Christmas Morning Devotional

Sunday, Dec. 25, 2016

Prior to opening presents or starting other activities, here’s a suggested activity for Christmas morning. Gather the family (perhaps near the Christmas tree), maybe have hot chocolate/coffee or a light pastry there for everyone, and bring your Bible and a device where you can access a couple online audio links handy. Then walk through this brief guide through a time of focus on what this day is all about.

1.Readthisaloud: MerryChristmas!Thisisthedaythatwe’vebeenpreparingforandfocusinglots

ofshopping,planning,andanticipationon.It’sfinallyhere!Beforewediveintothefestivitiesandactivitiesoftheday,andbeforeweopenthepresentswe’vepreparedandwrappedforeachother,let’stakeafewminutestofocusonwhattodayisallabout,andhowwecanmakesureitstaysatthecenterofourhearts.

2.ScriptureReading:OpenyourBibletoLuke2andreadverses1-20.3.Read:Havesomeonereadaloud(ortaketurnsreadingasectioneach)theexcerpt

fromthebookBecauseofBethlehembyMaxLucadoontheinsidepagesofthisguide(thenproceedtothebackpage).

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WorshipWorksWonders

Christmasandgiftgiving.Thetwohavealwaysbeenassociatedwitheachotherforgoodreason.ThemagigaveJesusthegiftsofgold,frankincense,andmyrrh.TheshepherdsgaveJesusthegiftoftheirtimeandbelief.MarygaveJesusthegiftofherwomb.Theofferingsseempractical.Thewisemen’streasurescouldbeusedtofundthefamily’sescapetoEgypt.Theshepherds’visitationwouldkeepthefamilycompany.Mary’swombwouldprotectthegrowingchild.Butthereisonegiftthatmightappearabitcurious. Theangels’giftofworship.

Suddenlytheangelwasjoinedbyavasthostofothers—thearmiesofheaven—praisingGod:“GlorytoGodinthehighestheaven,”theysang,“andpeaceonearthforallthosepleasinghim.”Whenthisgreatarmyofangelshadreturnedagaintoheaven,theshepherdssaidtoeachother,“Comon!Let’sgotoBethlehem!Let’sseethiswonderfulthingthathashappened,whichtheLordhastoldusabout.”(Luke2:13-15TLB)

Theangelsfilledthenightwithlightandtheairwithmusic,and,well,that’sit.Theyworshipped.Couldn’ttheyhavedonesomethingmoreuseful?Marycouldhaveusedabed.JosephwouldhavebenefitedfromanangelicescortbacktoNazareth.BabyJesusneededabassinet. Thesewereangels.Didn’ttheyknowbetter? Thenagain,thesewereangels.WhoknewJesusbetterthanthey?ThosewhoknewJesusbestlovedhimdearest.Thosewhohadfollowedhimthelongestgavehimthegiftofworship.TheyplacedtheirloveonapillowofpraiseandpresentedittoJesus.Theydidthatnight.Theydosostill.Heavenatthisverymomentreverberateswithloudcorporateworship.Dayandnighttheyneverstopsaying:‘Holy,holy,holy’”(Rev.4:8). ThewordworshipactuallyevolvedfromtheOldEnglishwordweorthscipe.“Toworship,then,istoascribeworthtosomeoneorsomething”(TerryWardle,ExaltHim!DesigningDynamicWorshipServices[CampHill,PA:ChristianPublications,1992],23.) Worshiphappensanytimeyouturnyourhearttowardhavenandsay,“Youareworthy.”Whenyouclearyourcalendarforprayer,turntheradiodialtopraisemusic,oruseyourmorningjogtoreciteBibleversesorourlunchbreaktomeditate,thisisworship. Worshiphappensinneighborhoods,inlivingrooms,inopenpastures.And,yes,worshiphappensinchurches.WhenthepeopleofGodmakeapublicandpluraldeclarationofGod’sgoodness,worshipishappening. Godisonthehuntforthosewhowillimitatetheangels,forpeoplewhowillopentheirheartsandmouthsanddeclare,“GlorytoGodinthehighestheaven.”“TheFather…isactivelyseekingsuchpeopletoworshiphim”(John4:23,NCV)

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Somethingpowerfulhappenswhenweworship. Somethingpowerfulhappenedthedaythatsomesoldiersdid.ItwasChristmasEve1915nearthevillageofLaventieinnorthernFrance.WorldWarIwasraging.BombsshookthesoilofEurope.Frigidtemperaturesshookthebonesofthefighters.GermanswereentrenchedononesideandtheRoyalWelshFusiliersontheother.Mostofthesoldierswereonlyafewyearsremovedfromboyhood.Theywereyoung,homesick,andlongingtobewithlovedones.Thegunshadblazedinrelentlessfuryformonths.Christmasseemedfarawayfromthisblood-soakedland. AtonepointfromtheGermansideofthefieldcameachorusofvoicessingingaWelshholidayhymninGerman, Sleepmychildandpeaceattendthee, Allthroughthenight GuardianangelsGodwillsendthee, Allthroughthenight Softthedrowsyhoursarecreeping Hillandvaleinslumbersleeping, Imylovingvigilkeeping Allthroughthenight (HaroldBoulton,“AllThroughtheNight,”

http:www.carols.org.uk/a45-all-through-the-night.htm.) Soldiersonbothsidessetdowntheirweapons.Foramoment,inthatmoment,therewasnowar;therewerenoenemies;therewasjustthesong.Whathappenednextcouldonlybedescribedasamiracle.Thenightwasspentincarolsinging.Arounddawnthefeelingsofgoodwillemboldenedthesoldierstostepoutoftheirtrenchesandgreettheirfoes,.Shoutingsuchgreetingsas“Hello,Tommy”and“Hello,Fritz,”theyshookhandsinno-man’s-landandexchangedgifts.Germanbeer,sausages,andspikehelmetsfromoneside.Cannedcornedbeef,biscuits,andtunicbuttonsfromtheother. Then,ofallthings,agamebrokeout.Aformofsoccer.Itwasdisjointedandunorganizedwithperhapsasmanyasfiftyplayersoneachside.Forhalfanhourorso,thebattlefieldbecameasoccerfield,andenemiesenjoyedtimetogether. Anditallbeganwithworship. Wecanonlypraythatanarmisticewouldhappenagain.Thatwarriorswouldbecomeworshippers.ThatwewouldlaydownourweaponsofprideandvengeanceandjoinheartstothanktheOnewhocametobringpeaceonearthandgoodwilltoall. Somedaythatpeacewillcome.Conflictwillgavewaytoaneternalchorus.Untilthen,wecanpractice. GiveJesusthegiftthattheangelsgavehimthegiftofpraise.Dontherobeofgrace,soaronwingsoffaith,andtakeyourplaceintheheavenlychorusandsing,“GlorytoGodinthehighest.”

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4.Share:Askthesetwoquestionsandhaveasmanypeopleinthefamilyas

wouldliketosharetheirresponses:*WhataresomereasonsJesusdeservestobeworshipped?*WhatissomethingwecandotoworshipJesusthewayhedeserves?

5.Listen:Ifyou’reable,useyourphoneorotherdeviceandgotothisaudiolink.

Listentothebriefexcerptfromthesamebook,BecauseofChristmas:bit.ly/lcc1225a

6.Sing:Asanactofworshiprightnow,gotothisaudiolink—bit.ly/lcc1225b

—andsingalongwiththesong,OComeAllYeFaithful(ifyoucan’taccesstheinternet,justsingtogetheracappella).WorshipChristwithyourheartasyousingit.

7.Pray:Finally,takeafewmomentstopraytogether.Perhapsholdhandsandinviteeveryonewhowantstoprayaloud,withtheheadofthefamilygoinglast.PraiseGodforthegiftofhisSoncomingtoearthtogiveuseternallife,andinvitehimtobeLordofyourlivesandyourhomeintheyeartocome.

O Come All Ye Faithful O come, all ye faithful Joyful and triumphant O Come, ye, O Come ye to Bethlehem Come and behold him Born the King of Angels O Come let us adore him O Come let us adore him O Come let us adore him Christ the Lord Sing, choirs of angels Sing in exultation Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above Glory to God Glory in the highest O Come let us adore him O Come let us adore him O Come let us adore him Christ the Lord