better and were even mistreated or killed for their faith, these Christians could add them to those they knew who had already endured much for their faith. And so today, we who feel the pressure from an increasingly hostile culture to our faith and romanticize a return to our old lives that were “easier” than living faithfully before Christ, might add many we know who persevered to the great cloud of witnesses given to us. As we remember their names and recall their faces, we must use their stories to lay aside spiritual weights and sins and run our race set before us with endurance. Then, we must tell their stories to new generations so their clouds of witnesses might be enriched. Who has encouraged you in Christ by their faithful lives in Him?

“Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings” Psalm 17:8. David, in his prayer of this psalm, wrestles with living for God as it leaves him exposed and vulnerable to his enemies that have surrounded those who have also chosen Him. They have determined to destroy God’s people and lurk like lions in ambush. No doubt that Christians today, whose hearts have also been tested by God, feel the exact same way. This world is not a friendly place to the meek. We need God just for daily survival. David first asks God to keep him as the most precious possession before Him—the apple of His eye. In His steadfast love God desires to do this for those who seek refuge in Him. He hides them in the shadow of His wings. From this verse, Keith Lancaster penned the comforting lyrics of a song: “Hide me away, O Lord; Hide me away, O Lord; In the day of trouble ‘Neath the shelter of Your wings, Hide me away, O Lord ….” Rather than compromising with the world to hopefully make the world leave us alone, we stand out in our words and deeds while taking refuge in our Savior, trusting in Him fully. Where are you taking refuge—in God or camouflaged as the world?

“And the Lord turned to him and said, ‘Go in this might of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian; do I not send you?’” Judges 6:14. In every age, people have always struggled with evil in the world and expecting that God will just eradicate it. After doing so once through a global flood, though, He promised not to do so again … until a final judgment through fire. He still combats evil—but now through His people and their influence for good in the world. Gideon was a typical follower, just a man trying to get through life in the best way that he could. When the angel of the LORD comes to him, he questions why God allows evil—not at all considering that it’s man’s sin that causes it or that God may have a purpose for allowing it to exist. Then, he finds out that he is God’s purpose, that God intends to save His people through him. Gideon rightly expresses his limitations, as we each would do, but God says that he is to go in this might of his. Might? What might does Gideon have? None that he can see. But, God adds, “Do I not send you?” His might is the LORD—as is ours! Does not Jesus command us to go and make disciples, sending us out with the promise of His presence?