Sunday (12/19)

The time has arrived! This is the week of Christmas. Are you ready? Are you ready to celebrate Jesus the Christ, the source of peace, joy, hope, and love?

 

John, the gospel writer, wrote three short letters that are included in the New Testament of the Bible. In his first of the three short letters, John wrote, “God showed how much he loves us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love — not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins” (John 4:9-10 NLT). This love expressed in and through the gift of Jesus is not only for us to receive, but we are meant to share God’s love with others. John’s letter continues with these words, “Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other…if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us” (1 John 4:11-12 NLT).

 

This Christmas and Advent season, let us continue to love each other as God lives in us, with his Spirit enabling us to fully express his love. Time spent together with family members, friends, and our brothers and sisters in Christ is an expression of God’s love given through Immanuel, God with us. The gifts we give one another are an expression of the love given to us by our heavenly Father when he sent his Son to the world that first Christmas day. The words we say to encourage and bless one another are an expression of Jesus, “the Word,” becoming flesh in and through us (John 1:14). By serving others, including people in need, we are sharing the love of the One who came “to serve others and to give his life…for many” (Mark 10:45 NLT).

 

As we continue our journey towards Christmas and celebrating the birth of our Savior and King, this daily devotional for the fourth week of Advent is designed to help you focus on Jesus each day. In and through Jesus we have peace, joy, hope, and love. If you receive the gifts of Christ, you will be able to offer them to others.

 

 

Monday (12/20)

To prepare your heart and mind to focus on Jesus, read the hymn lyrics from the first verse of “Blessed Be the God of Israel” by Michael Perry:

 

Blessed be the God of Israel, who comes to set us free,

who visits and redeems us, and grants us liberty.

The prophets spoke of mercy, of freedom and release;

God shall fulfill the promise to bring our people peace.

 

Read Matthew 1:18-25. Within Matthew’s gospel the story of Jesus’ birth is revealed as a fulfillment of the prophecy shared by Isaiah about 700 years before the Messiah was born. “Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit” (Matt. 1:18 NIV). As Joseph was making plans for a separation from Mary, “an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit…All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ (which means ‘God with us’)” (Matt. 1:20-23 NIV).

 

During this Advent season, how have you seen or heard evidence that the Spirit of Christ is with us right now? How have you experienced peace, joy, hope, and love during the weeks of Advent? If you are not aware of times experiencing them, perhaps you have been too busy to notice Immanuel working within your life and in the world.

 

Prayer

Immanuel, help me to see and hear how you are present with us here and now. If I am blinded by being too busy, guide me to reorganize my priorities so that you are at the center of my life. Thank you for coming to the earth and being born as a baby as part of your plan to save us from our sins. Forgive me for every time I have failed to love you and love others. Forgive me for the times when I have placed myself or something else at the center of my life. I want to be your obedient servant. Guide me as a peacemaker. I pray that your joy overflows within me into ongoing praise and thanksgiving. Thank you for the hope I have through Christ! I invite your Spirit to share that hope with others through me. My desire is for your love to be fully expressed through me and Christians throughout the world. Love the world that Jesus came to save through us. In the name of the Father, Son, and Spirit I pray. Amen.

 

 

Tuesday (12/21)

To prepare your heart and mind to focus on Christ, read the third verse from “Blessed Be the God of Israel”:

 

On prisoners of darkness the sun begins to rise,

the dawning of forgiveness upon the sinner’s eyes,

to guide the feet of pilgrims along the paths of peace;

O bless our God and Savior with songs that never cease!

 

Read Luke 1:39-56. Shortly after the angel, Gabriel, visited Mary to let her know that she was going to be the mother of the Son of God, Jesus’ mother visited her relative, Elizabeth. Luke shares that “When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby,” later known as John the Baptist, “leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit” (Luke 1:41 NIV). God’s Spirit enabled Elizabeth to recognize that the baby in Mary’s womb was the Lord. In response to what Elizabeth said to her, Mary praised God exclaiming, “my spirit rejoices in God my Savior” (Luke 1:47 NIV).

 

Similar to how Mary praised God and rejoiced, how are you going to rejoice today because of what the Lord has done for us? What song will you sing or say to our God as an expression of the joy you have in and through Christ?

 

Prayer

Savior, I rejoice in you! You formed me in my mother’s womb. You gave me life and revealed Christ to me. You are merciful and kind. You provide for our needs and bless us abundantly. Fill us with the good things you have for us. Fill us with your Spirit and your joy. Stir in the hearts of your people a desire to help nations and people in need throughout the world. May we rejoice in who you are, what you have given us, and what you will do. Amen.

 

 

Wednesday (12/22)

To center yourself in Christ, read the second verse of the hymn “Blessed Be the God of Israel”:

 

Now from the house of David a child of grace is given;

a Savior comes among us to raise us up to heaven.

Before him goes the herald, forerunner in the way,

the prophet of salvation, the harbinger of day.

 

Read Malachi 3:1-4. The verses are a message about John the Baptist and Jesus that was revealed by God through the prophet centuries before John and Jesus were born. Without the righteousness of Christ that is given to us by trusting in him we would be doomed when Jesus returns.

 

Jesus said this about his eventual return, “when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats” (Matthew 25:31-32 NLT). When we eventually stand before the King of kings and the Good Shepherd, we will want to be counted as a sheep of his flock. This is only possible through faith in Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit.

 

Prayer

Good Shepherd, you know me and all who are the sheep of your flock. You know everything about us. Thank you for coming and laying down your life for your sheep. Give us ears that hear your whisper as you speak to us through your Spirit. Unite us, your one flock, so that we faithfully follow you and live together as you intended. Lead us today and throughout our lives. Show us how to care for and love each other. Amen.

 

 

Thursday (12/23)

To prepare your heart and mind to focus on Christ, read hymn lyrics from “Blessed Be the God of Israel”:

 

On prisoners of darkness the sun begins to rise,

the dawning of forgiveness upon the sinner’s eyes,

to guide the feet of pilgrims along the paths of peace;

O bless our God and Savior with songs that never cease!

 

Read Luke 1:57-79. The verses are a continuation of the story of Zechariah, Elizabeth, and their baby. Which word, phrase or verse stands out to you from what you read? Re-read Zechariah’s song, verses 68 – 79. Spend time praising God throughout today and listen to some hymns or songs that help you to praise the Lord.

 

Prayer

Redeemer, God of Israel, I praise you. Continue to show us your mercy even though we don’t deserve it. Save us from Satan’s attacks, rescue us from the the cultural current that could cause us to drift away from you, and deliver us from our sinful desires. Enable us to faithfully serve you in holiness and righteousness for all of our days. Like John the Baptist, use us to prepare others for knowing and trusting in Jesus. Let the knowledge of your salvation be made known throughout the earth. As people who are forgiven of our sins through faith in Christ, help us to offer forgiveness to others and ourselves. Guide our feet on the path of peace so that we may be peacemakers in our homes, workplaces, schools, in the community, and world. Shine the light of the goodness of Christ through your church so that all people of the earth will be blessed. Amen.

 

 

Friday (12/24) – Christmas Eve

To center yourself in Christ, read part of the hymn “Blessed Be the God of Israel”:

 

Now from the house of David a child of grace is given;

a Savior comes among us to raise us up to heaven.

 

Read Luke 2:1-7 and Isaiah 12:2-6. The prophet’s message is about the Holy One among us, the God of our salvation.

 

Think about all that has happened in the Advent Bible verses leading up to today. God made promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob thousands of years before the birth of Christ. Prophetic messages about the coming Messiah continued to be shared with the Israelites for hundreds of years until eventually the promises and prophecies were fulfilled in and through Jesus. In the months leading to Jesus’ birth, God did miraculous things in the lives of Zechariah and Elizabeth, as well as Mary and Joseph. After all the waiting, “when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son” (Galatians 4:4 NIV). The waiting was over!

 

Prayer

Holy One, you are my salvation and I will trust in you. Lord, you are my strength and my defense. Your Spirit and joy refreshes me. I praise you for the gift of your son, Jesus. You have done glorious things! Let the whole world know what you have done through Christ our Savior. I know that even when I don’t feel it, your Spirit is among us and in me. You are great! May you be praised now and always. Glory to God! Amen.

 

 

Saturday (12/25) – Christmas Day

Merry Christmas! To prepare your heart and mind to focus on Christ, read a verse from “Blessed Be the God of Israel”:

 

On prisoners of darkness the sun begins to rise,

the dawning of forgiveness upon the sinner’s eyes,

to guide the feet of pilgrims along the paths of peace;

O bless our God and Savior with songs that never cease!

 

Read Luke 2:8-20. Imagine that you were with the shepherd that first Christmas night nearly 2,000 years ago. Think about what you would have seen, heard, and experienced.

Re-read the verses as you think about being one of the shepherds who is startled by the angel, hears the good news, and then sees baby Jesus lying in a feed trough in Bethlehem.

 

Listen to Christmas songs today as you sing and celebrate the birth of Christ.

 

Pray and praise the Lord in response to what God has done.

 

 

*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.