JOIN US FOR CHRISTMAS EVE...just over two thousand years ago. If we could have had the awesome...

J O I N U S F O R

C H R I S T M A S E V E

Tuesday , December 24

3 :00 pm, 5 :00 pm, and 7 :00 pm

i n t he Sanc tuar y and Baker Cen te r

Sunday, December 1

I N C A R N A T I O N

READ: Philippians 2:1-11

The reason we celebrate Christmas is the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem

just over two thousand years ago. If we could have had the awesome

privilege of being in the stable that very first Christmas night, Jesus’

birth might have appeared to be the same as any other birth (other

than the presence of cows and sheep—and shepherds that showed up

unexpectedly!). But there was something VERY DIFFERENT about His

birth. Unlike the rest of us, Jesus lived BEFORE He was conceived in

Mary’s womb.

The big, fancy word for this is “incarnation.” It literally means “putting

on skin.” You see, before He ever came to this earth as a baby, Jesus

lived in heaven with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. In fact, it

was Jesus who spoke and created the world way back in Genesis 1. In

Philippians 2:6-7, we see that Jesus existed in eternity past as God. But

He was willing to “make Himself nothing,” and was “made in human

likeness.” In other words—Jesus put on skin! He humbled Himself, and

came to this earth as a baby so that by dying on the cross, He would

pay the price for all of our sin.

S ING: Silent Night

MEDITATE

What do you think it was like for Jesus to leave His home in

heaven, and become a vulnerable little baby? How difficult

do you think this would have been?

One of our favorite songs at Christmastime is “Silent Night.”

This beautiful Christmas carol describes the birth of Jesus as

a “holy night.” What does the word “holy” mean, and why

was that night such a holy night?

A N O T E F R O M P A S T O R J O D Y

Christmastime is a very special time of the year.

The music is special. The decorations are special. The mood is special. The

food is special. The expectations are special. And most certainly, the focus is

special. We collectively fix our eyes on the advent (coming!) of Jesus Christ.

What sets the advent season apart from other times during the year are the

traditions that work their way into the fabric of our lives. We bake certain

cookies, or sing certain songs, or display certain decorations that mean so

much to us. Simply put—they fill our hearts with joy.

One of these precious and treasured traditions in my family has been our

Advent Log. When my oldest son was in preschool (he’s now 28 and a hus-

band and father himself), my wife’s brother (Jim) gave our family a very

unique Christmas gift. He called it an “Advent Log.” It’s a 6-foot long, 5-

inch diameter log with about 30 drilled holes that run the length. It fits nice-

ly on our fireplace mantle. Jim explained that we were to place a green can-

dle in each of the holes, with a white candle in the center hole. Each green

candle represented each of the days of advent (the number is different every

year depending on when the first Sunday of advent falls). Every night of the

advent season we were to gather as a family, and light one additional can-

dle. On the first Sunday night, we lit the outside left candle and let it burn

for 10-15 minutes. The next night we lit the outside right AND the outside

left candle. And so on. As the days go on, the candles begin to form a pyra-

mid, with the white (Christ!) candle standing tall in the middle until lighting

it on Christmas morning.

This has been our tradition every advent season for the past 25 years. Dur-

ing the fifteen minutes or so while the candles are lit, we have a time of

family devotion. This has varied a bit from year to year—but the best rhythm

has been to read a passage of Scripture, read a few brief thoughts pertain-

ing to the passage, discuss a few questions to get everyone involved, sing a

Christmas carol, and then close in prayer.

Instead of scouring the internet for “something that worked” this year, I de-

cided to just write it myself J. My hope is that you’ll take some time every

day this advent season to slow down and spend some time with God (with

or without an Advent Log!). If you have a family—take time every night to do

it together. I can promise you that taking these few minutes with God will

make your Christmas season even more special!

Sunday, December 1

I N C A R N A T I O N

READ: Philippians 2:1-11

The reason we celebrate Christmas is the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem

just over two thousand years ago. If we could have had the awesome

privilege of being in the stable that very first Christmas night, Jesus’

birth might have appeared to be the same as any other birth (other

than the presence of cows and sheep—and shepherds that showed up

unexpectedly!). But there was something VERY DIFFERENT about His

birth. Unlike the rest of us, Jesus lived BEFORE He was conceived in

Mary’s womb.

The big, fancy word for this is “incarnation.” It literally means “putting

on skin.” You see, before He ever came to this earth as a baby, Jesus

lived in heaven with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. In fact, it

was Jesus who spoke and created the world way back in Genesis 1. In

Philippians 2:6-7, we see that Jesus existed in eternity past as God. But

He was willing to “make Himself nothing,” and was “made in human

likeness.” In other words—Jesus put on skin! He humbled Himself, and

came to this earth as a baby so that by dying on the cross, He would

pay the price for all of our sin.

S ING: Silent Night

MEDITATE

What do you think it was like for Jesus to leave His home in

heaven, and become a vulnerable little baby? How difficult

do you think this would have been?

One of our favorite songs at Christmastime is “Silent Night.”

This beautiful Christmas carol describes the birth of Jesus as

a “holy night.” What does the word “holy” mean, and why

was that night such a holy night?

A N O T E F R O M P A S T O R J O D Y

Christmastime is a very special time of the year.

The music is special. The decorations are special. The mood is special. The

food is special. The expectations are special. And most certainly, the focus is

special. We collectively fix our eyes on the advent (coming!) of Jesus Christ.

What sets the advent season apart from other times during the year are the

traditions that work their way into the fabric of our lives. We bake certain

cookies, or sing certain songs, or display certain decorations that mean so

much to us. Simply put—they fill our hearts with joy.

One of these precious and treasured traditions in my family has been our

Advent Log. When my oldest son was in preschool (he’s now 28 and a hus-

band and father himself), my wife’s brother (Jim) gave our family a very

unique Christmas gift. He called it an “Advent Log.” It’s a 6-foot long, 5-

inch diameter log with about 30 drilled holes that run the length. It fits nice-

ly on our fireplace mantle. Jim explained that we were to place a green can-

dle in each of the holes, with a white candle in the center hole. Each green

candle represented each of the days of advent (the number is different every

year depending on when the first Sunday of advent falls). Every night of the

advent season we were to gather as a family, and light one additional can-

dle. On the first Sunday night, we lit the outside left candle and let it burn

for 10-15 minutes. The next night we lit the outside right AND the outside

left candle. And so on. As the days go on, the candles begin to form a pyra-

mid, with the white (Christ!) candle standing tall in the middle until lighting

it on Christmas morning.

This has been our tradition every advent season for the past 25 years. Dur-

ing the fifteen minutes or so while the candles are lit, we have a time of

family devotion. This has varied a bit from year to year—but the best rhythm

has been to read a passage of Scripture, read a few brief thoughts pertain-

ing to the passage, discuss a few questions to get everyone involved, sing a

Christmas carol, and then close in prayer.

Instead of scouring the internet for “something that worked” this year, I de-

cided to just write it myself J. My hope is that you’ll take some time every

day this advent season to slow down and spend some time with God (with

or without an Advent Log!). If you have a family—take time every night to do

it together. I can promise you that taking these few minutes with God will

make your Christmas season even more special!

Monday, December 2

M A N G E R

READ: Luke 2:1-7

Do you know what a manger is? It’s the thing that holds the food for

cows and sheep and other animals. Now, I’m not an expert on how

cows eat. But I do know that cows have four stomachs, and as they eat,

they keep vomiting their food back into their mouth and sloshing it

around like a huge wad of bubble gum. No matter how you slice it—this

is just a bit gross! Over time, mangers just have to be filled with

heaping helpings of gooey-grimy muddy guck, regurgitated cow vomit,

and creepy-crawly barn spiders. Not exactly the kind of place you want

to lay your newborn baby for their first night of sleep!

And yet, that’s exactly where Mary had to lay Jesus. You can be sure this

was not her first choice! It probably wasn’t even her hundredth choice!

But since there were absolutely no guest rooms available in whatever a

hotel looked like back then—this was the only choice Joseph and Mary

had. And that’s exactly the way God wanted it. It’s almost more than we

can process to know that Jesus left His place in heaven, and was born

into a manger! He could have come to this earth in the most beautiful of

mansions, and yet He willingly chose the most humble place on earth.

S ING: Away in a Manger

Tuesday, December 3

S H E P H E R D S

READ: Luke 2:8-20

For those of you who have heard the Christmas account in Luke 2 many

different times, it is easy to take for granted the fact that the very first

people who heard about the birth of Jesus were a bunch of shepherds

watching over their sheep on a lonely winter night. But if you had been

alive back in those days, shepherds might have been the very last

people you would have thought that God would announce His birth to.

They were often considered the very lowest of the low.

There are a lot of guesses as to why the angels visited shepherds. One

reason might have to do with the fact that God calls Himself the “Good

Shepherd” in Psalm 23, and Jesus says the same thing in John 10. It is

also interesting to note that some of the people that God used in very

significant ways in the Old Testament (such as Moses and David) were

shepherds. But there’s probably an even better explanation. When Jesus

came to this earth because of His great love for us, He wanted to be

crystal clear that He came for EVERYBODY—regardless of what anyone

else thought of them. Shepherds might have been viewed as “non-

important nobodies” by others, but in God’s eyes they were “very

important somebodies”!

S ING: While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks

MEDITATE

If Jesus had been born today in our town, who do you think

the angels might have appeared to?

If this is how God treated the shepherds, what does this teach

us about how we ought to treat people that aren’t just like us?

MEDITATE

Why do you think Jesus did this? Of all the places He could

have been born—why do you think He chose a manger?

What can we learn from this about the attitude we should

have toward other people?

Monday, December 2

M A N G E R

READ: Luke 2:1-7

Do you know what a manger is? It’s the thing that holds the food for

cows and sheep and other animals. Now, I’m not an expert on how

cows eat. But I do know that cows have four stomachs, and as they eat,

they keep vomiting their food back into their mouth and sloshing it

around like a huge wad of bubble gum. No matter how you slice it—this

is just a bit gross! Over time, mangers just have to be filled with

heaping helpings of gooey-grimy muddy guck, regurgitated cow vomit,

and creepy-crawly barn spiders. Not exactly the kind of place you want

to lay your newborn baby for their first night of sleep!

And yet, that’s exactly where Mary had to lay Jesus. You can be sure this

was not her first choice! It probably wasn’t even her hundredth choice!

But since there were absolutely no guest rooms available in whatever a

hotel looked like back then—this was the only choice Joseph and Mary

had. And that’s exactly the way God wanted it. It’s almost more than we

can process to know that Jesus left His place in heaven, and was born

into a manger! He could have come to this earth in the most beautiful of

mansions, and yet He willingly chose the most humble place on earth.

S ING: Away in a Manger

Tuesday, December 3

S H E P H E R D S

READ: Luke 2:8-20

For those of you who have heard the Christmas account in Luke 2 many

different times, it is easy to take for granted the fact that the very first

people who heard about the birth of Jesus were a bunch of shepherds

watching over their sheep on a lonely winter night. But if you had been

alive back in those days, shepherds might have been the very last

people you would have thought that God would announce His birth to.

They were often considered the very lowest of the low.

There are a lot of guesses as to why the angels visited shepherds. One

reason might have to do with the fact that God calls Himself the “Good

Shepherd” in Psalm 23, and Jesus says the same thing in John 10. It is

also interesting to note that some of the people that God used in very

significant ways in the Old Testament (such as Moses and David) were

shepherds. But there’s probably an even better explanation. When Jesus

came to this earth because of His great love for us, He wanted to be

crystal clear that He came for EVERYBODY—regardless of what anyone

else thought of them. Shepherds might have been viewed as “non-

important nobodies” by others, but in God’s eyes they were “very

important somebodies”!

S ING: While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks

MEDITATE

If Jesus had been born today in our town, who do you think

the angels might have appeared to?

If this is how God treated the shepherds, what does this teach

us about how we ought to treat people that aren’t just like us?

MEDITATE

Why do you think Jesus did this? Of all the places He could

have been born—why do you think He chose a manger?

What can we learn from this about the attitude we should

have toward other people?

Wednesday, December 4

I M M A N U E L

READ: Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:18-23

When I was growing up, I was involved in many different activities. I

played in little league baseball, and YMCA soccer, and sang in several

youth choirs both at church and school. Perhaps the same is true for

you—or for your kids and grandkids. I was very fortunate to have

parents who saw the importance of supporting me in these various

activities. It wasn’t always possible for both of my parents to be at

everything I did, but most of the time at least one of my parents was on

the sidelines or in the audience cheering me on.

What do you think this meant to me? I can honestly tell you that, now

that I’m older and look back on it, it meant the world to me. Why? I

suppose it’s because that by being there for me, my parents were

showing me how much they loved me. Their presence made me feel

important, and valued. When I did something good, my parents could

celebrate with me. And when I messed up, my parents could comfort

me and give me encouragement.

This is exactly what Jesus does for us. One of the names of Jesus is

“Immanuel,” which simply means “God WITH us.” Not only did Jesus

come to be with us as a baby at Christmastime—but Jesus promises to

ALWAYS be with us every day!

S ING: Joy to the World

Thursday, December 5

M A R Y

READ: Luke 1:26-38

We’re not exactly sure how old Mary was when the angel Gabriel

appeared to her and announced that she had found favor with God.

But we do know that most young men and women who lived in that

culture would get engaged and married right around the age of fifteen

or sixteen—sometimes even a little younger than that. Does that seem

crazy to you! It can seem crazy to us now, but things were quite a bit

different back then. There was no such thing as “the teenage years.”

Most kids finished school at about the age of thirteen, and they went to

work as an adult in the family trade. You went from being a kid to

being an adult very quickly!

From what we read in this passage, what kind of person was young

Mary? She certainly wasn’t sinless—since nobody but Jesus has ever

been perfect. But she must have been a very godly young woman,

loving God with all her heart. And how wonderful that God was

watching, and was so very pleased by her life! Imagine the delight and

fear that must have gone through her mind when Gabriel appeared to

her and announced this miraculous thing that was going to happen to

her. But instead of hiding—or telling God “no”—what did she say?

S ING: Mary Did You Know (If you don’t want to sing it—

look it up on YouTube. The version sung by Pentatonix is AMAZING.)

MEDITATE

What would you say to God if He sent an angel to appear to

you, and told you that you were going to be the parent of

the Son of God?

Throughout the many years that have come and gone since

that very first Christmas, Mary has been held in very high

regard (even worshiped) by people who love God. What do

you think Mary would say about all of this? How do you

think she would react to our praise of her?

MEDITATE

What does it mean to you to know that Jesus is

always with you?

Have there been times in your life when you’ve felt

especially lonely? Do you reach out to others

during these times? Do you reach out to God, knowing

that He’s always there?


I M M A N U E L

READ: Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:18-23

When I was growing up, I was involved in many different activities. I

played in little league baseball, and YMCA soccer, and sang in several

youth choirs both at church and school. Perhaps the same is true for

you—or for your kids and grandkids. I was very fortunate to have

parents who saw the importance of supporting me in these various

activities. It wasn’t always possible for both of my parents to be at

everything I did, but most of the time at least one of my parents was on

the sidelines or in the audience cheering me on.

What do you think this meant to me? I can honestly tell you that, now

that I’m older and look back on it, it meant the world to me. Why? I

suppose it’s because that by being there for me, my parents were

showing me how much they loved me. Their presence made me feel

important, and valued. When I did something good, my parents could

celebrate with me. And when I messed up, my parents could comfort

me and give me encouragement.

This is exactly what Jesus does for us. One of the names of Jesus is

“Immanuel,” which simply means “God WITH us.” Not only did Jesus

come to be with us as a baby at Christmastime—but Jesus promises to

ALWAYS be with us every day!

S ING: Joy to the World


M A R Y

READ: Luke 1:26-38

We’re not exactly sure how old Mary was when the angel Gabriel

appeared to her and announced that she had found favor with God.

But we do know that most young men and women who lived in that

culture would get engaged and married right around the age of fifteen

or sixteen—sometimes even a little younger than that. Does that seem

crazy to you! It can seem crazy to us now, but things were quite a bit

different back then. There was no such thing as “the teenage years.”

Most kids finished school at about the age of thirteen, and they went to

work as an adult in the family trade. You went from being a kid to

being an adult very quickly!

From what we read in this passage, what kind of person was young

Mary? She certainly wasn’t sinless—since nobody but Jesus has ever

been perfect. But she must have been a very godly young woman,

loving God with all her heart. And how wonderful that God was

watching, and was so very pleased by her life! Imagine the delight and

fear that must have gone through her mind when Gabriel appeared to

her and announced this miraculous thing that was going to happen to

her. But instead of hiding—or telling God “no”—what did she say?

S ING: Mary Did You Know (If you don’t want to sing it—

look it up on YouTube. The version sung by Pentatonix is AMAZING.)

MEDITATE

What would you say to God if He sent an angel to appear to

you, and told you that you were going to be the parent of

the Son of God?

Throughout the many years that have come and gone since

that very first Christmas, Mary has been held in very high

regard (even worshiped) by people who love God. What do

you think Mary would say about all of this? How do you

think she would react to our praise of her?

MEDITATE

What does it mean to you to know that Jesus is

always with you?

Have there been times in your life when you’ve felt

especially lonely? Do you reach out to others

during these times? Do you reach out to God, knowing

that He’s always there?

Friday, December 6

P R A I S E

READ: Luke 1:39-56

After Mary was told that she was going to be the mother of Jesus, she

had to tell someone! So she hurried off to visit her older cousin

Elizabeth. Gabriel had informed Mary that Elizabeth was also

miraculously pregnant, so Mary would certainly know that Elizabeth

would be able to understand this supernatural pregnancy. Sure enough,

when Elizabeth sees Mary, she bursts out in joy! And in a loud voice, she

exclaims a great blessing over Mary. Even the baby inside Elizabeth’s

womb leaps for joy!

All of these things cause Mary to begin singing a song—a new song that

came to her heart right there on the spot. It’s a song of humility, and a

song of praise. It’s a song that acknowledges that the very things that

were happening to Mary had actually been promised about two

thousand years earlier. Mary is celebrating the fact that God was

keeping His promise—and He had chosen to do this amazing miracle in

HER!

S ING: Deck the Halls

Saturday, December 7

H A N N A H

READ: 1 Samuel 2:1-10

Why are we reading about Hannah in an Advent devotional? For good

reason! The similarities between Mary the mother of Jesus and Hannah

are striking. Both Hannah and Mary responded with overflowing and

extravagant praise when the Lord miraculously enabled them to become

pregnant.

If you have an extra minute—go back and read 1 Samuel chapter 1.

For many years, Hannah had been unable to have children. Making

things worse, she was in an awful situation involving another woman in

her home (her husband’s second wife—Ugh!) that mocked and

ridiculed her. Hannah desperately begged God to hear her prayers and

give her a child. Which God did!

In response to this amazing miracle, Hannah offers up a prayer. There

is hardly any doubt that the song that Mary sings in Luke 1:46-55 is

based on Hannah’s prayer. She thanks God for His deliverance and

praises God for His holiness. She humbles herself before God and

honors Him for His mighty power. These are the very things that Mary

sings about when she finds out that she is pregnant with Jesus!

S ING: O Come Let Us Adore Him

MEDITATE

Have you ever seen God work in a way that could be

considered a miracle?

What are some things that God has done for you, that you

might include in a song of praise that you could sing to

MEDITATE

Have you ever come up with words to a song right there on

the spot? If you were to make up a song right now, what

would it be about?

Why do you think the promises that God made to Abraham

all the way back in Genesis 12:1-3 came to Mary’s mind?

Friday, December 6

P R A I S E

READ: Luke 1:39-56

After Mary was told that she was going to be the mother of Jesus, she

had to tell someone! So she hurried off to visit her older cousin

Elizabeth. Gabriel had informed Mary that Elizabeth was also

miraculously pregnant, so Mary would certainly know that Elizabeth

would be able to understand this supernatural pregnancy. Sure enough,

when Elizabeth sees Mary, she bursts out in joy! And in a loud voice, she

exclaims a great blessing over Mary. Even the baby inside Elizabeth’s

womb leaps for joy!

All of these things cause Mary to begin singing a song—a new song that

came to her heart right there on the spot. It’s a song of humility, and a

song of praise. It’s a song that acknowledges that the very things that

were happening to Mary had actually been promised about two

thousand years earlier. Mary is celebrating the fact that God was

keeping His promise—and He had chosen to do this amazing miracle in

HER!

S ING: Deck the Halls


H A N N A H

READ: 1 Samuel 2:1-10

Why are we reading about Hannah in an Advent devotional? For good

reason! The similarities between Mary the mother of Jesus and Hannah

are striking. Both Hannah and Mary responded with overflowing and

extravagant praise when the Lord miraculously enabled them to become

pregnant.

If you have an extra minute—go back and read 1 Samuel chapter 1.

For many years, Hannah had been unable to have children. Making

things worse, she was in an awful situation involving another woman in

her home (her husband’s second wife—Ugh!) that mocked and

ridiculed her. Hannah desperately begged God to hear her prayers and

give her a child. Which God did!

In response to this amazing miracle, Hannah offers up a prayer. There

is hardly any doubt that the song that Mary sings in Luke 1:46-55 is

based on Hannah’s prayer. She thanks God for His deliverance and

praises God for His holiness. She humbles herself before God and

honors Him for His mighty power. These are the very things that Mary

sings about when she finds out that she is pregnant with Jesus!

S ING: O Come Let Us Adore Him

MEDITATE

Have you ever seen God work in a way that could be

considered a miracle?

What are some things that God has done for you, that you

might include in a song of praise that you could sing to

MEDITATE

Have you ever come up with words to a song right there on

the spot? If you were to make up a song right now, what

would it be about?

Why do you think the promises that God made to Abraham

all the way back in Genesis 12:1-3 came to Mary’s mind?

Sunday, December 8

M A G I

READ: Matthew 2:1-2, 11-12

The word “Magi” is actually a shortened version of the word “magician.”

When we think of magicians these days, we often think of the people who

appear on the TV show America’s Got Talent—or headline an act in Las

Vegas. These are people who have become incredibly skilled at tricking

your mind to think one thing, when something completely different is

happening. A really good magician always leaves you sitting there

thinking, “How did they do that?”

The fact of the matter is that we’re not exactly sure who these Magi were.

We’re not even sure what to call them. Some Christmas carols call them

“Kings,” while others call them “Wise Men.” Whatever we call them,

we’re taught over and over that there were only three of them—since

there were three gifts that were given to Jesus (gold, frankincense and

myrrh). Not to burst your bubble…but just because there were three gifts

doesn’t mean there were three people. There were almost certainly more

than three Magi that made the long and arduous trip.

What we DO know based on what Matthew wrote is that they were

mysterious and important visitors “from the east” who come to Jerusalem

looking for the child whose star they observed “when it rose.” After

meeting with King Herod (implying that these weren’t just your average

run-of-the-mill visitors), the Magi follow the same star to Bethlehem. After

they see “the child” (not necessarily a baby) and Mary, the Magi kneel

down and worship Jesus (can you imagine worshiping a child!). They

present to Jesus their three famous gifts and then without reporting back

to Herod, they depart for their homeland, never to be heard from again.

S ING: I Saw Three Ships

Monday, December 9

B E T H L E H E M

READ: Micah 5:2-4 and Matthew 2:3-8

For being such a small little town, Bethlehem has actually held a very

prominent place in the history of Israel. The first time we see Bethlehem

mentioned in the Bible is way back in Genesis chapter 35. Jacob’s wife

Rachel gave birth to a son named Ben-Oni (which means “son of my

trouble”) while passing through Bethlehem—but she sadly died in

childbirth and was buried there. We also see Bethlehem talked about in

the Book of Ruth. A woman named Naomi was from Bethlehem, but

moved with her husband and two sons to a distant country. After Naomi’s

husband and sons died, she returned to Bethlehem with her daughter-in-

law Ruth. Ruth eventually married a man named Boaz. They became the

parents of Obed, who became the father of Jesse, who became the father

of King David. David grew up as a shepherd boy right there in the little

town of Bethlehem (which is why we call it the City of David)!

Speaking of sheep, Bethlehem was also the place where the sheep that

were used for the sacrifices at the Temple in Jerusalem were raised.

Bethlehem is located just five miles or so from Jerusalem, so it’s not at all

a long walk to herd the sheep to the Temple. This is no coincidence

whatsoever! John the Baptist actually calls Jesus “The lamb of God who

takes away the sin of the world.” It only makes sense that Jesus would be

born in the very place where sacrificial sheep were born—since Jesus

came to the earth to give His life on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins.

S ING: O Little Town of Bethlehem

.

MEDITATE

What connection do you make between Rachel giving birth to

a son in Bethlehem who was called “son of my trouble”

and Mary giving birth to Jesus who was called “man of

suffering” (Isaiah 53:3)?

It’s possible that Jesus was literally born in a cave that was

used as a birthing site for the sheep that went to the Temple to

be sacrificed for the sins of people. What do you make of this

connection?

MEDITATE

What kinds of questions does all of this raise in your mind?

If you had been one of these Magi, what gift would

you have offered Jesus?

Sunday, December 8

M A G I


The word “Magi” is actually a shortened version of the word “magician.”

When we think of magicians these days, we often think of the people who

appear on the TV show America’s Got Talent—or headline an act in Las

Vegas. These are people who have become incredibly skilled at tricking

your mind to think one thing, when something completely different is

happening. A really good magician always leaves you sitting there

thinking, “How did they do that?”

The fact of the matter is that we’re not exactly sure who these Magi were.

We’re not even sure what to call them. Some Christmas carols call them

“Kings,” while others call them “Wise Men.” Whatever we call them,

we’re taught over and over that there were only three of them—since

there were three gifts that were given to Jesus (gold, frankincense and

myrrh). Not to burst your bubble…but just because there were three gifts

doesn’t mean there were three people. There were almost certainly more

than three Magi that made the long and arduous trip.

What we DO know based on what Matthew wrote is that they were

mysterious and important visitors “from the east” who come to Jerusalem

looking for the child whose star they observed “when it rose.” After

meeting with King Herod (implying that these weren’t just your average

run-of-the-mill visitors), the Magi follow the same star to Bethlehem. After

they see “the child” (not necessarily a baby) and Mary, the Magi kneel

down and worship Jesus (can you imagine worshiping a child!). They

present to Jesus their three famous gifts and then without reporting back

to Herod, they depart for their homeland, never to be heard from again.

S ING: I Saw Three Ships

Monday, December 9

B E T H L E H E M

READ: Micah 5:2-4 and Matthew 2:3-8

For being such a small little town, Bethlehem has actually held a very

prominent place in the history of Israel. The first time we see Bethlehem

mentioned in the Bible is way back in Genesis chapter 35. Jacob’s wife

Rachel gave birth to a son named Ben-Oni (which means “son of my

trouble”) while passing through Bethlehem—but she sadly died in

childbirth and was buried there. We also see Bethlehem talked about in

the Book of Ruth. A woman named Naomi was from Bethlehem, but

moved with her husband and two sons to a distant country. After Naomi’s

husband and sons died, she returned to Bethlehem with her daughter-in-

law Ruth. Ruth eventually married a man named Boaz. They became the

parents of Obed, who became the father of Jesse, who became the father

of King David. David grew up as a shepherd boy right there in the little

town of Bethlehem (which is why we call it the City of David)!

Speaking of sheep, Bethlehem was also the place where the sheep that

were used for the sacrifices at the Temple in Jerusalem were raised.

Bethlehem is located just five miles or so from Jerusalem, so it’s not at all

a long walk to herd the sheep to the Temple. This is no coincidence

whatsoever! John the Baptist actually calls Jesus “The lamb of God who

takes away the sin of the world.” It only makes sense that Jesus would be

born in the very place where sacrificial sheep were born—since Jesus

came to the earth to give His life on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins.

S ING: O Little Town of Bethlehem

.

MEDITATE

What connection do you make between Rachel giving birth to

a son in Bethlehem who was called “son of my trouble”

and Mary giving birth to Jesus who was called “man of

suffering” (Isaiah 53:3)?

It’s possible that Jesus was literally born in a cave that was

used as a birthing site for the sheep that went to the Temple to

be sacrificed for the sins of people. What do you make of this

connection?

MEDITATE

What kinds of questions does all of this raise in your mind?

If you had been one of these Magi, what gift would

you have offered Jesus?

Tuesday, December 10

S T A R


Was it a comet? Was it an unusual alignment of constellations and planets?

Was it some sort of supernatural event in the night skies? These are some of

the questions that have been asked down through the years, trying to

explain exactly what the Magi saw.

While there is no way to know the true answer, the Bible does give some

clues. We’re not exactly sure where in “the east” the Magi were when they

saw the star—but it’s safe to assume it was a long way from Israel. This

would have likely meant months of travel time to get to Jerusalem. And yet,

they saw the star before they traveled—and they saw the same star again in

Jerusalem months later when it directed them to Bethlehem. This means it

probably wasn’t a comet. It also appears from the text that the Magi saw (or

better said, noticed) things in the night sky that others could have seen but

failed to notice. This would argue against some sort of supernatural event—

that you would think would have been obvious to everyone.

Perhaps the best possible explanation is that the Magi were people who had

spent their entire lives studying the movements of the stars and the planets—

and believed that God was speaking through these things. They took careful

note of the various constellations—as well as the movements of the planets

within those constellations. In other words, they saw things that nobody else

would have seen even if they were looking right at it. They clearly believed

that the night sky was saying something loud and clear: the King of the Jews

had been born!

S ING: We Three Kings


G I F T S

READ: Matthew 2:11-12

The Magi were so absolutely sure that the King of the Jews had been born

in Israel, that they brought with them very precious and significant gifts to

honor the king. These gifts weren’t just “a little something” that they picked

up at Target before they left town. These were most certainly gifts that were

valuable and highly symbolic. In other words, they were specifically

selected because of what they meant. They were gifts fit for a king and

were to be presented to Jesus as an act of worship.

So why these three gifts?

Gold is a symbol of divinity and is mentioned throughout the Bible. The gift

of gold to Jesus was symbolic of His divinity—God in flesh. It was also very

valuable and could have been used by Joseph and Mary in very practical

ways (perhaps even making it possible for them to travel to Egypt with

Jesus to escape King Herod).

Frankincense is a white resin or gum. It is obtained from a tree by making

cuts in the bark and allowing the gum to flow out. It is highly fragrant

when burned and was often used in worship, burning it as a pleasant

offering to God. Frankincense is a symbol of holiness and righteousness,

and may well have been given to Jesus as a foreshadowing of His coming

to earth as a sacrifice.

Myrrh was also obtained from a tree in the same way as frankincense. It was

a spice and was used in embalming (caring for a dead body). It was also

sometimes mixed with wine to create a drink—exactly what was given to Jesus

when He was on the cross. Myrrh symbolizes bitterness, suffering, and pain. The

baby Jesus would grow to suffer greatly as a man and would pay the ultimate

price when He gave His life on the cross for everyone who believes in Him.

S ING: The Little Drummer Boy

MEDITATE

Which one of these three gifts would you most like to receive?

Do you think Joseph and Mary understood the spiritual

significance behind these three gifts?

MEDITATE

How many planets and constellations are you able to

recognize in the night sky?

Psalm 19:1-2 says: “The heavens declare the glory of God; the

skies proclaim the work of His hands. Day after day they pour

forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.” Do you

believe that the movement of the stars and planets could

have revealed knowledge that the Magi noticed and believed?


S T A R


Was it a comet? Was it an unusual alignment of constellations and planets?

Was it some sort of supernatural event in the night skies? These are some of

the questions that have been asked down through the years, trying to

explain exactly what the Magi saw.

While there is no way to know the true answer, the Bible does give some

clues. We’re not exactly sure where in “the east” the Magi were when they

saw the star—but it’s safe to assume it was a long way from Israel. This

would have likely meant months of travel time to get to Jerusalem. And yet,

they saw the star before they traveled—and they saw the same star again in

Jerusalem months later when it directed them to Bethlehem. This means it

probably wasn’t a comet. It also appears from the text that the Magi saw (or

better said, noticed) things in the night sky that others could have seen but

failed to notice. This would argue against some sort of supernatural event—

that you would think would have been obvious to everyone.

Perhaps the best possible explanation is that the Magi were people who had

spent their entire lives studying the movements of the stars and the planets—

and believed that God was speaking through these things. They took careful

note of the various constellations—as well as the movements of the planets

within those constellations. In other words, they saw things that nobody else

would have seen even if they were looking right at it. They clearly believed

that the night sky was saying something loud and clear: the King of the Jews

had been born!

S ING: We Three Kings


G I F T S


The Magi were so absolutely sure that the King of the Jews had been born

in Israel, that they brought with them very precious and significant gifts to

honor the king. These gifts weren’t just “a little something” that they picked

up at Target before they left town. These were most certainly gifts that were

valuable and highly symbolic. In other words, they were specifically

selected because of what they meant. They were gifts fit for a king and

were to be presented to Jesus as an act of worship.

So why these three gifts?

Gold is a symbol of divinity and is mentioned throughout the Bible. The gift

of gold to Jesus was symbolic of His divinity—God in flesh. It was also very

valuable and could have been used by Joseph and Mary in very practical

ways (perhaps even making it possible for them to travel to Egypt with

Jesus to escape King Herod).

Frankincense is a white resin or gum. It is obtained from a tree by making

cuts in the bark and allowing the gum to flow out. It is highly fragrant

when burned and was often used in worship, burning it as a pleasant

offering to God. Frankincense is a symbol of holiness and righteousness,

and may well have been given to Jesus as a foreshadowing of His coming

to earth as a sacrifice.

Myrrh was also obtained from a tree in the same way as frankincense. It was

a spice and was used in embalming (caring for a dead body). It was also

sometimes mixed with wine to create a drink—exactly what was given to Jesus

when He was on the cross. Myrrh symbolizes bitterness, suffering, and pain. The

baby Jesus would grow to suffer greatly as a man and would pay the ultimate

price when He gave His life on the cross for everyone who believes in Him.

S ING: The Little Drummer Boy

MEDITATE

Which one of these three gifts would you most like to receive?

Do you think Joseph and Mary understood the spiritual

significance behind these three gifts?

MEDITATE

How many planets and constellations are you able to

recognize in the night sky?

Psalm 19:1-2 says: “The heavens declare the glory of God; the

skies proclaim the work of His hands. Day after day they pour

forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.” Do you

believe that the movement of the stars and planets could

have revealed knowledge that the Magi noticed and believed?


S A D N E S S


We often think about all of the beautiful things that happened when

Jesus came to earth. We celebrate the angel choir that serenaded the

shepherds, and the magi bringing their gifts of gold, frankincense and

myrrh. What we don’t like to think about are some of the more difficult

and even tragic aspects of that very first Christmas.

Satan did NOT want Jesus to come to earth. He undoubtedly knew all of

the Old Testament prophecies that described the coming of the Messiah

and must certainly have understood the reason behind the incarnation.

We can be sure that Satan was going to do everything in his power to

keep Jesus from fulfilling His mission to rescue the world from the

power of sin.

We see this very clearly in Herod’s attempt to kill Jesus after He was

born. We don’t know how many little boys were killed by Herod

(perhaps hundreds?), but the tragedy was unimaginable. And it

happened just as the Bible predicted it would. The prophecy was made

all the way back in Jeremiah 31:15, that there would be great weeping

and mourning—and even Rachel (who died giving birth to her son right

there in Bethlehem) would weep and refuse to be comforted.

S ING: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

Friday, December 13

L I G H T

READ: John 8:12-20

What are some of your favorite things about Christmas? My guess is

that for many of you, your favorite things have to do with light. Many

people that I’ve talked to through the years have told me how much

they love going to the Christmas Eve service and singing “Silent Night”

holding candles in a darkened sanctuary. Other people love the

tradition of decorating the outside of their home with lights, or perhaps

driving around the neighborhoods and looking at the way other homes

are decorated. And, of course, we love the beauty of a decorated

Christmas tree. Light is such an important part of Christmas.

And it’s no wonder! Christmas has everything to do with light. Jesus is

the light of the world. Not only did He enter the darkness of our sinful

world, but He also enters the darkness of our sinful hearts when we

invite Him in. God’s Word is a light that illuminates the path in front of

our feet—showing us which way to walk (and where we shouldn’t place

our feet). If Jesus hadn’t come to earth, we would be lost and without

hope. But thanks be to God, when we celebrate Christmas, we celebrate

Jesus—the light of the world—who came to this world to show us the

way to the Father!

S ING: Go Tell It on the Mountain

MEDITATE

How is light an important part of how you celebrate

Christmas?

What do you think this world would be like if followers of

Jesus didn’t shine the light of Christ? What difference do

genuine Christians make, and what would things be like

without them?

MEDITATE

Is this a part of the Christmas story that you hear

very much about?

What are some things about this story that makes it a very

important part of the Christmas narrative?


S A D N E S S


We often think about all of the beautiful things that happened when

Jesus came to earth. We celebrate the angel choir that serenaded the

shepherds, and the magi bringing their gifts of gold, frankincense and

myrrh. What we don’t like to think about are some of the more difficult

and even tragic aspects of that very first Christmas.

Satan did NOT want Jesus to come to earth. He undoubtedly knew all of

the Old Testament prophecies that described the coming of the Messiah

and must certainly have understood the reason behind the incarnation.

We can be sure that Satan was going to do everything in his power to

keep Jesus from fulfilling His mission to rescue the world from the

power of sin.

We see this very clearly in Herod’s attempt to kill Jesus after He was

born. We don’t know how many little boys were killed by Herod

(perhaps hundreds?), but the tragedy was unimaginable. And it

happened just as the Bible predicted it would. The prophecy was made

all the way back in Jeremiah 31:15, that there would be great weeping

and mourning—and even Rachel (who died giving birth to her son right

there in Bethlehem) would weep and refuse to be comforted.

S ING: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

Friday, December 13

L I G H T

READ: John 8:12-20

What are some of your favorite things about Christmas? My guess is

that for many of you, your favorite things have to do with light. Many

people that I’ve talked to through the years have told me how much

they love going to the Christmas Eve service and singing “Silent Night”

holding candles in a darkened sanctuary. Other people love the

tradition of decorating the outside of their home with lights, or perhaps

driving around the neighborhoods and looking at the way other homes

are decorated. And, of course, we love the beauty of a decorated

Christmas tree. Light is such an important part of Christmas.

And it’s no wonder! Christmas has everything to do with light. Jesus is

the light of the world. Not only did He enter the darkness of our sinful

world, but He also enters the darkness of our sinful hearts when we

invite Him in. God’s Word is a light that illuminates the path in front of

our feet—showing us which way to walk (and where we shouldn’t place

our feet). If Jesus hadn’t come to earth, we would be lost and without

hope. But thanks be to God, when we celebrate Christmas, we celebrate

Jesus—the light of the world—who came to this world to show us the

way to the Father!

S ING: Go Tell It on the Mountain

MEDITATE

How is light an important part of how you celebrate

Christmas?

What do you think this world would be like if followers of

Jesus didn’t shine the light of Christ? What difference do

genuine Christians make, and what would things be like

without them?

MEDITATE

Is this a part of the Christmas story that you hear

very much about?

What are some things about this story that makes it a very

important part of the Christmas narrative?


W A I T I N G

READ: Isaiah 9:1-7

Waiting is really hard to do. If you are anything like me, you hate it

when you choose the slowest cashier line at the grocery store (which

happens every time!). It is such a headache when you’re driving

somewhere, and you get stuck in a long traffic jam that takes forever to

move through. Let’s be honest—if we have to wait for five minutes for

something, we start to get annoyed! Which makes you wonder…what

did people do before they had cell phones? Did people actually just SIT

THERE waiting with NOTHING to do? No social media to check, or

games to play? My goodness, how did they even survive?

The birth of Jesus was something that was anticipated for hundreds and

hundreds of years. Nobody knew for sure when it was going to happen

(although Daniel chapter 9 gives some pretty specific clues). The

prophet Isaiah wrote his words of prophecy about 700 years before

Jesus came. He points to a day when a child would be born, and a son

would be given (Christmas!). He also points to a time when “the

greatness of His government and peace will never have an

end.” (Which, by the way, hasn’t happened yet.)

God promised that Jesus would come to this earth as a baby, and He

did. Jesus also promised that He will come back again, and He will! We

just have to wait.

S ING: Come Thou Long Expected Jesus

MEDITATE

Isaiah 9:1-7 promises that God will come as a child (which He

did). What are some other promises that these seven verses make

with respect to what God has already done, or is yet to do?

One of the names of Jesus is “Wonderful Counselor.” What

does this mean to you?

Sunday, December 15

S U B S T I T U T E

READ: Isaiah 53:1-6 and John 3:16

Imagine for a second that you made a horrible mistake and did

something really bad. You didn’t start out meaning to do this bad thing,

but things got carried away—and you found yourself involved in

something that you couldn’t seem to get out of. Not only was this a bad

thing, it was against the law. Which means that if you got caught, the

consequences would be really really bad. Most of it wasn’t your fault,

and you were doing everything you could to get out of the situation, but

then the worst possible thing happened. You got caught. The police got

involved. You got arrested. A trial date was set.

And then the most unbelievable thing happens. A friend of yours who

had nothing to do with any of this—walks up to the judge in the middle

of the trial and says, “I take the blame. This is all my fault.” The judge

slams his gavel down and sentences your friend to many years in jail.

Done deal! You walk free, and your innocent friend is handcuffed and

locked up. Are you kidding me right now? It all happened so fast, you

don’t even know what to think!

As unbelievable as this story might sound—it’s exactly what has happened

for each and every one of us. It’s why Jesus came to this earth. Jesus came

to take OUR punishment. We are all guilty of sin. We have all broken God’s

laws, and the punishment for sin is death. But Jesus was crucified for our

sins. He paid the price as a substitute for our guilt. The judge slams his

gavel down and sentences Jesus to the death penalty—while you walk free.

S ING: I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

MEDITATE

Have you ever thought of it this way? Have you ever, truly,

considered the price that Jesus paid for you so that you might

be set free from the penalty of your sin?

Why do you think Jesus would do this? What motivated Jesus

to go to such great lengths in coming to this earth, for the

sole purpose of giving His life as a substitute for your sins?


W A I T I N G

READ: Isaiah 9:1-7

Waiting is really hard to do. If you are anything like me, you hate it

when you choose the slowest cashier line at the grocery store (which

happens every time!). It is such a headache when you’re driving

somewhere, and you get stuck in a long traffic jam that takes forever to

move through. Let’s be honest—if we have to wait for five minutes for

something, we start to get annoyed! Which makes you wonder…what

did people do before they had cell phones? Did people actually just SIT

THERE waiting with NOTHING to do? No social media to check, or

games to play? My goodness, how did they even survive?

The birth of Jesus was something that was anticipated for hundreds and

hundreds of years. Nobody knew for sure when it was going to happen

(although Daniel chapter 9 gives some pretty specific clues). The

prophet Isaiah wrote his words of prophecy about 700 years before

Jesus came. He points to a day when a child would be born, and a son

would be given (Christmas!). He also points to a time when “the

greatness of His government and peace will never have an

end.” (Which, by the way, hasn’t happened yet.)

God promised that Jesus would come to this earth as a baby, and He

did. Jesus also promised that He will come back again, and He will! We

just have to wait.

S ING: Come Thou Long Expected Jesus

MEDITATE

Isaiah 9:1-7 promises that God will come as a child (which He

did). What are some other promises that these seven verses make

with respect to what God has already done, or is yet to do?

One of the names of Jesus is “Wonderful Counselor.” What

does this mean to you?

Sunday, December 15

S U B S T I T U T E

READ: Isaiah 53:1-6 and John 3:16

Imagine for a second that you made a horrible mistake and did

something really bad. You didn’t start out meaning to do this bad thing,

but things got carried away—and you found yourself involved in

something that you couldn’t seem to get out of. Not only was this a bad

thing, it was against the law. Which means that if you got caught, the

consequences would be really really bad. Most of it wasn’t your fault,

and you were doing everything you could to get out of the situation, but

then the worst possible thing happened. You got caught. The police got

involved. You got arrested. A trial date was set.

And then the most unbelievable thing happens. A friend of yours who

had nothing to do with any of this—walks up to the judge in the middle

of the trial and says, “I take the blame. This is all my fault.” The judge

slams his gavel down and sentences your friend to many years in jail.

Done deal! You walk free, and your innocent friend is handcuffed and

locked up. Are you kidding me right now? It all happened so fast, you

don’t even know what to think!

As unbelievable as this story might sound—it’s exactly what has happened

for each and every one of us. It’s why Jesus came to this earth. Jesus came

to take OUR punishment. We are all guilty of sin. We have all broken God’s

laws, and the punishment for sin is death. But Jesus was crucified for our

sins. He paid the price as a substitute for our guilt. The judge slams his

gavel down and sentences Jesus to the death penalty—while you walk free.

S ING: I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

MEDITATE

Have you ever thought of it this way? Have you ever, truly,

considered the price that Jesus paid for you so that you might

be set free from the penalty of your sin?

Why do you think Jesus would do this? What motivated Jesus

to go to such great lengths in coming to this earth, for the

sole purpose of giving His life as a substitute for your sins?


M E R C Y

READ: 1 Timothy 1:12-17

These six verses in 1 Timothy 1:12-17 are probably the clearest and most

concise summary statement in the entire Bible for the reason we celebrate

Christmas: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” It’s as

simple as that. Jesus knew that if He didn’t come to this earth and lay

down His life as the perfect sacrifice for sin—we would have no way to

enter into God’s perfect heaven and live for eternity in His presence.

Paul knew that there would be some people who wouldn’t believe this to

be true, which is exactly why he said, “Here is a trustworthy saying that

deserves full acceptance.” He knew that some would doubt, and even

reject this truth. But make no mistake about it, we can stake our eternal

destiny on the truth of this fact: Jesus came to this earth to rescue us!

Which leads Paul to acknowledge another fact—nobody deserves what

Jesus has done for us. Paul refers to himself as “the worst of sinners.”

And while it’s true that most of us haven’t done some of the things that

Paul did (he was the person who gave the order for a good number of

people to be killed), the fact is that all of us continue to sin and disobey

God on a daily basis. All of us are in need of God’s mercy.

And that’s exactly what Jesus gives us! Jesus displays His immense

patience and mercy through His never-ending, never-failing love for each

of us. God’s mercy is what makes it possible for us to have eternal life.

This is the reason Paul can’t help but burst out in praise in verse 17:

“Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor

and glory for ever and ever!”

S ING: Jingle Bells (Not exactly the most Biblical of Christmas

carols— but it sure is fun to sing!)

MEDITATE

Is mercy ever something that a person can earn or deserve?

If God can save someone as “bad” as Paul, do you think

He can save you?

Monday, December 16

S U F F E R I N G

READ: Isaiah 53:4-12

We really can’t talk about Christmas without talking about the cross.

The cross is why Jesus left heaven and came to earth. Jesus didn’t just

come to be WITH us, He came to die FOR us. He came to take our sin

upon Himself, and then suffer and die to pay the price for every wrong

thing we’ve ever done.

This involved suffering. Not just a little bit of suffering—but terrible,

horrible, unimaginable suffering. Seven hundred years before Jesus

came, the prophet Isaiah described in vivid detail what Jesus would

endure on the cross (so that when it happened, we would know beyond

a doubt that Jesus is the Son of God).

Isaiah described the nails that would pierce Jesus’ hands and feet. He

described how the sin of the world would literally crush His heart—far

worse than even the physical suffering Jesus endured. And perhaps even

the worst form of suffering was the fact that Jesus was literally separated

from God the Father. Think about it—for all eternity past, Jesus had

never been separated from His Father. But when Jesus took our sin

upon Himself, God the Father had to turn His back on Jesus.

S ING: What Child Is This

MEDITATE

Have you ever considered the pain that God the Father

experienced when Jesus was condemned and rejected? What

kind of suffering do you think the Father went through when

He had to turn His back on Jesus?

Why? Why did Jesus have to take our sin upon Himself—and

why did God the Father have to reject His Son?


M E R C Y

READ: 1 Timothy 1:12-17

These six verses in 1 Timothy 1:12-17 are probably the clearest and most

concise summary statement in the entire Bible for the reason we celebrate

Christmas: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” It’s as

simple as that. Jesus knew that if He didn’t come to this earth and lay

down His life as the perfect sacrifice for sin—we would have no way to

enter into God’s perfect heaven and live for eternity in His presence.

Paul knew that there would be some people who wouldn’t believe this to

be true, which is exactly why he said, “Here is a trustworthy saying that

deserves full acceptance.” He knew that some would doubt, and even

reject this truth. But make no mistake about it, we can stake our eternal

destiny on the truth of this fact: Jesus came to this earth to rescue us!

Which leads Paul to acknowledge another fact—nobody deserves what

Jesus has done for us. Paul refers to himself as “the worst of sinners.”

And while it’s true that most of us haven’t done some of the things that

Paul did (he was the person who gave the order for a good number of

people to be killed), the fact is that all of us continue to sin and disobey

God on a daily basis. All of us are in need of God’s mercy.

And that’s exactly what Jesus gives us! Jesus displays His immense

patience and mercy through His never-ending, never-failing love for each

of us. God’s mercy is what makes it possible for us to have eternal life.

This is the reason Paul can’t help but burst out in praise in verse 17:

“Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor

and glory for ever and ever!”

S ING: Jingle Bells (Not exactly the most Biblical of Christmas

carols— but it sure is fun to sing!)

MEDITATE

Is mercy ever something that a person can earn or deserve?

If God can save someone as “bad” as Paul, do you think

He can save you?

Monday, December 16

S U F F E R I N G

READ: Isaiah 53:4-12

We really can’t talk about Christmas without talking about the cross.

The cross is why Jesus left heaven and came to earth. Jesus didn’t just

come to be WITH us, He came to die FOR us. He came to take our sin

upon Himself, and then suffer and die to pay the price for every wrong

thing we’ve ever done.

This involved suffering. Not just a little bit of suffering—but terrible,

horrible, unimaginable suffering. Seven hundred years before Jesus

came, the prophet Isaiah described in vivid detail what Jesus would

endure on the cross (so that when it happened, we would know beyond

a doubt that Jesus is the Son of God).

Isaiah described the nails that would pierce Jesus’ hands and feet. He

described how the sin of the world would literally crush His heart—far

worse than even the physical suffering Jesus endured. And perhaps even

the worst form of suffering was the fact that Jesus was literally separated

from God the Father. Think about it—for all eternity past, Jesus had

never been separated from His Father. But when Jesus took our sin

upon Himself, God the Father had to turn His back on Jesus.

S ING: What Child Is This

MEDITATE

Have you ever considered the pain that God the Father

experienced when Jesus was condemned and rejected? What

kind of suffering do you think the Father went through when

He had to turn His back on Jesus?

Why? Why did Jesus have to take our sin upon Himself—and

why did God the Father have to reject His Son?


L O V E

READ: 1 John 3:1-10

The most popular verse in the Bible is John 3:16—which describes the

great love that God the Father has for us. But if you want an expanded

version of this verse, go to the third chapter of 1st John. God doesn’t

just love us—He LAVISHES His love upon us! His love is immense, and

never-ending, and able to penetrate even the hardest heart, and cover

even the greatest sin.

The effect of this love is that we are made to be children of God. Which

brings us all the way back to what Jesus did for us on Christmas

morning. By coming to this earth as God’s son, Jesus enables all of us

to become sons and daughters of God. And one day, when Jesus comes

back to this earth, we will be like Jesus for we will see Him as He is.

Now I have to be honest—I’m not even exactly sure what this means!

There have to be so many good things that this will entail.

But the bottom line is that God wraps us up in His great love for us. Just

like Mary wrapped Jesus up in swaddling clothes, God wraps us up in

His love for us. And I think when you get right down to it—this is at the

very heart of Christmas: God’s love for us.

S ING: The First Noel

MEDITATE

The Bible describes how God, in His love, ADOPTS us as His

child. What do you know about adoption? What are the

lasting and permanent impacts when a child is adopted?

Have you or someone you know ever experienced the miracle

of adoption? Why do you think adoption is often referred to

as a “miracle”?


A N G E L S

READ: Luke 2:8-15

The Bible records numerous occasions when an angel (typically Gabriel)

appears and speaks with a person. And in almost EVERY instance, the

angel begins with a familiar phrase: “Fear not!” Why do you think

Gabriel always has to begin with those words? Obviously, it’s because

the person he’s talking to is scared out of their mind! We’re not

completely sure what angels look like in their natural form (according to

Hebrews 13:2 there are times we can be talking with an angel and not

even know it), but they have to be awfully intimidating.

When an angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds out on the

hillside, there must have been something like an enormous spotlight

that was shining. The actual words are, “the glory of the Lord shone

around them.” This light must have been completely overwhelming.

These shepherds must have been shocked and terrified. Which is when

the angel said: “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause

great joy for all the people.”

I never get tired of that sentence. “I bring you good news that will cause

great joy for all the people.” I don’t think a sweeter sentence has ever

been spoken. This is exactly what the word “gospel” means. It means

“good news.” And this amazing news isn’t just for SOME people—it’s

for ALL people! And it doesn’t just lead to a little bit of joy—it will cause

GREAT joy! On that night, in Bethlehem the town of David, a Savior has

been born to you. It doesn’t get any better than that!

S ING: Angels From the Realms of Glory

MEDITATE

What do you think it must have been like when not just one

angel, but a “great company of angels” appeared in the sky

above and around the shepherds?

Why do you think God would often send angels to deliver

important messages to people?


L O V E

READ: 1 John 3:1-10

The most popular verse in the Bible is John 3:16—which describes the

great love that God the Father has for us. But if you want an expanded

version of this verse, go to the third chapter of 1st John. God doesn’t

just love us—He LAVISHES His love upon us! His love is immense, and

never-ending, and able to penetrate even the hardest heart, and cover

even the greatest sin.

The effect of this love is that we are made to be children of God. Which

brings us all the way back to what Jesus did for us on Christmas

morning. By coming to this earth as God’s son, Jesus enables all of us

to become sons and daughters of God. And one day, when Jesus comes

back to this earth, we will be like Jesus for we will see Him as He is.

Now I have to be honest—I’m not even exactly sure what this means!

There have to be so many good things that this will entail.

But the bottom line is that God wraps us up in His great love for us. Just

like Mary wrapped Jesus up in swaddling clothes, God wraps us up in

His love for us. And I think when you get right down to it—this is at the

very heart of Christmas: God’s love for us.

S ING: The First Noel

MEDITATE

The Bible describes how God, in His love, ADOPTS us as His

child. What do you know about adoption? What are the

lasting and permanent impacts when a child is adopted?

Have you or someone you know ever experienced the miracle

of adoption? Why do you think adoption is often referred to

as a “miracle”?


A N G E L S

READ: Luke 2:8-15

The Bible records numerous occasions when an angel (typically Gabriel)

appears and speaks with a person. And in almost EVERY instance, the

angel begins with a familiar phrase: “Fear not!” Why do you think

Gabriel always has to begin with those words? Obviously, it’s because

the person he’s talking to is scared out of their mind! We’re not

completely sure what angels look like in their natural form (according to

Hebrews 13:2 there are times we can be talking with an angel and not

even know it), but they have to be awfully intimidating.

When an angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds out on the

hillside, there must have been something like an enormous spotlight

that was shining. The actual words are, “the glory of the Lord shone

around them.” This light must have been completely overwhelming.

These shepherds must have been shocked and terrified. Which is when

the angel said: “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause

great joy for all the people.”

I never get tired of that sentence. “I bring you good news that will cause

great joy for all the people.” I don’t think a sweeter sentence has ever

been spoken. This is exactly what the word “gospel” means. It means

“good news.” And this amazing news isn’t just for SOME people—it’s

for ALL people! And it doesn’t just lead to a little bit of joy—it will cause

GREAT joy! On that night, in Bethlehem the town of David, a Savior has

been born to you. It doesn’t get any better than that!

S ING: Angels From the Realms of Glory

MEDITATE

What do you think it must have been like when not just one

angel, but a “great company of angels” appeared in the sky

above and around the shepherds?

Why do you think God would often send angels to deliver

important messages to people?


G L O R Y

READ: John 1:1-18

Go back and read the first three words of John chapter 1. If you’re

reading from the New International Version, or the English Standard

Version, or the King James Version—they should sound awfully familiar.

What are those three words? “In the beginning.” What do these words

remind you of? They’re the exact same as the first three words in the

entire Bible—way back in Genesis 1. I’m quite certain that’s exactly what

John wanted us to think about. However, he also wanted us to know that

these things were taking place BEFORE the beginning of the beginning!

In Genesis 1, God was creating the heavens and the earth. More specifically

(according to John 1:3), it was Jesus who was creating the heavens and the

earth. Which means that long before Jesus created the earth, He existed and

lived in perfect communion with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit.

John is taking us WAY back before the beginning of the earth, WAY back

before Jesus came to this earth as a baby—and he is telling us that Jesus has

always existed. He never had a beginning. No matter how much you think

about it, you will never wrap your mind around the fact that Jesus never began!

Perhaps the best way to describe this truth about Jesus is by using the word

“glory.” Glory means “Amazing!” It means “Wow!” It means “Magnificence

and great beauty!” When we see Jesus, we see the glory of God. We see

the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of

grace and truth. We see Magi traveling from far away, and bowing down

to present gifts fit for a king. Why? Because Jesus wasn’t just a baby. He

was the Son of God who created all that exists! Wow! Glory!

S ING: Angels We Have Heard on High

MEDITATE

How amazing is it that the one who spoke the entire earth

and universe into existence, is the same one who was lying

in that manger in Bethlehem that very first Christmas?

What do you think it means in verse 14, when John says,

“The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us”?

Friday, December 20

D E D I C A T I O N

READ: Luke 2:22-38

The Old Testament purification law (Leviticus 12) required that parents of

a son wait 40 days before they were to take the child to the Temple and

have him presented (it was an 80-day waiting period for little girls). There

were actually several reasons for this. One had to do with the mother of

the child. The Old Testament law was very careful about things that

involved bodily fluids—and no matter how you look at it, childbirth can

be a bit messy. So the mother—in this case Mary—had to appear at the

Temple to be “declared clean.”

The other important thing happening here was that a baby—in this case

Jesus—was being “presented” to the Lord. Another word used here is

“consecrated.” Both of these words are very symbolic, very spiritual, and very

important. In the churches I’ve attended through the years, we call this an act

of “dedicating” our children. Joseph and Mary were presenting Jesus to God,

consecrating Him as a child of God, and dedicating him for a divine purpose.

It was a very special day—made even more special when two complete

strangers were given divine insight into exactly who Jesus was. First Simeon

and then Anna confirmed without doubt the fact that Jesus was the

Messiah. And He came, not just for the Jews, but as a light for revelation

to the Gentiles as well. Simeon, in an unexpected word of prophecy, also

foreshadowed the cross when he declared to Mary that “a sword will

pierce your own soul too.” Thirty-three years later, as Jesus’ side was

being pierced on the cross, Mary’s soul would break in utter grief as she

watched her son give His life as a sacrifice for the sins of the world.

S ING: It Came Upon a Midnight Clear

MEDITATE

What stands out to you about what Simeon said to

Mary and Joseph?

What strikes you about Anna, and what she did?


G L O R Y

READ: John 1:1-18

Go back and read the first three words of John chapter 1. If you’re

reading from the New International Version, or the English Standard

Version, or the King James Version—they should sound awfully familiar.

What are those three words? “In the beginning.” What do these words

remind you of? They’re the exact same as the first three words in the

entire Bible—way back in Genesis 1. I’m quite certain that’s exactly what

John wanted us to think about. However, he also wanted us to know that

these things were taking place BEFORE the beginning of the beginning!

In Genesis 1, God was creating the heavens and the earth. More specifically

(according to John 1:3), it was Jesus who was creating the heavens and the

earth. Which means that long before Jesus created the earth, He existed and

lived in perfect communion with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit.

John is taking us WAY back before the beginning of the earth, WAY back

before Jesus came to this earth as a baby—and he is telling us that Jesus has

always existed. He never had a beginning. No matter how much you think

about it, you will never wrap your mind around the fact that Jesus never began!

Perhaps the best way to describe this truth about Jesus is by using the word

“glory.” Glory means “Amazing!” It means “Wow!” It means “Magnificence

and great beauty!” When we see Jesus, we see the glory of God. We see

the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of

grace and truth. We see Magi traveling from far away, and bowing down

to present gifts fit for a king. Why? Because Jesus wasn’t just a baby. He

was the Son of God who created all that exists! Wow! Glory!

S ING: Angels We Have Heard on High

MEDITATE

How amazing is it that the one who spoke the entire earth

and universe into existence, is the same one who was lying

in that manger in Bethlehem that very first Christmas?

What do you think it means in verse 14, when John says,

“The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us”?

Friday, December 20

D E D I C A T I O N

READ: Luke 2:22-38

The Old Testament purification law (Leviticus 12) required that parents of

a son wait 40 days before they were to take the child to the Temple and

have him presented (it was an 80-day waiting period for little girls). There

were actually several reasons for this. One had to do with the mother of

the child. The Old Testament law was very careful about things that

involved bodily fluids—and no matter how you look at it, childbirth can

be a bit messy. So the mother—in this case Mary—had to appear at the

Temple to be “declared clean.”

The other important thing happening here was that a baby—in this case

Jesus—was being “presented” to the Lord. Another word used here is

“consecrated.” Both of these words are very symbolic, very spiritual, and very

important. In the churches I’ve attended through the years, we call this an act

of “dedicating” our children. Joseph and Mary were presenting Jesus to God,

consecrating Him as a child of God, and dedicating him for a divine purpose.

It was a very special day—made even more special when two complete

strangers were given divine insight into exactly who Jesus was. First Simeon

and then Anna confirmed without doubt the fact that Jesus was the

Messiah. And He came, not just for the Jews, but as a light for revelation

to the Gentiles as well. Simeon, in an unexpected word of prophecy, also

foreshadowed the cross when he declared to Mary that “a sword will

pierce your own soul too.” Thirty-three years later, as Jesus’ side was

being pierced on the cross, Mary’s soul would break in utter grief as she

watched her son give His life as a sacrifice for the sins of the world.

S ING: It Came Upon a Midnight Clear

MEDITATE

What stands out to you about what Simeon said to

Mary and Joseph?

What strikes you about Anna, and what she did?

Sunday, December 22

J O S E P H


We don’t really know a whole lot about Joseph, the step-father of Jesus

and husband of Mary. In Matthew 13:55, we are told that Joseph was a

carpenter— which would imply that he worked with wood—or was in

some form of construction. We read about Joseph and Mary being

worried about Jesus when He was 12 years old and “lost” in Jerusalem

(Jesus wasn’t really lost, but Joseph and Mary sure thought he was). By

the time Jesus began His public ministry at the age of 30, Joseph is

never mentioned—which would lead to the conclusion that he had

passed away at some point between when Jesus was twelve and thirty.

It’s really hard to wrap your mind around what must have been going

through Joseph’s head when he found out that the woman he was

engaged to was pregnant with a child she claimed was the Son of God!

Can you imagine? No wonder he made up his mind to divorce her (back

then it wasn’t just a matter of “breaking up” with your fiancé—you

actually had to divorce them).

But just as happened with Mary and the shepherds, an angel appeared

to Joseph (in a dream). The angel confirmed everything that Mary must

have told him. And here we find out just how humble and God-honoring

Joseph was. He believed the angel. He believed Mary. Don’t take this

for granted. It must have taken ENORMOUS faith for Joseph to actually

believe that Mary was telling the truth, and that she had never been with

anyone else. It must have taken MORE than enormous faith to believe

that she was carrying in her womb the Son of God. Joseph might have

come from an ordinary town (Nazareth) and worked an ordinary job

(carpenter), but he was a man of extraordinary faith!

S ING: God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen

MEDITATE

If you were to meet Joseph, what kind of man do you

think he would be?

What are some questions you would ask Joseph if you

had the chance?

Monday, December 23

E G Y P T


The land of Egypt plays an important role in the story of the Bible. It

begins way back in the book of Exodus, when Jacob’s son Joseph is sold

as a slave to an important leader in Egypt by the name of Potiphar. This

leads to several hundred years when the descendants of Abraham (the

Israelites) become slaves in the land of Egypt—until God raises up

Moses to lead them out of Egypt and into the promised land. This story

forms the basis of how we ought to think about Egypt throughout the

rest of the Bible. It represents a place of bondage—a place that God

has the power to deliver us OUT of.

So here we are, looking at the story of the birth of Jesus. And once

again, Egypt takes center stage. When Joseph learns in a dream that

King Herod is about to search for Jesus in order to kill Him, God

instructs Joseph to take Mary and Jesus down to Egypt to live. The very

same thing that happened to Jacob (Israel) and Joseph—is now

happening to Mary and Joseph. This is no coincidence! God is about to

raise up a child (just like Moses was rescued from the Nile River and

raised up) who will come OUT of Egypt and rescue His people! How

cool is that!

S ING: The 12 Days of Christmas (It’s actually a Christian

song. Read more by searching “12 dqys of Christmas real meaning and

history of lyrics” at www.crosswalk.com.)

MEDITATE

So what is YOUR Egypt? What is the “place” that traps you,

and holds you in bondage? What are the sins or habits in

your life that hold you in a place of slavery?

Are you willing to trust Jesus to set you free? In the same

way that Moses led the people through the Red Sea, do you

believe that Jesus is able to lead you to a place of freedom

and joy?

Sunday, December 22

J O S E P H


We don’t really know a whole lot about Joseph, the step-father of Jesus

and husband of Mary. In Matthew 13:55, we are told that Joseph was a

carpenter— which would imply that he worked with wood—or was in

some form of construction. We read about Joseph and Mary being

worried about Jesus when He was 12 years old and “lost” in Jerusalem

(Jesus wasn’t really lost, but Joseph and Mary sure thought he was). By

the time Jesus began His public ministry at the age of 30, Joseph is

never mentioned—which would lead to the conclusion that he had

passed away at some point between when Jesus was twelve and thirty.

It’s really hard to wrap your mind around what must have been going

through Joseph’s head when he found out that the woman he was

engaged to was pregnant with a child she claimed was the Son of God!

Can you imagine? No wonder he made up his mind to divorce her (back

then it wasn’t just a matter of “breaking up” with your fiancé—you

actually had to divorce them).

But just as happened with Mary and the shepherds, an angel appeared

to Joseph (in a dream). The angel confirmed everything that Mary must

have told him. And here we find out just how humble and God-honoring

Joseph was. He believed the angel. He believed Mary. Don’t take this

for granted. It must have taken ENORMOUS faith for Joseph to actually

believe that Mary was telling the truth, and that she had never been with

anyone else. It must have taken MORE than enormous faith to believe

that she was carrying in her womb the Son of God. Joseph might have

come from an ordinary town (Nazareth) and worked an ordinary job

(carpenter), but he was a man of extraordinary faith!

S ING: God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen

MEDITATE

If you were to meet Joseph, what kind of man do you

think he would be?

What are some questions you would ask Joseph if you

had the chance?

Monday, December 23

E G Y P T


The land of Egypt plays an important role in the story of the Bible. It

begins way back in the book of Exodus, when Jacob’s son Joseph is sold

as a slave to an important leader in Egypt by the name of Potiphar. This

leads to several hundred years when the descendants of Abraham (the

Israelites) become slaves in the land of Egypt—until God raises up

Moses to lead them out of Egypt and into the promised land. This story

forms the basis of how we ought to think about Egypt throughout the

rest of the Bible. It represents a place of bondage—a place that God

has the power to deliver us OUT of.

So here we are, looking at the story of the birth of Jesus. And once

again, Egypt takes center stage. When Joseph learns in a dream that

King Herod is about to search for Jesus in order to kill Him, God

instructs Joseph to take Mary and Jesus down to Egypt to live. The very

same thing that happened to Jacob (Israel) and Joseph—is now

happening to Mary and Joseph. This is no coincidence! God is about to

raise up a child (just like Moses was rescued from the Nile River and

raised up) who will come OUT of Egypt and rescue His people! How

cool is that!

S ING: The 12 Days of Christmas (It’s actually a Christian

song. Read more by searching “12 dqys of Christmas real meaning and

history of lyrics” at www.crosswalk.com.)

MEDITATE

So what is YOUR Egypt? What is the “place” that traps you,

and holds you in bondage? What are the sins or habits in

your life that hold you in a place of slavery?

Are you willing to trust Jesus to set you free? In the same

way that Moses led the people through the Red Sea, do you

believe that Jesus is able to lead you to a place of freedom

and joy?


L I F E

READ: John 10:1-10 and John 20:30-32

When I was a child I used to watch the game show Let’s Make a Deal.

The premise of the show was that a contestant was first given a prize of

medium value. They were then asked if they wanted to trade that prize for

what was behind Door #1, Door #2, or Door #3. Sometimes the prize

behind the door was a fantastic upgrade (like trading a television for a

brand new car), and sometimes the prize behind the door was a prize of

little or no value called a Zonk (like a dilapidated old junker of a car). As

you can imagine, temptation usually got the best of the contestants, and

they would typically choose a door and hope for the best.

In light of this analogy, it’s interesting that Jesus calls himself “the gate.”

But instead of making us guess what lies behind the gate (or Door #1!),

He tells us exactly what happens when we choose Him. Whoever puts

their faith in Jesus, enters through Him and is given salvation. More than

that, when we choose to receive Christ and follow Him, we are given life

to the very fullest. That’s the best deal we could ever be offered!

Jesus lived His life proving to the world that He is the Son of God. He

healed many people, walked on water, raised people from the dead—

and then came back to life Himself after being sealed in a tomb for three

days. He did all of these things so that we would believe that He is the

Messiah, the Son of God. And the most amazing thing is that when we

believe in Jesus—we receive life in His name!

S ING: Silent Night

MEDITATE

We’re told that Jesus performed many other miracles which

are not recorded in the Bible. If you had been alive then,

what miracle would you have asked Jesus for?

What are some things you think Jesus means when He tells

us that we can experience abundant life?


P E A C E

READ: Luke 2:1-20

Yes! The day we’ve been waiting for has finally arrived! In fact, the word

“Advent” actually means “the arrival of a very important person or event.”

Today is Jesus’ birthday, and there isn’t a better reason to celebrate!

We all know how fun it is to give and receive gifts—which is one of the

things that makes Christmas so very special. There aren’t very many

things better than ripping the wrapping paper off a box, and

experiencing the thrill of receiving what’s inside. But if you’re taking the

time on this exciting day to open up this devotional and read today’s

thoughts—you won’t be surprised to hear me remind you that everything

you receive today will one day wear out or break. Presents are great,

but they don’t last forever. And they don’t bring our hearts lasting

peace.

The real and lasting present that we receive on Christmas morning is the

gift of Jesus Himself. The angels shouted it out to those scared-to-death

shepherds—“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to

those on whom His favor rests.” At the end of the day, Christmas and

Advent are all about peace. The kind of peace that we have deep down

in our hearts when we know that our sins are forgiven, that we have

been given abundant life, and that God’s peace fills our hearts. These

are the things that really matter, and this is why we can hug each other

today and say from the bottom of our hearts: Merry Christmas!

S ING: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

MEDITATE

I know it’s fun to open gifts today that have YOUR name on

them. But what are some gifts you can give today that have

Jesus’ name on them?

Take a few minutes right now, bow your head, and truly

thank Jesus from the bottom of your heart for everything He

has done for you.


L I F E

READ: John 10:1-10 and John 20:30-32

When I was a child I used to watch the game show Let’s Make a Deal.

The premise of the show was that a contestant was first given a prize of

medium value. They were then asked if they wanted to trade that prize for

what was behind Door #1, Door #2, or Door #3. Sometimes the prize

behind the door was a fantastic upgrade (like trading a television for a

brand new car), and sometimes the prize behind the door was a prize of

little or no value called a Zonk (like a dilapidated old junker of a car). As

you can imagine, temptation usually got the best of the contestants, and

they would typically choose a door and hope for the best.

In light of this analogy, it’s interesting that Jesus calls himself “the gate.”

But instead of making us guess what lies behind the gate (or Door #1!),

He tells us exactly what happens when we choose Him. Whoever puts

their faith in Jesus, enters through Him and is given salvation. More than

that, when we choose to receive Christ and follow Him, we are given life

to the very fullest. That’s the best deal we could ever be offered!

Jesus lived His life proving to the world that He is the Son of God. He

healed many people, walked on water, raised people from the dead—

and then came back to life Himself after being sealed in a tomb for three

days. He did all of these things so that we would believe that He is the

Messiah, the Son of God. And the most amazing thing is that when we

believe in Jesus—we receive life in His name!

S ING: Silent Night

MEDITATE

We’re told that Jesus performed many other miracles which

are not recorded in the Bible. If you had been alive then,

what miracle would you have asked Jesus for?

What are some things you think Jesus means when He tells

us that we can experience abundant life?


P E A C E

READ: Luke 2:1-20

Yes! The day we’ve been waiting for has finally arrived! In fact, the word

“Advent” actually means “the arrival of a very important person or event.”

Today is Jesus’ birthday, and there isn’t a better reason to celebrate!

We all know how fun it is to give and receive gifts—which is one of the

things that makes Christmas so very special. There aren’t very many

things better than ripping the wrapping paper off a box, and

experiencing the thrill of receiving what’s inside. But if you’re taking the

time on this exciting day to open up this devotional and read today’s

thoughts—you won’t be surprised to hear me remind you that everything

you receive today will one day wear out or break. Presents are great,

but they don’t last forever. And they don’t bring our hearts lasting

peace.

The real and lasting present that we receive on Christmas morning is the

gift of Jesus Himself. The angels shouted it out to those scared-to-death

shepherds—“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to

those on whom His favor rests.” At the end of the day, Christmas and

Advent are all about peace. The kind of peace that we have deep down

in our hearts when we know that our sins are forgiven, that we have

been given abundant life, and that God’s peace fills our hearts. These

are the things that really matter, and this is why we can hug each other

today and say from the bottom of our hearts: Merry Christmas!

S ING: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

MEDITATE

I know it’s fun to open gifts today that have YOUR name on

them. But what are some gifts you can give today that have

Jesus’ name on them?

Take a few minutes right now, bow your head, and truly

thank Jesus from the bottom of your heart for everything He

has done for you.

J O I N U S F O R

C H R I S T M A S E V E

Tuesday , December 24

3 :00 pm, 5 :00 pm, and 7 :00 pm

i n t he Sanc tuar y and Baker Cen te r

Date post:	10-Feb-2020
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