I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me, 9 but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.” Revelation 22:8-9
People have great misconceptions about angels, especially during Christmas time . Wrapping paper and decorations are covered with chubby Michelangelo-like cherubs. Stores have “Angel Trees” where people can give anonymous presents to the poor. We sing “Hark the Herald Angels” and “Angels We Have Heard on High”. At times, it seems the season is about winged child-like beings and not a child in the manager who came to save the world.
When the shepherds saw the angel, he told them not to be afraid but to go and seek the Christ child. The angel that appeared to Mary told her not to fear, but to do God’s will. Here, the angel tells John to worship God.
Angels are messengers. They are guardians. They exist in the spiritual realm and help ward off the evil attacks in that realm. They are not our dearest deceased relatives, as is a popular belief. They are Heavenly and eternal beings whose sole purpose is to glorify and serve the Living Lord. They are an example of how we should be for each other, and for God. Everything they do points back to God.
When God prompts us to serve, protect, instruct or inform someone, we need to make sure that , like the angels, we point them to the Source and away from us. Our prayers and actions as servants of the loving God we obey should always be in the form of a message, a love letter from their Heavenly Father. We are supposed to show the person the return address so they can respond. We are just the deliverers, He is the one who delivers. Then like the angels sing, we will glorify the newborn King.
