Daily Devotional For Saturday, November 25, 2023

It is amazing to me how quickly our culture shifts from Thanksgiving themes to Christmas themes. Some people had their Christmas decorations up 2 weeks ago. Thanksgiving is my wife’s favorite holiday. She loves putting up Thanksgiving decorations and she struggles to take them down for Christmas decorations. Some people live to put up their Christmas decorations and for some homes, you can see their decorated house and yard from space.

As I write this, today is what has traditionally been called “Black Friday” — the best day to shop and get gifts for Christmas at huge discounts. I’ve known people who when the first store opens their door at Midnight or 2:00 AM they are there. There are some businesses, that before they even open, there is a crowd waiting to make their mad dash inside. 

We are about to enter into a season the Church traditionally calls Advent. It is the 25 days that lead up to Christmas, where we anticipate the advent — the arrival of the Christ child. I hope and pray you will take some time to use an Advent Devotional guide on-line or purchase one for your family. It is a great way to have family devotionals together as well as remind everyone the real reason for this season. Shopping should not be the main reason we are hopping to give gifts during Christmas.

We wrapped gifts to remind ourselves that the Christ-child, the ultimate gift, came and was wrapped in swaddling clothes and placed in a manger. Se sing Christmas carols because at that very first Christmas, music and singing were a major experience:

1. In Luke 1:45-55, Mary sings a song at the news of the pregnancy of Elizabeth, who is carrying the forerunner to the Messiah, John the Baptizer. 
2. In Luke 2:13-14, the angels break out in a song to the lowly Shepherds.

If you think about, people who normally may not sing, will sing. Some of the top Christian Christmas songs are:

• • • • • • Joy to the World, The Lord Has Come
          • O Come All Ye Faithful
          • Hark the Herald Angels Sing
          • The First Noel
          • Away In A Manger
          • Angels We Have Heard On High
          • O Little Town of Bethlehem
          • Angels From the Realms of Glory
          • O Holy Night
          • What Child Is This
          • It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
          • Silent Night

It is sad that the devil and his demons have almost hijacked this holiday from Christians.  The world and our culture makes it about Christmas trees, decorations, food, presents, Santa Claus, Rudolph and etc. Even their songs permeate the airways and in speakers in stores and on our radios. I’m not absolutely totally against these, but somehow the real message of Christmas gets ignored and lost. Some businesses are now afraid to put up Nativity scenes for fear of being boycotted. Churches in the past used to have what was called “A Live Nativity Scene” in their front lawn. Teens typically served as the people in the Nativity and people would slowly drive by or stop and/or get out and take pictures. 

Some Christians’ yards are so decorated with so many lights, Rudolph, Frosty, the Grinch, reindeer, icicles, gingerbread houses, garland, sleighs, and etc, that if they have a Nativity, you have to be almost intentionally looking for it to see it. As we enter into these Christmas holidays, lets be intentionally to remember and celebrate the real reason for this season — the Christ child. 

I still love watching the Old Charlie Brown Christmas Special, where they read the Christmas Story from the Bible — the old King James Versionl, I know I love using different modern translations when I preach, teach and write, but I still prefer the old King James Version for the Christmas story:

“And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. (7) And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. (8) And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. (9) And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. (10) And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. (11) For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. (12) And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. (13) And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, (14) Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. (15)  And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.(16) And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.”

As you put up your Christmas decorations with your family, as you put up each one and decorate, find a unique way to thank God for this Season. For example, as you hang lights, thank God that the Light of the World came to us. As you put up your tree, thank God that Jesus Christ died on a tree for your sins and the sins of the world.

As you wrap gifts, thank God that the Christ-child came to us and was wrapped in swaddling clothes just as any other baby comes. As you are having ornaments, thank God that Jesus Christ was adorn with a thorn of crowns reminding us He is King of kings and Lord of lords. I think you get the idea. Advent prevents torment. When we accept the Christ-child as our Lord and Savior, He prevents and protects us from eternal torment. This Christmas, get you an Advent wreath with the 5 candles and use a daily Advent devotional for December 1-25 to keep your mind, atitude, and focus on the real reason for this season.

Verse to Meditate On: Luke 2:10-11, “And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. (11) For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord” (KJV).

Prayer To Pray: “Dear Jesus, during this season I can have the tendency to get so caught up in the festivities that I can forget the real reason for this season. This Christmas 2023, help me to be more focused in my faith to really worship You. Help me not to let the hustle and bustle cause me to develop a Grinch mentality. Just as the wise men, the magi, brought You gifts, I give You a gift this Christmas 2023 — my complete submission to Your Lordship in and over my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”

Love you, Pastor Kelly