We Can Become Angels In 2015 (A Thought for the New Year)

            Angels carry out some of God’s plans.  There are guardian angels – angels who serve the believers (Cf. Psalms 91: 11, Matthew 18: 10, Hebrews 1: 14). It is a fact that people ought to be cared for.

            An identical message is conveyed through “love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12: 31). When Christ was asked to define the term ‘neighbor,’ HE elaborated through what has become to be a very familiar parable to us, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” (Luke 10: 30-37, NIV).

            An intriguing aspect of the Good Samaritan parable is the utter discredit that Christ renders to the Jews (in this parable, priest & Levite) - God’s chosen people.  On the other hand, Christ speaks favorably of the Samaritans – as those inclined to help those in need.

            As background information, Jews did not associate with the Samaritans (John 4: 9). Moreover, Christ HIMSELF associated Samaritans to the gentiles (non-Jews; Matthew 10: 5).

            So Christ, through the Good Samaritan parable, does seem to elucidate that the Jews, although being God’s chosen people, were less inclined to help those in need. If we draw an application from this parable, then we safely presume that Christians could be less inclined to help the needy.

            As surely as there are Christians, there are those who are in need. Their need could be financial and/or non-financial.

            The non-financial needs could be fulfilling spiritual needs (helping in Bible study, praying for and together, Christian counseling, offering a ride to the church etc.) or rendering emotional support (offering our shoulder to cry on, encouragement, good Christian advice, periodical brotherly visits etc.) etc.

            So we could ask ourselves two pertinent questions:

            1. Can we prayerfully decide our tangible service (what we could offer) to the needy in 2015?

            2. Can we identify the needs of people around us? If we earnestly ask God whom we could serve, God will surely lead us to those individuals.

            People are in need. Angels are the need of the hour.

            As surely as there are angels in the spiritual realm, God in HIS wisdom and mercy has ordained HIS people to love and serve those in need. Human-angels are the need of the hour.

            Are we ready for this task? Are we ready to be the human-angels to serve the needy?

            So this is my challenge to you; can we adopt at the least one person or one family and serve to alleviate their physical and emotional needs in 2015?

            The good Lord will always guide, guard and bless us all in 2015. Enjoy a Spirit-filled, and an anointed 2015. Amen.