The Adventures of Christmas Sample
December 10th
When Isaiah wrote chapter 9 verses 6 & 7, he had no idea that these two sentences would be in the top ten Bible verses read every Christmas. It has to be one of the most famous Christmas poems of all time. It's close to 3,000 years old, yet we hear it every year.
Like the characters in the Flinstones cartoon who somehow celebrate Christmas even though they are from a 10,000 BC fictional time, this verse was written 700 years before the birth of Jesus. This is BC ya’ll… Before Christmas.
It’s more famous than, ‘‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house.” (Clement Clarke Moore)
It’s more famous than, “It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags.” (Dr. Seuss)
It’s more famous than, “I made myself a snowball, as perfect as could be. I thought I’d keep it as a pet, and let it sleep with me. I made it some pajamas and a pillow for its head. Then last night it ran away, but first—it wet the bed!” (Shel Silverstein)
Isaiah’s poem reminds us that Christmas wasn’t plan B. God is no last minute shopper. From eternity past, he planned to send his son. While we may take out 25 days each year to prepare our hearts for Christmas, the countdown for God is at least as old as, “Let there be light.”
This Christmas, be flexible with your plans, trusting the God who orchestrated the day that makes all other days worth living.
Scripture
About this Plan
The true intention behind Advent was a way of preparing one’s heart for Christmas. It was a way to create a posture like Simeon: “Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him” (Luke 2:25). This devotional by Dan Stanford is designed to help us do that.
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