Angels are God’s messengers and work all around us in the unseen realm. Before the Lord created humanity, He created angels who would minister to humanity. Hebrews 1:14Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?” [1] As believers in Jesus, angels are ministering to you, doing things you are unaware of. In many ways, even as adults, we are like toddlers. A toddler is unaware of all that their parents are doing every day to ensure they are fed, clothed, and cared for.
In the same way, angels are ministering to us even if we are not aware of what they are doing or why. However, there are times when God wants angels to be visible to our eyes as they minister to us. An angel appeared to Zechariah, a Jewish priest who served in the Temple in Jerusalem, and changed his life.
Seeing Angels Can Be Overwhelming
When people see angels in their glory, they often feel afraid, and Zechariah was no different. Luke 1:11 While Zechariah was in the sanctuary, an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the incense altar. 12 Zechariah was shaken and overwhelmed with fear when he saw him. 13 But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer.[2]
For Zechariah, seeing an angel likely felt both frightening and exciting. You can only imagine what was going through his mind as the angel Gabriel had his full attention. God has heard your prayers, the angel told him. For an angel to appear and tell us that God has listened to our prayers gives insight into the importance of prayer, as it moves the hand of God.
James 5:16The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. [3] Then the angel told Zechariah the specific prayer God heard and was going to answer. Luke 1:13Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John. 14 You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.[4] This child would be named John, whom the angel said would prepare the people for the coming of the Messiah!
Angels Assigned to Us
You might not realize that angels are on assignment all around you, watching over you because you are precious to God. God may give them tasks, such as removing obstacles in your life, to allow God’s plans to unfold. For Zechariah and Elizabeth, the angel brought the message that God would remove the obstacle of infertility.
Angels may also care for us in other ways as God sees fit. God’s children are incredibly special to Him and receive special attention. We can be thankful that angels are all around us as we go through life because they serve as an extension of God’s ministry in this world. To find out how angels are God’s messengers, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/the-gift-of-children
[1-3] The Holy Bible: New International Version (Heb 1:14). (1984). Zondervan.
[4] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Lk 1:13–14). Tyndale House Publishers.