12 Days of Christmas Family DevotionalSample

READ TOGETHER

Mary and Joseph trusted God and his good plan for the baby boy King to be born to them. When the time came for Jesus to be born, Mary and Joseph were traveling to a tiny town named Bethlehem. Do you want to know something special about the town of Bethlehem? Bethlehem was also called the “City of David” because that’s where King David was born and chosen to be king! Joseph was also from Bethlehem because he was descended from King David (that means he was one of his relatives). Do you remember what God had promised King David? That his kingdom would last forever, and Jesus was born into King David’s family, just as God had promised and planned from the beginning.

And now it was time for God’s rescue plan to begin! To enter the world as a tiny, helpless baby, this baby, Jesus, would be the King of kings! He would rule in Heaven, sitting at the right hand of the Father! He would save us all and deserve all of our worship. But, he entered the world quietly. There was no parade to celebrate the birth of the King; there were no photographers to capture the moment. In fact, not many people even knew what was happening.

But God did, and the Heavens rejoiced! A special star shone bright over the manger where Jesus lay! The angels sang to nearby shepherds of the birth of the baby boy King! They said, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests!”  The Shepherds hurried to find this newborn King, and worshipped him. The wisemen traveled to meet Jesus as soon as they could. One day, the whole earth would know what happened on that dark, starry night.

God sent his Son to live on earth for us. For you! He sent Jesus, a baby boy who was fully God and fully man, to save you, to bring you back to himself! Jesus came, and he was called “Immanuel,” God with us, so that we would never be alone. Even during the darkest of nights, like Mary and Joseph alone in a stable in Bethlehem, God will break in with the brightest of light sent straight from Heaven. God is always working, and he is always near. You just have to whisper his name, and he will run to you because he loves you more deeply than you will ever know. And to prove it, he sent his only Son, one night long ago in a manger in Bethlehem. But that was only the beginning of the rescue plan.

TALK TOGETHER

1. Why do you think God didn’t tell more people about the birth of Jesus at first?

2. What does it mean that Jesus is called Immanuel, God with us?

PRAY TOGETHER 

Father God, you are an amazing God. You love us so much that you sent your Son for us. Thank you for that special night when you brought Jesus into this world! We are so grateful that Jesus shares your love with us and is Immanuel, God with us. We love you! In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.