Christmas Day Family and Friends Devotional from Chase Oaks Church
Christmas is a day that engages the senses. There are wonderful sights to be seen, like a glowing Christmas tree or brightly colored packages. There are delightful aromas to be smelled, like the scent of pine or the smell of wonderful food, such as, in our family's Christmas morning tradition, freshly baked cinnamon birthday cake for Jesus! There are inspiring sounds to hear and great carols to be sung. But what about on the day Jesus was actually born? Can you picture what that day looked, smelled and sounded like? There is no doubt it would have engaged the senses! Take a moment to read and experience the Christmas story together.
Luke 2
The Birth of Jesus
1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 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. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.
On Jesus' birthday, there wasn't a Christmas tree or festive decorations. They were near animals, so there were smells to be sure, but they probably didn't remind you of cinnamon! However, none of that mattered because a baby named Jesus was there. The Savior of the world...God with us! And through Him we can have the greatest experience of all: peace with God! This Christmas day, take some time to remember together how God became a baby to save us.
One last thought from A Holy Experience:
"He was poor, that he might make us rich.
He was born of a virgin that we might be born of God.
He took our flesh, that he might give us His Spirit.
He lay in the manger, that we may lie in paradise.
He came down from Heaven, that he might bring us to Heaven…
That the Ancient of Days should be born.
That he who thunders in the Heavens should cry in the cradle…
That he who rules the stars should suck the breast;
That a virgin should conceive;
That Christ should be made of a woman, and of that woman which himself made,
that the branch should bear the vine,
That the mother should be younger than the child she bare,
and the child in the womb bigger than the mother;
That the human nature should not be God, yet one with God
Christ taking flesh is a mystery we shall never fully understand till we come to Heaven
If our hearts be not rocks, this love of Christ should affect us.
Behold love that passeth knowledge!”
~Thomas Watson
It is our prayer that this be the merriest of CHRISTmases for you and your family!
"We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure." Hebrews 6:19
Jason, Shayna, and Sara
