Sunday Reading: Luke 2 10-16

Key Verse: Luke 2 11

11  For to you is born today, in the city of David, a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.

Devotion:

I’m sure you will hear all sorts of arguments about when Christ was actually born, whether it was in summer or whatever... But let’s put all that aside and just rejoice that He was born and that THIS is the day that we have chosen to celebrate that fact. Today is the day we rejoice that Jesus Christ was born of a virgin, in the city of David!

I could imagine the commotion of the angels appearing before the shepherds, and even the commotion that many of you will be facing today – or have already faced so far! But despite all that we will get up to today, we have a reason for rejoicing and that is because Jesus was born!

The more that we try to celebrate Christmas as the birth of our Saviour the more uphill we get from others around the world who think that we should not be bringing Christ and Christianity into a national holiday! If only they too knew the real reason for Christmas. If only they too could be able to praise Christ in the same manner as the angels did singing “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” What a glorious day that would be if we were all able to stand up and sing that wonderful praise. Just imagine what it would be like to have all the churches full and all the land singing praises to Christ our King on this glorious day!

Am I hyped up? You bet I am! It’s Christmas! Not only is it the birth day of my Saviour but I am (weather permitting) going to be going off to see my family too and spending time with them reminding them that this is the day our Saviour was born – or at least this is the day we celebrate it on!

I want the world to sing out together that Jesus Christ is Lord. I want all my friends and family to know that this is a great day to celebrate! Yes we may well be celebrating other things today (my sister in laws birthday too) but the one things that stands out for me is that I know Jesus Christ as my Saviour and I want others to have that gift too. I want others to be able to sing out and praise Christ today.

Points to Ponder:

My gift to you this year is God’s awesome word!

I know Christ wants each of us to get to know Him personally; so my one wish is that each of us will get to share Christ this Christmas with just one more person...

Have a joyous and awesome Christmas!

Saturday Reading: Hebrews 13 1-6

Key Verse: Hebrews 13 1

1  Let brotherly love continue.

Devotion:

One thing about Christmas time is that we always seem willing to allow more people to come together than normal; now imagine that sort of spirit, but more open and more willing and every day! God wants us to show each other that we do care, despite the fact that we get into arguments and into tough times, He wants us to continue showing a genuine love and care for each other. But that love is not just the willingness to put up with someone just because it’s Christmas. That love needs to be a deep set Christian love.

That is where we begin to wonder at what love we should have for each other. The way that I personally begun to see just how special Christian love is was simply by allowing people to have unrestricted access into my life. By doing that you suddenly see that you have to trust them in everything and try to involve them in things and try to make sure that they know they can count on you. Love has to start from within you because it is very difficult to love someone who does not love anyone else. That love is a totally new approach to life and one that should be central to your life.

I learned this from a few very special people in my life, people who are willing to share that same attitude towards me. This must be what Christ had in mind when He instituted love because you know that it is honest, true, honourable and everlasting. Don’t get caught up in the lust that the world promotes because all it will supply for you is sorrow and hardship in the end – because it is not aimed at being totally open and honest. Life is not all about getting the most out of things but also about how much you can put back into it. That means opening your heart to those around you and trusting them to take care of your heart as you take care of theirs as well. Christ has shown us just how much He is willing to take care of ours, we should now return that favour to Him and all His people.

Points to Ponder:

Are you open to a Christian friendship?

Do you know it should be permanent, as with Christ?

Friday Reading: Hebrews 10 23-25

Key Verse: Hebrews 10 24

24  and let us consider one another to provoke to love and to good works,

Devotion:

Just as Mary and Martha invited Christ and His disciples into their home, we should be willing to invite Christians together in fellowship. It’s not just the fact that we can say we have a home or church that they can visit, nor is it about saying that we have to meet regularly because it’s Sunday or any other day of the week. It should be about Christian love for one another. How we display that love and how we interact is going to be different because we are all different people. There is just something very special about being together with the people that you love.

As Christmas approaches we are all probably thinking about getting together with the people that we love and even making plans to make sure that we see people that we may not often get round to seeing; but why should we limit that to Christmas time? You may say that that is what makes Christmas special, but I say to you that we should be making that a regular part of our life and not just something that happens once a year. And, yes, I am probably the most guilty of us all for not getting round to meeting up with people – that is just one of the things that God has taught me about love over the past few years.

One of the most amazing things I find about our God is that He is willing to teach us the right way, no matter how long it takes. For me it has been a long time coming and a few sore relationships to prove the point. The love that I can now show to others just because I am Christ’s child is something that I now hold very dear to my heart. Yes I am still guilty of not getting out there and sharing my time with others, but by gathering together with other Christians in whatever way possible I find that I now have a new purpose in my life – to share my love for God with everyone around me. Is that not what Christ has been trying to get me to do for all these years? I praise God for being so patient with me!

Points to Ponder:

How often do you just meet up with other Christians?

How often do you meet up with God in prayer?

Thursday Reading: Luke 10 38-42

Key Verse: Luke 10 42

42  But one thing is needful, and Mary has chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

Devotion:

What do you do to show your love for others? Sometimes we do get carried away with the things that we do for others just because we think well of them. Sometimes we think we are doing the right thing by working hard for them when all they actually want is to sit and talk with us. And then sometimes we just don’t get around to doing anything because we are waiting upon others to start… Most of my life was probably spent waiting for others to do things so that I could figure out what they liked and then try and join in with them.

If we are going to show our love towards others then we must not wait around to figure out what they want from us but rather make an effort to start things moving. If they do not like what we do then they shall tell us. If we think that they should like what we do and find out they do not, then we can change; but at least we should have tried to please them in the beginning. It is a hard lesson to learn when you believe your heart is in it, but it is a very valuable lesson to learn.

Martha tried to be a good hostess and tried to show Christ that she was willing to work as hard as she could to make sure that He and His guests were well catered for, pleased and rested up. That was in her nature to try and do her best for guests; but not what Christ required at that time. So many times when Christ was with people we find out that He wanted them to talk and listen. His ministry was to teach people the truth about His Father and that is what He wanted from people. He did not care for all the trimmings and pleasures of life but rather to know that each person He would meet would have the ultimate pleasure of knowing God through Him.

Our goal should be to continue spreading that same love that Christ showed to everyone by giving that same love to those around us. That may well mean working all hours to please some people, sitting and talking with others, having discussions about God with others and even sitting quietly with more – but needs must be that we are with people in Christ’s name.

Points to Ponder:

What do you like doing for others?

What are you doing for Christ?