12/24-12/30

Advent Week 4 Devotional: God with Us

After weeks, or months, of waiting and preparation the day and time has finally arrived. It is the week of Christmas! The day(s) we celebrate our dear Savior’s birth. Yes, celebrations have been taking place throughout the Advent season, but now is the time to “fall on your knees” as described in the Christmas song O Holy Night. Now is the time for us to sing “sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus” (O Holy Night). This baby born in Bethlehem and placed in a manger is described by the apostle Paul in this way, “God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ” (Colossians 1:19 NLT). Somehow the fullness of the Almighty Creator of heaven and earth dwelled in the baby born in Bethlehem on Christmas morn. Matthew, the gospel writer, shared this detail about the Christmas story, “the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, ‘God is with us’” (Matthew 1:23 NRSV). Yes, God came to be with us in the person of Jesus. The source of life, grace, hope, love, joy, and peace came to the earth to save us from our sins. Christ came to reveal the way to God, the will of our heavenly Father, and the ways of life and the Lord. Yes, let us “praise His name forever” (O Holy Night). Christ is born!

 

This daily devotional for the fourth Sunday of Advent and first week of the Christmas season is designed to help you focus on Emmanuel (God with us). The format is designed for you to use as much or little as you have time to use each day. Below is a guide for the daily use of this Advent devotional:

Each Day

• Read the brief hymn, confession, or message about Jesus from the New Testament verses

• Spend a few minutes letting the message about Jesus roll around in your mind as you quietly wait in the presence of the Lord
• Read The Bible verses for the day
• Answer the question(s) using a journal or notebook, or simply think about your responses

• Listen to an Advent Hymn or Song
• Pray using the written prayer and/or your own
• Live in Response to Jesus

 

Week #4 New Testament Confession about Christ:

To set your heart and mind on “God with us” this week, each day read the verses below to begin your time set apart to be with and encounter the living God revealed in and through Jesus:

 

Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.

He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation,

for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth.

He made things we can see and the things we can’t see…

Everything was created through him and for him.

He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.

Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body.

He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead.

So he is first in everything.

For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ,

and through him God reconciled everything to himself.

He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth

by means of Christ’s blood on the cross. – Colossians 1:15-20 NLT

 

Silence & Solitude:

You are encouraged to spend a few minutes quietly alone with God after reading the verses from Colossians. You may find it helpful to sit, kneel, lay down, or walk as the message about Jesus rolls around in your heart and mind.

 

READ the Daily Bible Verses:

Sunday (Christmas Eve) – Isaiah 7:10-17, 9:1-7 and 11:1-9 (prophecies about Jesus)

Monday (Christmas Day) – Matthew 1:18-2:2 (the birth of Jesus Christ)

Tuesday – Matthew 2:3-12 (the Magi visit the newborn King of the Jews)

Wednesday – Matthew 2:13-23 (the Holy Family flees to Egypt, then returns to Nazareth)

Thursday – 1 John 1:1-4 (The Word of Life)

Friday – Revelation 21:1-7 and 21:22-22:5 (the New Heaven & Earth, and the River of Life)

Saturday – Isaiah 66:22-23 (The theme for today and this weekend is “the Sabbath.”)

 

Daily Questions:

What do these Bible verses reveal about Jesus?

What do these verses reveal about hope, love, joy, or peace?

How should I respond to God’s good news in these verses?

Who needs to hear the Christmas story today, this week, or sometime soon?

How am I going to share it with them?

 

*At the end of the day ask yourself the following questions:

How did I experience the hope, love, joy, and/or peace of the Lord today?

How did I express Christ’s humility, compassion, forgiveness, or love to others today?

 

Listen to a Hymn:

You are encouraged to listen to the hymn for this week on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and perhaps on a few other days as well either using the links below for the YouTube videos, another streaming service, or using versions that are familiar to you that you have available:

“O Holy Night”

Carrie Underwood’s version

 

Tommee Profit featuring Tauren Wells & SVRCIN’s version

 

Pray:

You are invited to conclude your devotional time using this prayer, your own prayer, or a combination of both:

Jesus, it was a holy night when you were born.

Our sinful world needed you, our Savior.

We still need you, Christ our Lord.

You are the source of hope, love, joy and peace.

We rejoice in you coming to be with us.

We rejoice in the new chapter of creation that you brought forth.

I lay my life at your feet, King Jesus.

May you be born anew in me through the presence of your Spirit.

Teach me to love others as you have loved me.

Teach us, those who trust in you, to love one another.

Fill us with your peace that passes understanding.

Let your peace come forth on the earth as it is in heaven.

Break chains of oppression and slavery.

Enable all people on earth to see one another as you see us…

as your children.

Let all that is in me praise you, holy One!

You are the Lord, now and forever.

Your power and glory are greater than I could ever proclaim.

Amen.

 

*If you do not have a Bible, consider downloading the YouVersion Bible App for free from the Apple App Store or Google Play for your smartphone or tablet. You can also use www.BibleGateway.com to look up and read various translations of Bible verses online.