2018 Christmas Devotional — December 21

Philippians 4:4-7 (click to view Scripture below)

The Apostle Paul offers a direction for all of us in today’s passage. He doesn’t make his declarations in a vacuum. He’s writing to people in a city where he had been beaten within an inch of his life. He has witnessed the miraculous results yielded by the attitude he is suggesting! (See also Acts 16:25-34)

While our Scripture today is not focused on texts usually associated with Christmas, it does highlight an attitude that Christmas is all about. It is about rejoicing that we have a loving God who knows our need better than we do ourselves. God offers us more than alleviation of pain. He offers a Savior who can transform entire lives.

A song we sing at Christmas is “Joy to the World.”  You might be surprised to know this song wasn’t written for Christmas but is meant to be a joyous declaration of the Second Coming of Jesus. Singing this “Christmas” song with an eye towards the Christ Child’s return as a King is eye opening. That coming will be filled with Joy for those who believe. In that time the Earth will receive its True King! So, let every heart prepare Him room — give Him space! So joyous will be this occasion, that all created order (heaven and nature) will sing and rejoice over the fullest meaning of the triumph of Jesus, who is come as the Christ Child and comes again as our King!

Byron Klaus
Vice President, ChildHope
Prayer:  Lord, fill me with a greater understanding of your coming today. I want to rejoice, I want this season to open my eyes to the fulness of what it means for your to be born. I want to sing with gusto this season, Joy to the world, the Lord is come! I receive you as my King!        

See other devotionals in this series.


Philippians 4:4-7 (ESV)

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

See other devotionals in this series.

 

Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®),
copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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