双语灵修（葛培理牧师）：4月16日 天使看护

4月16日

天使看护

“但以理对王说：「愿王万岁！我的神差遣使者，封住狮子的口，叫狮子不伤我；因我在神面前无辜，我在王面前也没有行过亏损的事。」”（但以理书6:21-22）

天使亲自看护我们每一个人。圣经里多次记载，天使向人显现并看护我们。在《马丁路德桌边谈话录》（Table Talk）一书中，作者写到：天使是神创造的属灵生命，没有肉体，主要服事基督的国度和他的教会。我们不一定总能知道天使的显现。我们也无法预见他们何时出现。但是他们就在我们左右。他们经常是在我们不会察觉的情况下在我们身边看护。我们对他们的服事知之甚少。圣经却向我们保证，有一天，我们的眼睛会看得无比清楚，能够看到和知道天使对我们的所有看顾（哥林多前书13:11-12）。

旧约圣经中，先知但以理生动地描述了神的天使和黑暗势力的激烈争战。在天使见但以理之前，他悲伤了三个七日，美味没有吃，酒肉没有入他的口，也没有用油抹他的身，直到满了三个七日（但以理书10:3）。当但以理站在底格里斯大河边时，见有一人身穿细麻衣，面貌如闪电，眼目如火把，说话的声音如群众的呼喊。这异象惟有但以理一人看见，同他在一起的人却没有看见。他们却大大战兢，逃跑隐藏，只剩下但以理一人。他见了这大异象便浑身无力。这个人对他竟有如此大的影响。

神的子民有很多经历了天使的看护。有的也许得到了帮助，却并不知道。圣经告诉我们，神命令天使来看护我们，因为我们是基督宝血所救赎的。我们也许常常并没有意识到他们的存在。

今日祷告：

天父，我感谢您差派天使来守护我们，并在生活中帮助我们。求你继续与我同在，常在我身边；奉耶稣的名，阿门。

April 16

BE AWARE OF ANGELS

Then Daniel said unto the king…My God hath sent his angel,and hath shut the lions’mouths,that they have not hurt me…Daniel 6:21-22

Angels minister to us personally.Many accounts in Scripture confirm that we are the subjects of their individual concern.In his book Table Talk,Martin Luther said,“An angel is a spiritual creature created by God without a body,for the service of Christendom and the church.”

We may not always be aware of the presence of angels.We can’t always predict how they will appear.But angels have been said to be our neighbors.Often they may be our companions without our being aware of their presence.We know little of their constant ministry.The Bible assures us,however,that one day our eyes will be unscaled to see and know the full extent of the attention angels have given us(1 Corinthians 13:11-12).

In the Old Testament,Daniel vividly describes the bitter conflict between the angelic forces of God and the opposing demons of darkness.Before the angel came to him he had spent three weeks mourning(Daniel 10:3).He had no bread,meat,or wine,nor did he anoint himself.As he stood by the Tigris River,a man appeared clothed in linen.His face looked like lightning and his eyes like flaming torches.His voice sounded like the roar of a crowd.

Daniel alone saw the vision.The men who were with him did not.Yet a great dread came upon them,and they ran away to hide.Left alone with the heavenly visitor,Daniel’s strength departed from him so great was the effect of this personage on him.

Many experiences of God’s people suggest that angels have been ministering to them.Others may not have known they were being helped,yet the visitation was real.The Bible tells us that God has ordered angels to minister to His people-those who have been redeemed by the power of Christ’s blood.We may often be unaware of their presence.

Pray for the Day:

Father,I thank You that You have sent angels to watch over us and to help us in our lives.I pray that You will continue to be with me and abide with me;in Jesus’Name,Amen.