A Very Married Christmas: Couples Advent Devotionalنموونە

LOVE

There is a beautiful Christmas carol, “Love Came Down at Christmas,” with lyrics written by Christina Rosetti. The title itself is one of the simplest explanations of Emmanuel, God with us. (If you don’t know the song, take a few minutes to listen together. Music is a powerful way to enter into the Christmas spirit!) 1 John 4:9 points to this gracious gift of God, who sent Jesus as “the love of God…made manifest among us.” Verse 10 goes on to specify that God loved us before we loved Him.

God loved, He gave, and He made a way for us to be reconciled to Him. We love because He loved first in response to His grace and goodness.

We know that marriage is a marathon, not a sprint. Over the course of time it can be easy to rely on daily “I love yous”. And those are important! However, we also see in 1 John 3:16-18 that love goes so much deeper than warm feelings. Love is the willingness to “lay down our lives” for others.

Jesus laid down His life, and He called us to follow. Yet most of the time, we are asked only to lay down smaller things like our expectations, desires, and preferences. In marriage, those small sacrifices communicate love to our spouse. They communicate that we value their preferences and desires as we would value our own. In our family and community, love is a call to look out for the well-being of others as we would our own. We know this matters deeply to God because Jesus said the second most important command in all Scripture was to “love your neighbor as yourself.” The only thing more important is to love God wholeheartedly.

Today, reflect on what it means that God loved you before you ever loved Him. Reflect on God's grace, made tangible in the gift of Emmanuel. Ask Him for insight into how to love others around you well in accordance with the love He has so freely given.

Questions to Discuss Together:

• When you think of the gift of Jesus, what stands out to you?
• What is one way I can show love that would speak to your heart today?
• Do we have a neighbor in need of care today? How can we go out of our way to love them well this week?

Pray together:

Thank you, Father God, for sending your son Jesus as our Emmanuel. It is so humbling to reflect on the reality that He chose to leave the splendor of heaven to come and be born in a barn, to live an earthly life, and to die on the cross. Thank you, God, for your love that loved us first. Help us to live out of your love, serving one another well and loving those around us this season. Amen.

A Very Married Christmas: Couple’s Advent Calendar Printable With Bonus Scripture Cards!

I know how hard it is to stay connected during the busy holiday season. Many couples desire to soak up this special time and keep Jesus at the center, but too often, the days fly by without intentional connection and reflection.

BUT, it doesn’t have to be this way! This fun and meaningful advent calendar can help.

This Christmas, bring a new sense of joy and togetherness into your marriage with ‘A Very Married Christmas’ Couple's Advent Calendar. Crafted for busy couples who want to keep Christ at the center, this Advent Calendar offers simple, meaningful ways to connect each day of the season.

Designed to be truly FEASIBLE for you this Christmas season, most daily challenges can be completed in 5 minutes or less.

Grab our Printable Couple’s Advent Calendar here.