December 8 - LD 49, Day 6: "...As in Heaven..."

December 8 - LD 49, Day 6: “…As in Heaven…”
by Rev. Martyn McGeown

Psalm 103:21 “Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.”

Jesus in the third petition makes a contrast between the will of God in heaven and the will of God in earth: “in earth, as it is heaven” (Matt 6:10). The will of God, both of His decree and His command, is always perfectly performed in heaven. There is no disobedience in heaven. Even the disobedience of the devil—remember that Lucifer was dissatisfied with the station and calling God had given him—was decreed by God. The reprobate angels were cast out; among the elect angels, there is no disobedience.

What do angels do? Angels are God’s ministers—they are His servants, attending to Him. Angels are God’s messengers—they are sent to do His bidding, to bring tidings to the earth. Angels are God’s hosts—they are His soldiers, who fight in spiritual warfare against the spirits of wickedness and who bring God’s just vengeance on the wicked. Angels are God’s worshippers—they praise Him without ceasing.

Angels also have their own calling and station. Some are cherubim; others are seraphim. Some are mere angels; others are archangels. Within the angelic ranks there is no envy and no dissatisfaction. No angel ever questions God’s will, and certainly no angel refuses to carry out God’s will.

LD 49 reminds us of this and urges upon us the angels for a pattern—“as willingly and faithfully as the angels do in heaven.” Psalm 103 teaches us about this. “Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word… that do his pleasure” (v20-21).

We must contrast the angels’ obedience with our obedience. Often we disobey. The angels never disobey. Often our obedience is halfhearted and reluctant. The angels obey God willingly and swiftly. We often murmur against one another, desiring to change our position for theirs. The angels never murmur. When God says to an angel, “Go,” he goes, and he does not complain that he was sent on an errand. When God commands an angel, “Worship me forever,” the angel does not get bored with worshipping God. When Gabriel was chosen to bring glad tidings to Mary concerning the coming of Jesus, the other angels did not become envious that they were not sent, nor did Gabriel become proud that he was chosen for such an assignment.

That is the kind of obedience at which we must aim. “Lord, make my obedience of Thee as eager and faithful as that of the angels. May Thy will be done in me and by me as it is in heaven.”