Angels

Scripture

Praise the LORD, you angels, you mighty ones who carry out His plans, listening for each of His commands.

~Psalm 103:20, NLT

Quote

They {angels} are so on fire with a holy love of God’s beauty that they hold in disdain all things–including themselves–which are less than divine.

~Augustine

 

I am reading Augustine’s City of God and it is more of a philosophy book than a theological one. If I were a bit younger and had the time, I would enroll in Hillsdale and work on a Phd in Philosophy. I do love it but I have waited too long. Currently, I am in Book IV, PAGAN DEITIES, DEMONS, AND ANGELS. I haven’t shared much of this study in the blog for a reason. It is very difficult material and to be honest, I have not found a lot that I think would be edifying to anyone that wasn’t into philosophy. The ancients, even the pagans believed there were three levels of higher intelligence: gods, angels {both good and bad} and man. Of course we believe in one God and that is the basic difference because we also believe in angels both good and bad {demons}. The good angels are personal beings, created to serve and worship God. I was so impressed with Augustine’s comments on the good angels that I wanted to share them.

Unlike the bad angels, God’s good angels are not so much into knowledge, which tends to inflate to foster pride, as they are obedience and responding immediately to God’s command. They love the love of God which makes them holy. They are so on fire with a holy love of God’s beauty, so spiritual, unchangeable and ineffable {indescribable or unutterable}, that they hold in disdain all things–including themselves– which are less than divine, so that with every grace that makes them good, they may rejoice in the giver of goodness, who is God. They are not so much into prophecy or understanding the future, as the WORD of God and responding promptly to His every command. They do understand clearly why somethings are good and others are evil. Demons do not have this pure discernment and are prone to dabble into the future {which is why we avoid fortune tellers and the zodiac}. Obviously the demons do not know the future because they do not relent. Like their master, they think they can win in the end. Demons are deluded and mistaken; angels are not. The angels know that God’s will shall be done and His purpose will prevail. Although they are created beings, they are immortal and they are blessed of God. Their bliss is to serve God in the coming of His kingdom. His will they do without question.

Extra

These are Augustine’s thoughts: some of them I paraphrased. I had read and reread, the conclusion I came to was: I need to be more like the angels, the good angels. Another cool spell. I think June is going to make soup today. My garden doesn’t look good. I can’t get anything to come up. Some of it was planted almost three weeks ago and all of it for ten days. I may go get some pepper plants today. It seems to be the only thing I can grow.

Mrs. Edith Bennich has a biopsy yesterday and she is back at the cottages doing fine. Mrs. Edith Sandlin’s COLS is tomorrow. I am going to miss this sweet lady, already do.

Have a great day and thanks for reading the blog.

 

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