Have You Ever Seen An Angel?

 From Crosswalk - Insights with Bill Bright.


The angel of the LORD guards all who fear him, and he rescues them (Psalm 34:7, NLT).

Dear Friends,

Have you ever seen an angel? Dr. S.W. Mitchell thought he had. Dr. Mitchell was a well-known neurologist in Philadelphia.

After one very tiring day, he retired early. He was later suddenly awakened by a persistent knocking at the door. It was a little girl, poorly dressed and deeply upset. She told him that her mother was very sick and needed his help. Even though it was a bitterly cold, snowy night, and he was bone tired, Mitchell dressed and followed the girl. He found the mother desperately ill with pneumonia.

After treating her, Dr. Mitchell complimented the sick woman on her daughter's persistence and courage. The woman gave him a strange look and said, "My daughter died a month ago. Her shoes and coat are in the closet there." Dr. Mitchell went to the closet and opened the door. The coat was warm and dry and could not possibly have been out in the wintry night.

Have you ever seen an angel? John G. Paton also believes he has. While he was a missionary in the New Hebrides Islands, hostile natives surrounded his mission headquarters one night, intent on burning the Patons out and killing them. Paton and his wife prayed, terror-stricken, all that night. At dawn, they were amazed to see the attackers just turn and leave. A year later, the chief of that very tribe was converted to Christ. Paton then asked him what had kept him and his men from burning down the house and killing them that night.

The chief asked Paton a return question: "Who were all those men you had with you there?" Paton told him that just he and his wife were there, but the chief insisted they had seen hundreds of men standing guard -- big men in shining garments with drawn swords.

Have you ever seen an angel? We usually cannot see them, but God promises, "He will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways" (Psalm 91:11, NIV).

God also promises: "The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and He delivers them" (Psalm 34:7, NIV).

We must not worship angels, and we must keep our attention on the Lord Jesus Christ, but it is comforting to know that that they are there!

(Above incidents taken from The Pastor's Story File, March 1987.)

Yours for helping to fulfill the Great Commission each year until our Lord returns,

Bill Bright