Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

Matthew 4:11

For Meditation

Angels stand at attention, their ears perked, eyes focused, tongues readied, and their voices keyed to sing and praise God in joyful celebration when you stand at the threshold of temptation. Heaven has noted you for your convictions and has acknowledged your integrity. So, it stands in expectation of your victory.

 Your victory started in the wilderness some two thousand years plus ago when our Savior rejected the sweet deal of the devil after His forty days and forty nights fasting (Matt. 4:1-11). It continued on the Mount of Transfiguration, where Jesus rejected Peter’s suggestion for them to build tabernacles when He revealed His glory to the three (17:4). And when the tempter again spoke through the same Simon Peter to dissuade Jesus from going to the cross, the angels celebrated in heaven at the Lord’s rebuke, “Get behind me, Satan” (16:22-23). His eyes set on the welcome party in heaven and the joy of the occasion – the Father’s glory and gratitude – Jesus plowed on toward Calvary (Heb. 12:2).

To His final meal on earth at the table of the great Passover, of which He was the Lamb of God for the sacrifice, He went (Lk. 22:7-38), with one more battle to fight – the Battle of the Wills – in a Garden. And why not? After all, it was in a Garden that the first Adam lost the battle to the devil. The fight to redeem human souls was, therefore, set in a garden. So, Gethsemane opened to Him (39-46).

“My soul is exceeding sorrowful,” He said (Matt. 26:38KJV). The cross starred menacingly at Him. The weight of the sin of the world pressed on His shoulders. The voice that slew the first Adam in Eden and had haunted him since His incarnation, now mocked Him. It offered Him a way of escape. Was it going to be His will or that of the Father?

Luke got it right. An angel burst forth from heaven to His side for the final celebration before the cross when Jesus said, “…not my will, but yours be done” (Lk. 22:42-43). This Garden victory was trumpeted from the height of Calvary when Jesus said, “It is finished” (Jn. 19:30). It reverberated from the garden tomb on the morning of the third day when the angel said to the women, “He has risen!” (Lk. 24:6). Heaven said, “Amen” when our Savior rose in victory over death, and angels rejoiced.

Since then, angels celebrate Christ’s victory every time you stand under temptation and prevail in His strength – when you hold on to your integrity and convictions for the Father’s glory.

“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand” (Eph. 6:13).

Give heaven a glorious reason to celebrate today.