Hebrews 13:1-19 - Unaware of Angels

Hebrews 13:1-19 NIV
Oh my! To do any justice with these verses one would have to take them one at a time. But, that is not the intent of this blog. Read the scripture linked above!  

The author is winding down his letter and reminds the readers to love and respect one another and to live honorably in every way.  I am particularly partial to verse 2. "Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it." Whenever I read or hear that voice I am reminded of "Michael on The Way." Michael was a visitor to a congregation that I served years ago. I had only been there a couple of month. Michael was homeless, traveling, on his way, from North Dakota to Florida for the winter. (These northern states are really not good states to be homeless in the winter.) He stopped to worship with us, coming in after the service started with his paper bag and guitar case in hand headed straight for the front pew - definitely not Lutheran. I was a little nervous. No, not because of him. But, because my sermon repeated verse 2 "Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it." Would we see the sermon lived out by the congregation that day, I wondered. Michael fidgeted a lot and during the sermon got up. It appeared that he was leaving. I stopped and introduced myself and asked him to stay so that we could visit after the service. When he told me his name was Michael, I got even a bit more anxious given the context of the sermon. My first thought on hearing his name was "archangel." He stayed. The congregation had proved to be very welcoming, indeed. He got lots of hugs during the sharing of the peace! He and I went out to breakfast afterwards to a place he had been asked to leave a couple of hours earlier. He had also visited another congregation in town that morning; but, only for a few minutes. He had not been welcomed there. I brought him down to the main highway after breakfast that morning so that he could continue his journey to places much warmer.

I asked the council at our next meeting if we could pray for Michael's journey. They agreed to also add him to our prayer list where he stayed for a few years. Not all of the council had been aware that Michael was really a homeless man. Since, they did not know me that well; they had thought I had set the whole thing up to go with the sermon. But, only God can mastermind events that well! It was a good lesson for me. I learned that day that the congregation I was serving truly did love and respect their neighbors, even the strangers. I also learned (again) that God is truly in charge and works things out for the good of those who love Him.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Daniel 12 - When Is Not The Priority; The Kingdom Is

"The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, lifted his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by him who lives forever, saying, “It will be for a time, times and half a time. When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed.” (Dan 12:7 NIV)

Who can know the time of the end? Multitudes have worked on the prophetic numbers here and elsewhere in scripture. It's been nothing more than mere guess work. The date can not be known. “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." (Mark 13:32) So why do so many people spend so many hours trying to figure it out? For me, it's kind of like politics in the church. We have greater things to be about. Namely, we are to proclaim the good news of eternal life in the Kingdom of God, through Jesus Christ, our LORD.

“At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered. Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever." (Dan 12:1-3)

“As for you, go your way till the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance.” (Dan 12:13)

Not everyone will hear the message; but, that does not excuse us from telling the good news so that all who hear might believe and receive their inheritance in the Kingdom of God. In short: the mission field is way too big to spend time arguing with our brothers and sisters over secular politics or to be sitting around counting the days. “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few." (Matt 9:37)

God's Peace - Pr. J

Daniel 10 - Princes in Heavenly Realms

Who are these princes that this scripture speaks of? It appears that they are angels and the trouble that is occurring is occurring or at least instigated in the heavenly realms. Daniel has been fasting for three weeks (21 days) and on the twenty-fourth day he receives a vision of a really awesome looking man, dressed in linen. This man tells him, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia." (Dan 10:12-13 NIV)

Michael, it would seem, is the archangel, Michael. He is the angel who is reputed to lead God's armies against the forces of evil. "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." (Eph 6:12)

There are times, when we just really need to back up and understand that it is not our neighbor who is the enemy, but that it is the great adversary who is attacking. And... understand, too, that the adversary is not just attacking you, but attacking your neighbor as well, through you. Stand your ground, stand on the Word of God, that the schemes of the princes who do not find favor in God's sight may be thwarted. Pray unceasingly for help, for yourself as well as for your neighbor, that the enemy will have no hold over us.

God's Peace - Pr. J