Are Angels Really Among Us?

I was having breakfast with a friend today who related the following story:

His wife was working in the kitchen for an outreach program that involved a big parking lot, a mini racetrack and the children in their area. The women were preparing sloppy joes while the men were ministering to the kids outside. When it came time to eat and the kids lined up, the women became aware that there were far more kids in line than they had prepared for. As the kids filed through, our friend's wife looked into the pot of sloppy joes and realized that there were over a hundred kids left and they were almost completely out of sloppy joe mix. She just kept spooning them up and the kids kept coming. Meanwhile the pot never emptied. Over 100 kids were fed from the meager remains in the bottom of an empty pot of food!

As I pondered that, I ran across this in Alistair Begg's devotional today:

ARE THEY NOT ALL MINISTERING SPIRITS SENT OUT TO SERVE FOR THE SAKE OF THOSE WHO ARE TO INHERIT SALVATION?Hebrews 1:14

Angels are the unseen attendants of the children of God; they carry us in their hands and keep us from calamity. Loyalty to their Lord leads them to take a deep interest in the children of His love; they rejoice over the return of the prodigal to his father's house below, and they welcome the arrival of the believer to the King's palace above. In ancient times the children of God were able to actually see the angels. Today, although we do not see them, heaven is still open, and the angels of God ascend and descend upon the Son of man, so that they may visit the heirs of salvation. Seraphim still fly with live coals from the altar to touch the lips of men greatly loved. If our eyes could be opened, we would see horses and chariots of fire surrounding the servants of the Lord; for we have come to an innumerable company of angels, who are all watchers and protectors of the King's family. Spenser's line is not poetic fiction, where he sings-

How oft do they with golden pinions cleave
The flitting skies, like flying pursuivant
Against foul fiends to aid us militant!

To what dignity are the chosen elevated when the brilliant courtiers of heaven become their willing servants! Into what communion are we raised since we have communion with spotless celestials! How well are we defended since all the twenty thousand chariots of God are armed for our deliverance! To whom do we owe all this? The Lord Jesus Christ who must be forever dear to us, for through Him we are made to sit in heavenly places far above principalities and powers. It is He whose camp is around those that fear Him; He is the true Michael whose foot is upon the dragon. All hail, Jesus! Angel of Jehovah's presence, to You this family offers its morning vows.

Please note: Devotional material is taken from “Morning and Evening,” written by C.H. Spurgeon, revised and updated by Alistair Begg. Copyright (c) 2003, Good News Publishers and used by Truth for Life with written permission. Scripture quotations are taken from Holy Bible: English Standard Version, copyright (c) 2001, Good News Publishers.