11/1-1/7/23

Christmas Week 2 Devotional: KING FOREVER

Happy New Year! The God who came to be with us in and through Jesus on Christmas nearly 2,000 years ago was the long-awaited Messiah of the Jews. He was and is a king whose kingdom will never end. Christ came to usher in God’s kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. King Herod and others were unwilling to submit to the King of kings. What about you? Will you submit to the reign and rule of the King whose kingdom will never end? Christ is humble, compassionate, forgiving, and loving. How will you respond to King Jesus this new year?

 

This daily devotional for the second week of the Christmas season is designed to help you focus on Jesus as our King Forever. 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 weekly and daily use of this devotional:

Each Week

• Answer the Questions
• Watch the Kingdom Theme video once
• Listen to the hymns a few times throughout the week, perhaps on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, or whichever days the Holy Spirit guides you to listen

Each Day

• Read the portion of the hymn lyrics to begin
• Read the Bible verses for the day
• Think through your responses to the Daily Questions
• Pray
• Live in joyful response to Jesus

 

Week #2 of Christmas:

You may find it helpful to write your responses to the following questions or to talk about them with a family member, friend, or your small group:

 

How did focusing on God with us last week help me to be more aware of God’s presence in my life and in the world here and now?

 

In what ways have I submitted to the reign of Jesus as my King?

 

In what ways have I failed to submit to Christ?

 

What is the Spirit of Christ and the life of Jesus revealing about the new year?

 

Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28 NIV). Am I resting in Christ each day by giving my cares and concerns to the One who can carry far more than I can?

 

Am I giving my body the sleep God designed it to receive each day? If not, why not?

 

Am I resting each week by observing a partial or full Sabbath? If not, what do I need to stop doing so that I can have time to rest each day and observe the Sabbath?

 

Daily Hymn:

To celebrate the birth of Christ throughout the week, each day read part of the sdng lyrics from “It Came upon the Midnight Clear” by Edmund H. Sears and “We Three Kings” by John H. Hopkins, Jr.:

 

And ye, beneath life’s crushing load, whose forms are bending low,

who toil along the climbing way with painful steps and slow,

look now! for glad and golden hours come swiftly on the wing.

O rest beside the weary road, and hear the angels sing!

 

Born a King on Bethlehem plain,

gold I bring to crown him again,

King forever, ceasing never,

over us all to reign.

 

Kingdom Theme Video:

You are invited to watch the Gospel of the Kingdom video this week either using the link below or searching for it on Youtube. You may want to watch the video on Sunday or Monday:

Gospel of the Kingdom by The Bible Project

 

Daily Bible Verses to Read:

Sunday (Epiphany) – Isaiah 25:6-9 (we trusted in him and the Lord saved us)

 

Monday – Luke 2:21-40 (Jesus is consecrated at the Temple)

 

Tuesday – Matthew 2:1-12 (the Magi give gifts to the Messiah)

 

Wednesday – Hosea 11:1 and Matthew 2:13-18 (the Messiah in Egypt)

 

Thursday – Matthew 2:19-23 (the Return to Nazareth)

 

Friday – Luke 2:41-52 (Young Jesus and the Teachers)

 

Saturday the Sabbath – Genesis 1:1-2:3, Psalm 46:10 and Psalm 37:7

(the Sabbath theme for today is “stop”)

 

Daily Questions in Response to the Bible Verse(s):

What does this message from God shared through the Bible verse(s) reveal about Jesus?

 

How am I going to submit to the reign of Jesus in my life today?

 

What does King Jesus want me to do for others today?

 

Listen to the Hymn:

You are encouraged to listen to the hymns for this week either using the links below for the YouTube videos, through Spotify, Apple Music, or another streaming service, or using versions that are familiar to you that you have available. You could listen to a different version every other day, including Monday, Wednesday, and Friday:

“It Came upon a Midnight Clear”

Meredith Andrew’s version

 

“We Three Kings”

Reawaken Hymns’ version

 

Dolly Parton’s version

 

Pray:

Jesus, you were born a king, the King of kings.

I seek to crown you again as the Lord of my life.

You are King forever, your rule will never end.

Let your kingdom come and your will be done

in my life and here on earth as it is in heaven.

Light of the world, guide me throughout my days.

Guide me to follow your example.

May you be glorified in my life now and always.

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.