What Can Angels Teach Us about God's Love for Us?

Do angels exist? The Bible says they do. According to Hebrews 1:7, angels are beings made of spirit and do not have a physical body. In the Bible, they alternately appear as spiritual beings, humans, or invisible. They are also immortal and free from death, according to Mark 12:25 and Luke 20:34-36.

They appear in several stories in the Bible and play critical roles. These stories teach us a lot about God’s plan for our salvation.

We can also identify some of their primary duties, all of which serve to guide humankind toward God.

Angels Praise and Serve God

Angels exist, as we do, to give glory to God and bow to His voice. Psalm 103 says:

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“Bless the Lord, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, hearkening to the voice of his word!”
Psalm 103:20

Isaiah 6:3 tells us the same:

“And one called to another and said: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory.’”
Isaiah 6:3

Most prominent is the nativity story in Luke 2, where angels give glory to God for the arrival of His son.

Angels show us that, as created beings, one of our primary roles is to praise God unceasingly.

Angels Enforce God’s Laws

Angels also do God’s will, which means that they help enforce His laws and guard His sacred places. From them, we can learn that God’s law is sacred and that holy things should remain so. This is shown in Genesis 3:24 when an angel is assigned to guard the gates of Eden with a “flaming sword” after Adam and Eve are driven out.

Angels Deliver God’s Messages

Angels appear prominently in the Bible as God’s messengers. They help communicate God’s love, plan, and will to us. The angels who heralded the birth of Jesus on Christmas Eve are a perfect example of this (Luke 2:8-14). The angel Gabriel also told the Virgin Mary that she would bear the Messiah, the Son of God (Luke 1:26-39).

This tells us that angels are critical to God’s relationship with us. These are among the most important events in the Bible (and in all of history, really!), and God sent heavenly messengers to make sure the people involved were paying attention.

Helpers and Protectors

Angels are also helpers. It’s amazing that God’s love for us is so deep and complete that He sends us heavenly helpers to assist and give aid when we are in trouble. No danger humans face can escape God. There are numerous examples in the Bible of angels rescuing humans from all kinds of predicaments.

Angels protected Daniel from certain death when he was trapped in a den full of lions (Daniel 6:22). An angel also made sure Elijah had enough food for his journey of 40 days and 40 nights (1 Kings 5-8). An angel also rescued Peter from prison (Acts 12-7-10).

Perhaps most importantly, an angel saved the life of the Christ child by appearing to Joseph in a dream and urging him to flee with Mary and the baby to Egypt (Matthew 2:13–23).

In Psalm 91, God promises that we will always have this protection:

For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
Psalm 91:11-12

Angels Fight Evil

Angels also exist to fight for the kingdom of God. They wage spiritual war against the forces of Satan.

In Revelation 12:7-9, the Archangel Michael defeats the dragon in battle. An angel also casts the devil into a bottomless pit in Revelation 20:1-3.

This reminds us to be vigilant against attacks from the enemy and against sin.

Angels Remind Us of God’s Truths

The angels’ actions and mediation in human lives teach us that we are never alone. Throughout the Bible, angels never fail to serve God and guide His people. Let us use this as an example and do the same.

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