Be Refreshed

We learned early that name-calling is a non-no; irregardless, we regress into the old habit sometimes even if in jest. The world seems obsessed with angels and give the name to some they should not. Do angels exist? Of course, they do! The Truth about angels, however, is found in God's Word: they are God's agents, messengers, servants. From Scripture, we see angels have acted solely on the Authority of God to announce, warn, instruct, protect, deliver, direct, assist, intercede and encourage. An angel encouraged Apostle Paul after a storm at sea: "For this very night an angel of the God to Whom I belong and Whom I serve stood before me, saying, 'Do not be afraid, Paul.'" (Acts 27:23-24a). That ministry of encouragement whether from an angel of God or from a fellow Believer is immeasurable. One of my favorite Bible encouragers is given in 2 Timothy 1:16: "The Lord grant mercy to the house of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me." Think about it: if angels were sent from God to minister encouragement, how important it must be that we do the same. "Since we have gifts ... each of us is to exercise them ... he who encourages, let him encourage!." (from Romans 12:6, 8). I've received gifts of encouragement and know well the impact it brought to my troubled and sorrowful spirit. None of us can be nor will we ever be angels (uh, no, we don't eventually get wings), but each one of us can surely encourage another person. Do you need refreshment? Proverbs 11:25 says, "whoever refreshes others will be refreshed." Aha! Refresh and be refreshed!