I have never seen electricity - but I believe in it and what it can do. The proof is in the results. When I flip a switch, I am usually rewarded with the effect I expected. I don't notice that it works until it doesn't.
I have never seen an angel - but I definitely believe in them. But, far different from electricity, I do not pay attention to their activity in the world. They are hidden from me, and unless God chooses for them to be seen for some special 'mission' we do not engage directly with them.
How different it was with events surrounding Jesus' conception and birth. Gabriel - one of the most revered angels - appeared to Mary and announced that she was chosen to be the mother of the Messiah. And, later, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and told him to take Mary as his wife.
Amazing! I can only imagine that it was at that point when he got the confirmation he needed to believe Mary had not been unfaithful to him. And he obeyed, and they were married - but they didn't physically consummate the marriage until after the birth of Jesus.
We aren't told about other angel interactions during the pregnancy - but we certainly can assume that they were around: guarding, protecting, nurturing, blessing - as God's hands extended to this precious family who was chosen to be the earthly parents of God incarnate.
The next big event when we see the angels in full array was when an angel appeared to the shepherds to announce Jesus' birth, who was then joined by a multitude of angels praising God. I'll wait for the full story of that event to be shared in another blog entry.
Angels are God's messengers - but they are never to receive worship. They are just obedient servants. Well, at least those who were faithful to God are. When Satan defied God, a third of the angels went with him - and there is a constant battle that goes on in heaven between them and the warring angels on God's side. Until Jesus returns, that is.
Also - just for clarity, people do not become angels when they die. They are created beings, just as Adam and Eve were, but they re very different than we are, and there is no transition from human to angel that ever occurs.
Angels are fascinating, but mostly they are models of obedience. They are unseen actors both in heaven and on earth who serve at the will of God.
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