The first day of Christmas...is Christmas Day (December 25th). On this day, we celebrate Jesus' birth. Our song musically summarizes the shepherd's encounter with the angels that night, as we read the story of Jesus' birth in the Gospel of Luke.
Scripture: Luke 2:1-20
Devotional:
Imagine going about your normal work day when suddenly there are ANGELS telling you the Savior of the world has been born. How exciting and how terrifying all at the same time!! We can ponder what the shepherds were thinking as they looked at Jesus. Were their expectations of a Messiah fulfilled or were they disappointed? Were they thinking of the prophecies telling how Jesus would deliver them?
Reflect on what Jesus saved you from. Where would your life have taken you if you weren't a follower of Jesus? Jesus isn't just an "add-on" to our life, where we are fine without Him, but get an added boost from Him. Without Jesus, we would still be slaves to sin and our earthly nature. All positive and good traits and actions come from Him, whether we acknowledge Him as the source or not.
He is the Messiah (or Christ if you prefer the Greek). He came as the one who would save and deliver Israel. The Jewish people were wanting delivered from the Roman Empire that was occupying their nation. What do you need delivered from? Even though there may not be an occupying force in many countries around the world (although many people are still experiencing this), we are held captive by sins, fears, and destructive habits.
Take time to praise God. He is worthy of our glory (high renown or honor due to His accomplishments). When our sinful actions and choices separated us from God due to His holiness, He made a way that we could be reconciled with Him! This wasn't a cheap gift, but was so very costly. It cost Jesus' very life. Imagine a president or king choosing to send their child to be raised in poverty, under the rule an occupying force, so that when the child was grown, they could save their people through their death and resurrection. This is what God did. As we look at the manger, we know the shadow of the cross is in the background.
Challenge:
Celebrate Jesus' birth. Not with the secular traditions that have gotten tied up with the religious Christmas, but with intentional activities focusing on worshipping Him, glorifying Him, praising Him. (There's nothing wrong with liking and including the secular aspects of Christmas, but we need to be able to recognize that reindeer, snowmen, and hot chocolate have nothing to do with Christ's birth. We can recast a secular tradition in a Christian theme, like finding Christian meanings in candy canes, but I was stunned to realize how much of how we celebrate Christmas as Christians is practically identical to a non-Christian's celebration of secular Christmas. Christians may add a reading of the Christmas story before digging into a pile of presents all for us, but how many of us break away from the consumerism and materialism rampant during this season to focus on Jesus' birth?) If you haven't already, give Jesus a gift this year. Make a donation in His honor to a charity or organization in line with His priorities.
Jesus is born!
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