Have You Ever Met an Angel?

December 5, 2022

Throughout history humans have often wondered whether they are the only intelligent beings in this universe. One of the most recent scientific attempts is the search for extraterrestrial life. If life is out there, will it prove friend or foe? The Bible answers this question with a resounding “Yes.” Who are these cosmic creatures? They are called angels. Belief in angels is found in the history of all nations.

The Bible says that angels, like everything else in this universe, are created by God. God tells Job that the angels sang their joy while God created the earth (Job 38:1-7). Angels have separate and individual personalities. We read about Gabriel announcing the birth of John the Baptist and Jesus (Luke 1), and Gabriel gives the prophet Daniel a vision from God (Daniel 8 & 9). Satan was a powerful angel that fell from favor while trying to be like God (Isaiah 14:12-15), and Michael is the archangel in charge of God’s army to fight against Satan’s evil army (Revelation 12:7).

Here’s a story from Angels All Around Us by Guidepost Magazine. A young mom tells about her experience with four kids in tow at Target in December. She is there to get toilet paper, diapers for her two-week-old baby, and nothing else. She thought she could run in quickly with the kids. No extras! They were on a tight budget. Then the kids started, and she knew she’d made a mistake.

“She’s touching me.” “He’s staring at Me.” Can we buy these?” “Get off me!” “The baby needs these,” and one of the children started throwing baby stuff in the cart. Then the baby starts crying. She starts screaming and frantically tries to reign in chaos.

Over the baby’s head she noticed a middle-aged lady approaching and knows this woman is going to give her trouble. “I was a young mom like you once,” the woman said. Her tone was warm and friendly, nothing like the judgmental scold I was expecting. “It is so hard when you have little ones.” She looked around at the children, who, for the moment at least, had stopped fussing and fighting. “I really commend you for being brave enough to come to the store with them.” The woman pulled something out of her purse. “Each year at Christmastime I carry a small gift for someone God picks out. Today he’s chosen you for a simple blessing.” She put a white box in my hand, then turned and walked away. The kids circled around me. I was too stunned even to say thank you before the woman vanished.

She opened the box and found a little ornament to hang on the tree. As the children looked at the ornamanet a blanket of peace seemed to have settled on us all. The children were model citizens in the checkout line and on the van ride home.

Her grandchildren ask her to tell the story of the long-ago shopping trip when their parents were children like them. They sit quietly listening to every word, while the Christmas blessing from an angle at Target touches a whole new generation of kids and their young parents. (condensed from the book Angels All Around Us edited by Guidepost Magazine. © 2022).

Do you have an angel story? Can you think of a time when a miracle happened, and someone was present and did an amazing act to help you, a miraculous act, and then that person seemed to vanish, or at least you never met or saw that person again? Do you think you have a guardian angel? Can you think of times that a force of aid seems to have been assigned to you that has protected you through your life? Who can you tell your story too? If you don’t have one then ask someone else if they have an angel story.

God loves us, and His angels are just one more tool He uses to bring us into a personal relationship with Him. It is important to remember that we are never to worship angels (Colossians 2:18), but celebrate the miracles God does in our lives, and give Him all the glory. If you have an angel story I hope you will tell someone, and always give glory to God. Keep your eyes open for an angel this Christmas. As Hebrews 13:2 reminds us, “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.”