I Can’t Wait! – Family Devotion – November 26, 2021

Read: Revelation 1:4b-8

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.

“Look, he is coming with the clouds,”
and “every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him”;
and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.”
So shall it be! Amen.

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”
Revelation 1:5-8

I Can’t Wait!

 

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

“I can’t wait! I can’t wait!” Gwen found herself saying that almost every day. She had a countdown calendar on her bedroom wall that reminded her about the big day. Now it was only 100 days until her golden birthday. Gwen was about to turn 10 on April 10. “I can’t wait! I can’t wait!”

Gwen didn’t realize it, but the days were starting to pass by quickly. She got busy with school and volleyball and playing with her friends. Before she knew it, the big day had finally arrived! Her tenth birthday! She was so excited to celebrate! “This is going to be the best party ever!” she thought.

The party was great and the whole day was fun. But . . . the next day was nothing special. It was just another ordinary day. Her birthday came, and now it was gone. Gwen was disappointed because she didn’t have something to look forward to anymore.

Birthdays and other celebrations can be a lot of fun. They are great days to look forward to. But we as Christians have something even better that is coming. That will be the great day when the Lord Jesus returns once and for all.

The apostle John once had a little preview of what that day would be like, and he wrote down what he saw in the book of Revelation. The words for the devotion today are truly wonderful. They remind us that Jesus has loved us and shed his blood for us. When he saved us, Jesus also made us to be his people who are a part of his kingdom, now and forever.

And yes, one day soon Jesus will come back in glory and every eye will see him. His enemies who rejected him will mourn and be sad. But that’s not true for us. We will see Jesus and rejoice. On that day we know that all the sickness, suffering, and sadness of this world will be over. We will only have joy and happiness—not just for a day like a birthday or holiday—forever and ever. All that will be ours when Jesus comes back on that great day. I can’t wait! I can’t wait!

Closing Prayer:

Jesus, thank you for paying for all our sins and making us to be your people. Give us patience as we wait for the glorious day of your return. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

• How did Jesus make us to be his people forever and ever?
• Why will we be happy when Jesus returns?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• What do you find challenging about waiting for Jesus to return on judgment day?
• How can we learn to be more patient for Jesus’ return?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• These verses from Revelation are like a little preview of what judgment day will be like. Discuss why you think God gives us these little sneak peeks.
• On the Last Day, everything in this world will be gone. All that will matter is our relationship with Jesus. Discuss how that thought should affect the way we live our lives now.