Monday, November 29

Mysterious Strangers

For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.
Psalm 91:11

Edward King entered the ministry in 1854 in the village of Wheatley in England. One night he was called to visit a dying man a mile or two away. The night was dark, but King trudged on, only to discover that no one was sick at all. He returned home perplexed. Years later, King made another visit, this time to a condemned prisoner. The man asked King if he remembered his useless, nocturnal walk of yesteryear. "It was I who gave you the false message," said the man, "to lure you out that I might rob you." The bishop asked why he hadn't carried out his plan. "When you came near," said the man, "I saw you were not alone. There was a mysterious looking stranger walking close behind you, and he followed you to your home and then disappeared."

Perhaps if angels were always visible, we'd be tempted to worship them. People would flock to them as to idols. But though usually invisible, these mysterious strangers are close at hand. The angels are watching over us.

Let us not forget that the angels know each saint on earth more intimately than the saints themselves are known by their nearest friends.
Norman Macleod

Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Timothy 1:1-3:16