Snow Angel Security

When I was a young boy, my friend and I were making angels in the newly fallen snow. Of course, our competitive natures arose and we decided to have a war and the one with the most angels on his side would obviously win. It wasn’t long before all the waving of the arms resulted in some worn out angel producers.

Have you seen any angels lately? It won’t be long before the store shelves will be packed with hosts of them. We like the decorative angels all around because it reminds us of the security of what God says about real angels in the Bible.

Two key verses come to our minds: Hebrews 1:14 (NKJV) says, “Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?” and Matthew 18:10, “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.” When we are troubled by the circumstances of life, the thought of angels gives us some reassurance.

One thing that perplexes us about angels is their mystery. “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels” (Heb. 13:2). How do we know that an angel is actually watching over us?

The book of Acts tells of the events of the Church in its first days and years. There are numerous occasions of angels assisting preachers of the Gospel, however, in Acts 12 an angel saves Peter, but earlier in the chapter James is killed with a sword. Where was the help from angels for James?

This leads us to the broader help God promises. “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). What is the “good” that Paul is talking about? Is it more money, physical strength and good looks? While God is concerned about our physical well-being, He is far more concerned about our spiritual health (1 Timothy 4:8). So, when God promised, “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13), we see the assistance He really has in mind.

Sometimes we are tempted to relax a little bit with any kind of help, even God’s. Remember the verse before 10:13, “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” Does your security plan include “taking heed”? Are you combining your alertness with complete trust in God’s faithfulness? He hopes so!

Jeff Greene, minister for the South Stokes Church of Christ

I Got the Last One!

 Surely this has happened to you lately, due to the Corona frenzy: My wife asked me to pick up some saltine crackers at the store a couple weeks ago. I was shocked to see the cracker aisle decimated. (Were they keeping toilet paper there?) On closer examination, though, I found one box left in the back of the bottom shelf.

Victory is mine! I felt like doing a Snoopy dance on Schroeder’s piano right there in the aisle. Then, a week later it happened again, but with sunflower seeds. The last one is all mine! Yes!

But I wonder if folks in communist countries, with shelfs barely stalked all of the time, feel the same. While I’m feeling like I just won the Super Bowl, are they ecstatic just to have some food of any kind? Most of us can’t imagine going to sleep at night with the worry of finding food for our families. That’s true with any kind of need. “Can I get some help here?”

Jesus’ answer to that question is always “Yes.” He said, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28 NKJV). Notice His invitation to assist is to “all.” It wasn’t on a first-come, first-served situation.

I was on a medical mission trip to Jamaica a few years ago. We had doctors and nurses to help with the locals’ eyes, teeth and general health. At the end of each day, do you think we still had people needing help? For sure – bunches.

There are no such limitations with Jesus. He was pondering over Jerusalem’s citizens in Luke 13:34 and said, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing!”

His “wings” were wide enough to protect and aid both Jerusalem, and all of the world (John 3:16). This isn’t a come-sit-on-Santa’s-lap-from-three-till-five situation. He’s ready to help always!

Did you see the real limitation at the end of 13:34? “You were not willing!” Jesus can help anytime and anywhere, but how many millions limit His help because they’re just like the Jerusalem folk. You can be overwhelmed with anxiety at this very moment, when right there in front of you is the Savior Who can give “rest for your souls” (Mt. 11:29).

Open your Bibles and read how you can come to Him. Open your hearts and ask for His assistance. Contact me and I’ll help you get connected with Him. But rest assured, you won’t be the last one.

Jeff Greene, minister for the South Stokes Church of Christ. (This article was first published in the Stokes News, the local newspaper.)

“In the Shadow of Your Wings I Will Take Refuge”

I like the fresh air. I suppose I’ve spent most of the daylight hours of my life outside. One problem with doing that is the lack of protection from the sun’s rays. My many baseball caps have shielded my eyes, but now my greatest threat is the skin cancer from each eye to its closest ear. Those caps didn’t shade that area much.

It is surprising how much shade can vary the temperature on a hot day. I remember one scorching day when I was 16 – digging post holes and fencing off fifty acres all morning. When we finished, I stretched out under an apple tree for a comfortable nap. My lesson on shade temperatures was really learned while riding a motorcycle. It seemed to be a ten-degree difference when passing under a grove of trees covering the road.
Refreshing!

David, the son of Jesse, needed the protective nature of a different kind of shadow. “Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; and in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, until these calamities have passed by” (Psalm 57:1 NKJV). The introduction to this Psalm tells us that David was fleeing from King Saul and needed God’s protection. He got it.

David made another request for God’s protection that we all share. “Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins” (Ps. 19:13). That’s always our dilemma – sin is always lurking. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). As God explained the way sin works to Cain, “. . . sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it” (Genesis 4:7).

No one is immune from sin. It’s far worse than the ever-present bacteria on our door handles. Fortunately, along with the ever-present sin and the lurking Satan, we have the omnipresent and omnipotent God! “My defense is of God, Who saves the upright in heart” (Ps. 7:10). We’ll be all right in His safekeeping. He will be merciful. Will you take refuge under His wings?

Jeff Greene. This article was first published in the Stokes News, the local newspaper.