December 24, 2024 Devo

December 24th, 2024

“It’s All About Jesus!”
The Birth of Jesus – The Shepherds
Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” – Luke 2:13-14 (NLT)
“Glimpses”

Glimpses. That’s all we get of heaven while we’re here on earth. Just little moments where we catch a whiff, a small peek at what God has in store for us when we join Him on high.
Wanda and I felt as if we caught such a glimpse several years ago in the Cayman Islands. I had been invited to speak at a series of services for the churches there. The final service on that Sunday was a packed house of people that seemed to represent every corner of the globe. You could hear people singing and praying in different languages. It seemed like no one was holding back. People were dancing. People were waving their hands. Tears were flowing openly down faces. Then, one by one, people marched to the front to receive communion. People of all sizes, colors, and nationalities. People dressed in all white and people dressed in vibrant island colors. People from all kinds of backgrounds. All coming forward because of the One Savior who united us all. It was overwhelming. All Wanda and I could say was, “THIS must be what heaven will be like!”
I think that’s how the shepherds must have felt that night. Here they were, the least of the least, being visited by the angels. After the angel gave them the greatest news the world had ever heard, they sealed it with an angelic choir number. Can you even begin to imagine? Angels filled the sky with praise to the Lord who had ordained this indescribable, sacred moment, as the Christ-child was born. I wonder if the shepherds thought the same thing Wanda and I thought that day. “THIS must be what heaven will be like!”
Have you ever had a moment like that? A moment when it seems as if God pulls back the curtain a little bit to what’s coming. He can’t give us too much of it now because our frail, human minds and hearts just aren’t ready for it yet. But one day, we will be. One day it’ll be just like that. People of all colors, backgrounds, and languages. Humans and angels all singing and praising together. Some of us will be dancing. Some of us will be waving our hands (or wings). And some of us, like me, will let the tears flow with joy. Everyone standing before The One who unites us all. I don’t know about you, but I’m looking forward to that day. Until then, I’ll settle for what I can get. Glimpses. That’s God’s Word for you today.