12 Days of Christmas Family DevotionalSample

READ TOGETHER

After those years of silence, God knew it was finally time. Time to unveil his rescue plan! God sent heavenly messengers to share the good news with the people he had chosen to use. First, an angel visited Elizabeth and Zechariah. They loved the Lord and served him every day, but they were very old and had no children. Then an angel appeared to Zechariah and said, “You will have a son and He will be called John!” John was a relative of Jesus, and most importantly, he prepared the people for Jesus to come. He told them that the Kingdom of God was drawing near!

Then, the angel Gabriel visited Mary. Gabriel told Mary that she would have a baby boy, and that he would be called Jesus. Gabriel said that Jesus would be called the Son of the Most High. He said, “The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” Remember the patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and the promises God made to them? Remember God’s promises to David? God kept all of his promises because he had been planning to send his Son, Jesus, from the beginning!

Mary said “Yes!” to God because she wanted to be a part of his wonderful plan. But she was engaged to a man named Joseph. Joseph was a good man, and he was worried about Mary having a baby when they were not married yet. One night, while Joseph was sleeping, God sent an angel to speak to him. The angel told Joseph not to be afraid! And he told Joseph what Mary already knew, that she would have a son who would be named Jesus. And this baby would save the world from their sins. 

Mary and Joseph trusted in God’s plan, even though they were afraid. They said “yes!” even though they didn’t know exactly how everything would happen. Sometimes God also asks us to do big things (or little things!) because he wants to use us to bring more of his love into the world. And when we say “yes!” to God, we will always be surprised by the ways he will use us.

TALK TOGETHER

1. How do you think Mary and Joseph were feeling when the angels visited them?

2. What might God be asking our family to say "yes" to right now? Something little? Something big?

PRAY TOGETHER

Father God, you are so faithful. You always do what you say you will do. Lord, we want to say "yes" to the things that you are asking us to do! Holy Spirit, help us to listen to you and give us the courage to say yes. We want to be a part of bringing your Kingdom here to earth. We love you! In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.