The Bible doesn't tell us much about angels, but it tells us all we need to know. Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 124 Q. What does the third request mean? A. “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” means, Help us and all people to reject our own wills and to obey your will without any back talk. Your will alone is good. Help us one and all to carry out the work we are called to, as willingly and faithfully as the angels in heaven. Summary Chances are your idea of what an angel is has been shaped more by culture than by the Bible. This is not only because so many books, movies and TV shows have stereotyped angels in certain ways, but also because when it comes down to it, although the Bible certainly affirms the existence of angels & demons, it doesn't really tell us much about who they are or what they do. The final stanza of Psalm 103 gives us some insight. All of our major English translations render these words slightly differently, so it's good to look at them all to get a full picture: Angels are: Mighty ones (NIV, ESV) / Mighty heroes (LEB) / Powerful warriors (NET) / Ones who excel in strength (KJV) Do the LORD's bidding & obey His word (NIV) / Do the LORD's word, obeying the voice of His word (ESV) / Do His word by obeying the sound of His word (LEB) / Carry out His decrees and obey His orders (NET) / Do His commandments, hearkening unto the voice of His word (KJV) Are servants (NIV, NET) / ministers (ESV, KJV) / attendants (LEB) who do the LORD's will. The author of Hebrews indicates the mission of the angelic host is to serve those who inherit salvation. That's us! What a blessing & honor to know God's entire angel army exist to serve & minister to us! Finally, Peter informs us that the angels long to look at the beauty of our salvation in Christ. Dig Deeper When you pray the words "your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven," you're asking God to equip you to carry out His work just as "willingly and faithfully as the angels in heaven." That might seem intimidating, since you don't have the same supernatural powers that the angels have. But notice that the catechism isn't calling you to do the same thing the angels do, rather it's calling you to have the same willing and faithful attitude that they have. The idea continues to persist that when we die, we get a promotion of sorts and become angels. This isn't what the Bible teaches. Even if this was the case, it wouldn't be a promotion, since you in a sense already outrank the angels. They weren't created in God's image as you have been. They were created to serve you, not vice versa! So be content with the talents and abilities you've been blessed with, but be sure to model the eager desire to "hearken unto the the voice of the LORD's word," just as the angels revealed in scripture do. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, who is praised by angels, the heavenly host, and all of His works; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Thank God for the angels who serve on your behalf (though we rarely know how they do so), and pray that you'll model their eager attitude to carry out God's will; ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - Revelation 7

There's only One who can unite our polarized world: Jesus Christ Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 30 Q. Do those who look for their salvation and security in saints, in themselves, or elsewhere really believe in the only savior Jesus? A. No. Although they boast of being his, by their deeds they deny the only savior and deliverer, Jesus. Either Jesus is not a perfect savior, or those who in true faith accept this savior have in him all they need for their salvation. Summary In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul raises the issue of disunity and conflict amongst the believers in Corinth. In this letter Paul also addresses concerns over other issues including lawsuits amongst believers, mistreatment of the poor at the Lord’s table, boasting about spiritual gifts, and the strained relationship between the so-called 'strong' and 'weak.' Each of these areas that Paul addresses highlight the dissention within the church. A lack of unity causes or at minimum contributes to a whole host of issues. Singled out as a sign of their disunity was the Corinthians divided allegiance. Some claimed to follow Christ, or Cephas (Peter), and others Christ. When Paul came to Corinth and preached the Gospel, he was not looking for followers of himself, but desired for the people to come to faith in and become followers of Jesus. It is rightly pointed out that Paul was not crucified on their behalf, nor were they baptized in the name of Paul. It is Jesus who was crucified on their behalf, and in Jesus’ name that they were baptized. Instead of creating divisions by aligning with one of various teachers of the day, Paul hopes to see the Corinthian church united in their devotion to Christ. Dig Deeper The church in Corinth is not the only example of believers straying in devotion to Jesus and leaning into an allegiance to someone or something else. In Q&A 30, the Heidelberg Catechism directly mentions the examples of looking for salvation in saints, oneself, or elsewhere. While there are probably not a lot of protestants looking for salvation in the saints, there is still the possibility of repeating the same shortcomings as the Corinthians. Just as Peter and Paul were the well-known teachers of their day, a similar celebrity exists today around certain popular biblical teachers. There is nothing wrong with being fond of the teachings of Francis Chan, Craig Groeschel, or R.C. Sproul. Where issues can arise is when you forget that they are only human and not above critique. When I was a senior in high school Rob Bell was at the height of his popularity. His NOOMA videos were particularly popular and some nights after work a few coworkers and I would watch his lessons at the house of a friend who owned the DVDs. Eventually Rob Bell had a fall from grace when he started publishing works that had, at best, questionable theology. So, what do you do when a biblical teacher starts saying things that disagree with the Word of God? You trust the Word of God, every time. Our faith is in Jesus Christ and in no one or nothing else. Rob Bell is not the only well-known biblical teacher to let people down. Just in recent years Bill Hybels stepped down from Willow Creek following allegations of sexual misconduct and Mark Driscoll resigned after fostering a 'fear based' environment that led to the dissolution of the Mars Hill church. What the fall of these well-known individuals highlights is how no teacher today is infallible. Your allegiance should not rest upon a particular church, pastor, or likewise; as Christians our allegiance is to Christ, and Christ alone. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our undivided Savior; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that even though our society is riddled with division that Christians will remain undivided on the truths of God's Word. ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - Hebrews 10

Genesis 5:1-8 (NIV) 5 This is the written account of Adam’s family line. Adam had lived 130 years, he had a son in his own likeness, in his own image; and he named him Seth. 4   Canons of Dordt Point 1 - God's Unconditional Election Point 2 - Limited Atonement Point 3 - Total Depravity Death is our first enemy and will be the last enemy to be destroyed by Christ when He returns ( 1 Cor

Photo: inhisfootstepsholyland2014.wordpress.com/ Deuteronomy 31:1–8 (NIV) CONTEXT: Last week we read Joshua also will cross over ahead of you, as the LORD said. 4   And the LORD will do to them what he Canons of Dordt Point 1 - God's Unconditional Election Point 2 - Limited Atonement Point 3 - Total Depravity Point 4 - Irresistible Grace Point 5 - Perseverance of the Saints Article 5: The Effects of Serious Today: John 10

Genesis 1 (NIV) 1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. 3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4  As we take a look at Genesis 1, we read throughout that at the end of each day, “God saw that it was

these sinners, and so be reminded that He remains faithful to sinners like us as well. 2 Samuel 12:1– It was like a daughter to him. 4   “Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man refrained from Point 4 - Irresistible Grace Point 5 - Perseverance of the Saints Article 5: The Effects of Serious Deeper   David could break free from the guilt and move after his son's death for two key reasons: 1) Today: John 11

Psalm 78:4 - We will not hide God's wonders from the our descendants; we will tell the next generation Psalm 78:1–8 A maskil of Asaph. 1  My people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth. 2  I hidden things, things from of old— 3  things we have heard and known, things our fathers have told us. 4  Canons of Dordt Point 1 - God's Unconditional Election Point 2 - Limited Atonement Articles 1- 5 Article

Romans 11:1-6 (NIV) CONTEXT: Paul is discussing why the Jewish people have rejected Christ at the end 4  And what was God’s answer to him? Canons of Dordt Point 1 - God's Unconditional Election Point 2 - Limited Atonement Articles 1- 8 Article Today: Ephesians 4

The man said, “She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” 4  Then David 4  In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah. 15  In it he wrote, “Put Uriah Point 4 - Irresistible Grace Point 5 - Perseverance of the Saints Article 4: The Danger of True Believers powerful promise like that to give a stark warning, but that's exactly what the Canons do here in Article 4. Today: John 6

declared you to be; ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - 1