Through the years your author has listened to people who, with great emotional conviction, claim to have seen their guardian angel. However, it is extremely important for us always to confirm what we believe, including those things we want to believe, with the clear testimony of God’s written Word. The Holy Scriptures must be our absolute standard for what we believe on any subject. But what do the Scriptures teach about having guardian angels?

There are actually no passages in God’s Word that tell us that we, or anyone else, have a guardian angel. Nonetheless, our text in Matthew 18:10 is sometimes used to bolster this concept. It records the Lord Jesus saying, “Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.” Note that our Lord did NOT say any Jewish believer had a guardian angel. We must be slow to draw this conclusion, unless it is clearly stated and then corroborated by other Scriptures that plainly teach such a concept. From Hebrews 1:14 we learn that, at least when it came to Israel in the past, angels were God’s “ministering spirits, sent forth to minister to them who shall be heirs of salvation.” The Scriptures record multiple instances of God sending angels to minister to individuals, but they are never referred to as a guardian angel nor that they remained permanently with any individual. Matthew 18:10 is only saying that angels, in general, ministered to Jewish saints in different ways, at the specific bidding of the Lord, and that these angels collectively have a direct audience with God the Father. Nothing more is intended.

Is our condition somehow diminished not to have a guardian angel? The answer is “no,” not at all. We are already blessed with “all spiritual blessings in heavenly places” (Ephesians 1:3). We have the completed Word of God to guide and empower us each day. The Spirit of God now indwells every believer to comfort, strengthen, teach, and guide us. We also know that even when trials arise, God is able to make “all things work for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). We simply need nothing else. Therefore, rest and rejoice in your blessed condition, which is far better than having a guardian angel.

As a young man fresh out of Bible College, I worked as an assistant pastor in a denominational church for several years. There were several fundamental churches in this city. The pastors and assistant pastors met once a month for a time of fellowship and encouragement. While many of the experiences were edifying, one thing always bothered me. Each month these pastors would “count scalps,” so to speak, by bragging about how many baptisms, new memberships, or attendance records they had recently.

If you’ve ever wondered what eternity will be like, you are not alone. One day the disciples “…came…unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:1). The apostles were anticipating a Millennial Kingdom virtually identical to that of every earthly kingdom before it. They saw the Lord Jesus as King, with them as His loyal subjects possessing positions of honor, wealth, glory, and power. The problem with this concept is that the Kingdom of our Lord will be unique in nearly every way from the kingdoms of mere men. When the Lord Jesus Christ reigns as King over all the earth, the primary focus and activity will be ongoing worship of the King, and the sincere learning His precepts out of a humble heart (Daniel 7:14; Zechariah 14:16; Isaiah 2:2-3). It will not be to exalt men, including the apostles. Instead, it will be as recorded in Isaiah 42:8, “I am the Lord…My glory will I not give to another.” This means the answer to the question of the apostles is that the Lord Jesus Christ will be the greatest in the Kingdom, and there will be room for only Him to have the spotlight of greatness and exaltation at this time.

We today share the same fleshly ambitions of the apostles. Therefore, the Lord reminds us, “For this I say…to every man that is among you, not think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly… (Romans 12:3). Revelation 4:1-11 paints a vivid picture of the nature of an eternal existence for the saints: “…I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven…The four and twenty elders fall down before Him that sat on the throne, and worship…and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for Thou hast created all things.” May we begin now to rearrange our eternal expectations toward praise, adoration, learning, and service, rather than self-exaltation!

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What do you set as your priority as you start your day? For some it is to begin by bathing and brushing their teeth. The ladies often fix their hair and makeup. Men generally shave in the morning. Most begin with a fresh set of clothes. Many always drink coffee and read the newspaper. But the most important priority to begin your day is to spend time in prayer.

Matthew 17:1-2 records the Lord Jesus Christ being transfigured on a high mountain before Peter, James, and John. However, Luke 9:28-29 tells us the Savior “went up into a mountain to pray. And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and His raiment was white and glistering.” We are reminded by this example of the Son of God, and many others, how important it is to pray. The Lord Jesus spent time in prayer before walking on water. Later He prayed before being arrested prior to His crucifixion. Here we see the Lord praying before He was transfigured. Each of these important events was bathed in prayer before proceeding. While the Savior ministered to His apostles, He constantly instructed them to be men of prayer. He told them to pray for those who would persecute them (Matthew 5:44), pray to the Father in secret, or in a private way (Matthew 6:5-7), pray the Father would send forth laborers to harvest eternal souls through ministry (Matthew 9:38), and to pray that they enter not into temptation (Matthew 26:41).

God places all these instructions about prayer in His Word and provides the example of the Savior being devoted to prayer so that believers in every dispensation can see how important it is to cultivate the holy habit of prayer. We are to be “praying always” (Ephesians 6:18). May we allow this simple reminder, and this profound principle, to transform our lives immediately. We urge you to pause after reading this devotional to spend time in prayer. We encourage you to make a time of prayer your highest priority as you begin each day. We suggest that, as the Savior did, you particularly spend earnest time in prayer prior to any important decision or event. God desires your fellowship in prayer, your dependence upon Him demonstrated through prayer, and your access to richer blessings through prayer. Make it a priority beginning right now.

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In many Christian circles emotions seem to be controlling the lives and even actions of many professing Christians. A church in Lakeland, Florida, televises services where people practice what they call “holy laughter.” They literally roll on the floor while laughing uncontrollably, which defies the instruction from I Corinthians 14:27-34 about being in control of one’s spirit, and doing things in an orderly fashion. Similarly, the trend today is to constantly ask others, “How do you feel about that?” Christians are not to be dictated by their feelings. What we believe, how we act, and even the way we feel is supposed to be subject to God’s Word. It should never be a matter of how we feel, but as Galatians 4:30 says, “Nevertheless, what saith the Scripture?”

Prior to Matthew Chapter 16, the Savior had not disclosed to His apostles that He was going to suffer, die, and rise again from the grave. Luke 18:34 confirms “…this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.” Once he understood, Peter did not take this announcement well. “Peter took Him, and began to rebuke Him, saying, Be it far from thee Lord: this shall not be unto Thee” (Matthew 16:22). Peter had always reverenced the Savior, standing in awe of His power, doctrine, and commanding presence. But, this news completely upset his plans and his emotions began to control him. The Savior’s response to Peter was very strong. He “said unto Peter, Get thee behind Me, Satan: thou art an offense unto Me…” (Matthew 16:23). This verse implies Satan was behind Peter’s heightened, fleshly, emotional response. Satan was distracting Peter from seeing the greater truth and need for the Savior to fulfill prophecy, and the needed task of going to Jerusalem to die for the sins of all mankind. Isaiah 53:7-12 explained the Messiah must be brought as a lamb to slaughter, to pour out His soul unto death and become an offering for sin. Peter was allowing his emotions, or his flesh, to rule him rather than His head and God’s will. This is a common mistake occurring regularly in these closing days of the Dispensation of Grace.

Christians should rejoice over their salvation, eternal security, heavenly hope, and regular service for Christ. However, we need to be on our guard to monitor, control, and bring our emotions into conformity to the Word and will of God in all areas. Are you being careful in this area?

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