November 30, 2017

December Devotions

In spite of all the unhealthy trappings of the holiday season, we are greatly blessed to have this yearly, cultural reminder of the promise and coming of “God with us”! And it is well if we capture that seasonal momentum, leveraging it toward the fixing of our gaze on the miracle of the incarnation. So, since we are already surrounded by the sights and sounds of Christmas, why not gear our personal or family devotions along the same lines? Why not spend the month of December reading, as individuals and/or families, a series of passages that will help us to consider the need, the promise, the narrative, and the blessings of the coming of Immanuel?

Sound like a plan? If so, print this article, tuck it into your Bible, and use the plan that I have sketched out below. Basically, I have selected five readings per week, for each of the four full weeks of December. The selections (meant to be read in order) begin by helping us see the need for the Savior, move to the promise of His coming, and then shift to the narrative and blessings of that coming. I hope and trust that, should you choose to make use of this little plan, it will prove a blessing.

     Week 1 (12/3-9)
     Genesis 1:1-25
     Genesis 1:26-2:3
     Genesis 3:1-7
     Genesis 3:8-15
     Genesis 3:16-24

     Week 2 (12/10-16)
     Isaiah 9:1-7
     Micah 5:2-5a
     Luke 1:26-38
     Luke 1:46-55
     John 1:1-14

     Week 3 (12/17-23)
     Galatians 4:4-5
     Matthew 1:18-25
     Luke 2:1-7
     2 Corinthians 8:9
     Luke 2:8-14

     Week 4 (12/24-30)
     Luke 2:15-21
     Matthew 2:1-12
     Luke 2:22-40
     John 3:16-17
     1 Peter 3:18

May God richly bless you and yours this Christmas season!

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