On the Disposition and Attitude of Angels

Have you ever wondered what runs through the mind of a heavenly messenger of God as he carries out his God's will? John Newton did. In one of his "Letters to a Nobleman", he pondered openly what an angel on mission from God experiences as he navigates the affairs of man. Is he anxious to return from his duties to the glory of heaven? Does he find pleasure in carrying out the will of his Sender? How does he view the proceedings and machinations of the men whose lives he will intervene in? What would it be like to be involved in the goings on of this world yet not be in love with this world?

These questions provoke amusing discussion and interesting thought, but outside of that, why ask such questions? For one thing, they can lead us to discover and consider our own attitude toward the will of God, the one we call, Lord. ¹ The angels are messengers, servants of the Most High, ready and willing to do the will of him who reigns from heaven; and our disposition should be the same, wouldn't you agree?

In Psalm 143, verses 10-12 David prays what I like to call, "A Servant's Prayer" -

Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground. For your name’s sake, Lord, preserve my life; in your righteousness, bring me out of trouble. In your unfailing love, silence my enemies; destroy all my foes, for I am your servant.

— Psalms 143:10-12

Those of us with "angelic" hearts would do well to pray this prayer in sincerity. I wonder if Peter had this Psalm in the back of his mind when he wrote that we should use our gifts to serve one another. What an attitude - the same attitude Timothy, "son in the faith" to Paul likely had. Paul praises and commends him to the Philippian church saying that while others look to their own interests, Timothy was concerned with what concerned Christ. ²

And what concerns Christ? What is at the top of the list of cares of Christ?

People. When we serve, we serve people. The welfare of the church should sit at the top of our priorities - not our own ministry, not our own calling, not our own interests. We have been called to live in a manner worthy of the calling of Christ, to serve his body faithfully with the graces he has apportioned to us. ³ Can I encourage you to do that? It's no easy task; in fact, you'll need the power and grace of Christ by his Spirit to walk in such a supernatural virtue. But if you ask, he is willing and he will grant it, servant of Jesus.

Scripture References

¹ Matthew 6:10

² Philippians 2:19-22

³ Ephesians 4:1-6