Devotions – Week 5 (Dec 26 – Jan 1)

As you spend time this week between Christmas and New Years Day, I pray this is a time of rest and restoration for you.

For the devotions this week, if you missed one of the previous weeks, this would be a good time to do those (links a provided below):

• Week 1 – Matthew 28:19-20
• Week 2 – Matthew 22:35-40
• Week 3 – Micah 6:8
• Week 4 – Luke 2:29-32

You can also take time with the following:

• The words from Luke’s Gospel on the birth of Jesus (link)
• The Magnificat (link)
• The song below, “O Little Town of Bethlehem”

There is a challenge in reading each of these as adults because many of us have grown up hearing these stories.  If you’re anything like me, you may find it difficult to slow down and read them.  I tend to skim them because I “know” the stories.  Try as best you can to slow down and think about the words you’re reading.  For example, in “O Little Town of Bethlehem”, what does it mean to sing “The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight”?  How about verse 52 in the Magnificat that says: “He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly”?

O Little Town of Bethlehem O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie! Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by; yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light. The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight. For Christ is born of Mary, and, gathered all above while mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wond’ring love. O morning stars, together proclaim the holy birth, and praises sing to God the king, and peace to all the earth! How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is giv’n! So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of his heav’n. No ear may hear his coming; but, in this world of sin, where meek souls will receive him, still the dear Christ enters in. O holy child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray; cast out our sin, and enter in, be born in us today. We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell; oh, come to us, abide with us, our Lord Immanuel!