Thin Spaces

Dec. 2

Read: Luke 2:8-21

Thin Spaces

“And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord…” (v.10)

What if there are times and places where the “veil” between heaven and earth becomes “thin”? What if there are moments when the Lord makes less opaque the separation between the spiritual realm and the physical realm? These are moments when we are primed to see and hear. These are times when the idea that God would come to us - Emmanuel … “God with us” - seems a little less crazy. I think Christmas is one of those times.

This season is a season of heaven and earth being combined. Shepherds see angels. Wise men follow stars. A baby is born of a virgin. All of this is miraculous… and a part of Christmas. During this season, we celebrate the idea that Jesus came - God in the flesh - to save us and redeem creation. The birth of Christ is the moment that the Kingdom of God broke in to time and space, and set up shop here on earth, never to leave! During this season we not only remember his previous a”arrival” but we also look forward to his coming again. This is advent - the celebration of Jesus coming to earth… both then and in the future.

I know this may seem childish to some of you, but Christmas truly is a sort of “magical” time. It is a time when we expect or are more open to just a tiny bit of “magic” taking place. This “magic” is actually nothing more than the Kingdom of Heaven being displayed on earth. In this way, what an amazing time of year for the Lord to awaken his people more deeply to the majesty of Jesus and his work in this world… this is a great season for our “believing” and our faith to be strengthened. This is the true and REAL “magic” of Christmas… and it is a “magic” that is actually here with us YEAR ROUND. What if we approached this season with an attitude of expecting to experience Jesus in powerful ways as well as asking to be used by him to minister and care for others? Let me unpack this idea with an example, look at the shepherds:

“And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear…” (v.8,9)

Imagine just going about your business… another “day at work”… and the unexpected / supernatural breaks in. In this case it is an “angel of the Lord” with “the glory of the Lord shining around him”. Notice the shepherds were “scared”. It is almost always “scary” for those people in the bible who experience these sort of moments when the separation between heaven and earth dissolves and the spiritual realm becomes “seen and heard”. Maybe this is why we avoid it sometimes… because we are scared!?! This angel brings the message that the one who would save them had arrived… “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (v.11) Then something happens that is even crazier.

“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (v.13,14)

This is how God works. These sorts of experiences tend to multiply… they grow. They start out slow with one angel or one small moment and then before you know it, they have grown into a “multitude of angels singing”. The multitude of angels are praising God, they are celebrating the coming of the Savior that is Jesus. After the experience the shepherds leave to find Jesus. The share their experience with Mary and they return back to work “glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen.” (v.20)

It is crazy that the shepherds basically mimic the angels in what they do for Mary, Joseph, and themselves. They start with a visit and a message from God and they end with glorifying and worship. When the scriptures call us “sons of God” it is truly the case that we have been brought into the service of the Lord the very same way that his angels are! (The heavenly beings who serve God are called “sons of God” as well. ) Instead of placing yourself in the position of the shepherds this season, what if you began to see yourself more like the angel(s) in this passage? What if God was working in you and through you to break into the “everyday” and deliver a word of encouragement to those people around you… letting them know there is one who can save them from what they need saving from! Like the angels, we carry the message of the savior Jesus. Like the angels, we know where to find him now. Like the angels, when God speaks through us his ministry and work begins to grow until it erupts in praise … like a “multitude of angels singing”. We sing with the angels and the shepherds of old, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” What if you had the opportunity to live like that this season… would you take it? Maybe that is what God is calling you too; instead of approaching this season like you are sitting around in a field waiting for something to happen… pretend you are one of the angels and ask God who he wants you to share with. You may just find that the “glory of the Lord shines around you” as you speak his worlds of encouragement and hope to a hurting world around you. For some of you today - you may just need to hear that Jesus is indeed the “SAVIOR”. Jesus is the one who saves us… from ALL that we need “saving” from. I have know way of knowing what each and everyone of you feels like you need “saving from”, but I do know that Jesus is truly the answer. Here is to this season, may God make the veil thin and open our eyes! Love you guys. - JDP