Tag: advent 2019

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Christmas Devotional: Not a Silent Night

Passage:

17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

Luke 2, NIV

Ponder:

The night Jesus was born was not a silent night.

Not for Mary and Joseph who went to Bethlehem for paper works, weren’t expecting the baby to arrive that night, and couldn’t find any place to stay for the evening.

Not for the God turned baby crying human shouts as He was placed on a box where animals eat. (Yes, that’s what a manger means)

And certainly not for the only witnesses of that night, the Shepherds who received a surprising message from an angel: the Promised Saviour is here!

I think that’s how our days and nights should be knowing that the Saviour has visited our broken homes, just like the shepherds, ?? ?????? ????? ?? ??????.

Verses 17-18 show that after seeing the first Christmas, the time that Jesus was finally here on earth, the Shepherds cannot keep quiet.

Instead, they became instant story-tellers of the good news that brings great joy: Jesus Christ was born.

Now my question:

This Christmas season, will you allow the days and nights to go by without speaking about the great wonders you’ve seen and heard God do?

I hope you will choose not a silent night, but a night filled with stories about Jesus.

Practice:

Read and reflect on the gospels, then relay the story to a friend before Christmas!

Prayer:

Dear God, I understand that worship is “thanks” that cannot be silenced. I am thankful for you coming here on Earth to save us, and so I will not be quiet about it. In Jesus’ Name.

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Christmas Devotional: Prepare the Way for Christmas Day

Passage:

76 And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;
    for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,
77 to give his people the knowledge of salvation
    through the forgiveness of their sins,
78 because of the tender mercy of our God,
    by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
79 to shine on those living in darkness
    and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

Luke 1, New International Version

Ponder:

Christmas is an exciting season, especially for us Filipinos. It’s like the pinnacle of all celebrations in the entire year and we put so much effort preparing for it.

We become so preoccupied with buying gifts, doing grocery, or decorating our homes.

But what if we get so caught up preparing to celebrate that we forget to prepare ourselves for the Person behind the celebration?

If Christmas is the day to remember the arrival of Christ to the world, then how did God prepare the world for the arrival of Christ?

In this chapter, we can see that before God sent Christ, He called John the Baptist first.

Before the Messiah arrived, he raised up a Messenger.

And the greatest preparation was done to pave the way for the greatest revelation of God’s Son.

So dear messenger of Christ, how’s the preparation going?

Practice:

Prepare to share the gospel with your friends and family this Christmas. Jesus is the greatest gift you can share with them.

Prayer:

O, Lord, may I be like John the baptist who will prepare your way to the heart of the people around me, especially this season.