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Today's Devotional

Millions of spiritual creatures walk the earth
Unseen, both when we wake and when we sleep.
—John Milton.

What their works are we do not know, save as we catch brief glimpses here and there: some times sent forth as for guard and watch, also as couriers, also as convoys home of spirits departed, also to be escort-trains for the Almighty, — chariots of God counting twenty thousand, even thousands of angels. One of them, great Michael, is set forth to head a war against the dragon’s power of persecution, though exactly what that means we may not know. Perhaps they go forth on excursions among distant worlds and peoples, reporting, for new study, what of God may be discovered among them. Doubtless they have all enough to do forever, and that which is good enough and high enough for their powers.—Horace Bushnell.

…The angels who rejoice over repentance cannot but feel an uncomprehended pain as they try again and again whether they may not warm hard hearts with the brooding of their kind wings. —John Ruskin.

About the author and the source

John Milton (1608–1674), one of the great masters of English literature, is famed for his epic poem Paradise Lost and for writings against censorship and in favor of divorce. Horace Bushnell (1802-1876) was a controversial New England Congregationalist preacher, author, and theological innovator. John Ruskin (1819–1900) was an English art critic, philanthropist, and precursor of environmentalism. Lucy Larcom (1824-1893), who included today’s thoughts in a compilation she produced, grew up in poverty in New England where she became an inspirational poet and author.