Gather All the Nations to Him (from “Angels from the Realms of Glory”)

By Pat Gempel

Philadelphia, USA

Scripture Reading:
Luke 2:8-20
Isaiah 9:6,7

In Luke the second chapter, we are told that angels appeared to a group of shepherds and told them news that would bring great joy to all people. The news was that Christ the Lord, the Son of God, had been born that day in the town of David (Bethlehem).

“After a great company of heavenly hosts appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests”
(Luke 2:8-20 and Isaiah 9:6,7)

We are told the shepherds hurried and found Mary and Joseph and the baby and praised God and told many about what they had heard and seen.

I wrote this devotional with editing help from my daughter, Kim Evans.  We are a daughter and mother working with others to bring this great news to anyone in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, area as well as others worldwide who want to make the choice to obey our Lord and spend eternity with God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit. It is truly great news that we can make that choice.

Christ was all God and all Man-Our Example to Imitate and Obey (Psalm 86:8-10)

“Though an infant now we view him, He shall fill his Father’s throne.”
from the hymn “Angels from the Realms of Glory”

The longer I live, the more I am amazed that God and Christ loved mankind so much that they sent the sinless Son of God, to live among us to teach us how to live.  Every hardship teaches me a new lesson. Jesus faced His death without the apostles, His chosen leader Peter denied Him. God’s church and family have been so supportive.  I appreciate them more and more.  God doesn’t expect me to be perfect. He wants me to grow in my faith and love him and others more.

Global Perspective and Blessings of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:18-20) 

“Gather all the nations to him”
from the hymn “Angels from the Realms of Glory”

In the 1980s, the Holy Spirit allowed my husband, Bob, and me to be involved with seeing His Kingdom – His Church — spread around the world; and it is still growing. In the 1990s until 2008 when we retired, we helped those churches develop programs to help the needy in their communities. We learned that regardless of language, culture, and background, mankind is all the same – rich or poor they either respond to Christ and grow or reject Him. It is every person’s decision. God created us with free will. Adam and Eve sinned and left God. There was a time when I left God because of my sin. God didn’t stop loving me. I caused those I loved most to suffer. He brought me back to Him and forgave me. Simply stated, when I prayed the Spirit showed me the way back to God.

United As We Follow Christ and Grow to be like Him (Romans 15:1-8, John 17)

“Every knee shall then bow down.”
from the hymn “Angels from the Realms of Glory”

If we don’t bow in prayer, we will never accomplish the unity in the church that Christ prayed for just before He went to the cross. He died a horrible death and was resurrected from the dead, so that our sins could be forgiven, and we could live for eternity with Him.  As your family and the church grow, being united is more difficult.  Why? For me, I value my thoughts over the thoughts of others and even God.  Sometimes I don’t know that I am causing another person to struggle or pushing my agenda ahead of another’s.  I sense another’s distance from me, but I don’t know how to resolve it God’s way.  Satan deceives me. I need to pray for God to reveal His will.

Choosing where we spend eternity (Psalm 67, Mark 16:15,16, Psalm 86:8-10)

“Difficult choices: to bow down to God in prayer”
from the hymn “Angels from the Realms of Glory”

When we began to help churches decide what they wanted to do to help the needy in their community (we established HOPEworldwide in 1991 and retired in 2008), we learned from the poor how grateful we should be that Christ came. This life is very short.  My husband went to be with God in 2019, he was 77. Eternity is very long. I have experienced enough to know where I want to spend it. 

Questions for Reflection:

1. Are you continually getting to know God better and learning from Him? What will help you to know Him better?
2. What is your plan for growth?  Will you see every event as God’s plan?
3. Who and what are you learning from?
4. Are you looking forward to eternity?

Today I will:

God’s desire is to gather all nations to Him.  Building unity across cultural and national boundaries can only be done through the power of God’s Holy Spirit and following Christ’s example.  For example, the call to help the poor, such as through HOPEworldwide, is one way that unity has been forged among God’s people globally. Consider this week how you can be a part of helping to build unity across cultural and national boundaries. Pray that God will guide you to unity through humility.

About the Author

Pat Gempel is a pioneer in women's ministry in ICOC churches around the world. She and her late husband, Bob, founded HOPE worldwide in 1991. 

To hear a special version of "Angels from the Realms of Glory" sung by your sister Amy Kinzer, please click the image below: