Advent is a time of preparation for Christmas. God prepared for centuries to come to earth to reveal the heights and depths and breadth of God’s grace for all the world. We have the privilege of living on this side of Christmas. That means hope, joy, and peace! Here are several passages pointing to God’s gifts in Christmas.

PRAYER

O God of gracious gifts, open the packages of hope and joy and peace in my heart this Christmas season. Amen.

Monday – Matthew 1:1-17

Tedious reading, eh? It is not inspirational unless we dig a little deeper. How many generations are included? It seems God was preparing for a long time. How many women are mentioned here? How many nonJews are included in the list? Scandalous family tree! What does that reveal about the grace revealed in Christmas? How far will you go to prepare for Christmas?

Tuesday – Matthew 1:18-25

Christmas was a disruption into the ordinary lives of ordinary people. They had to lay aside their hopes and dreams to embrace God’s hopes and dreams for the world. That was not easy. What dreams do you think Joseph laid aside? What dreams would you give up to participate in God’s gift of Christmas?

Wednesday – Isaiah 7:10-16

King Ahaz just did not trust God, and when the prophet Isaiah invited him to ask God for assurance; he refused. God gave him a sign anyway. And it came true just as Isaiah predicted. But it had a deeper point. It became a sign of God’s continued deliverance through the birth of Jesus. Like King Ahaz, all we need do is trust. How will you trust God this Christmas?

Thursday – John 3: 16-21

Jesus was talking to the religious teacher, Nicodemus. Why did Jesus come? How is Christmas a light in the darkness of our world? How does Christmas bring the light of truth and wisdom into your world?

Friday – Psalm 43

Light is an important theme in Christmas. Maybe that’s why we are so magically mesmerized by candles. In this passage, the writer is anxious and dejected over something. So, the writer appeals to God in prayer for “light and truth.” How does Christmas bring light and truth for you today?

Saturday – Isaiah 60:1-3

The prophet is writing to a people in exile.But the words are a message of hope that the current trial is temporary.God’s hope is yet to be revealed.In Christmas we anticipate in faith that God’s hope will soon be revealed.For what do you hope?