Several years ago, I was burdened about the need to focus the attention of our children away from the materialistic influences of Christmas. That task is a daunting one to say the least in our consumer-driven society. We do not withhold Christmas gifts from our children, and we thoroughly enjoy the
Christmas holidays. However, I desired for our focus to be thoroughly on Christ both leading up to the day, as well as on the day itself.
In an effort to help in this endeavor, I wrote down a series of short meditations on the theme of Rejoicing in Christ, the Newborn King. Our family read through those meditations during one Christmas season and found them profitable. I then took those meditations and expanded them a bit to also include a Christmas hymn to be sung as a family, all focusing on Christ. After some revisions of the text, I made the ensuring devotional booklet available to our church family.
Most recently, I have made more revisions and updated some things in the devotional, including putting the hymns in traditional hymn format (thanks to the kindness and hard work of someone in our church) so that those who are able to can play them at the piano. This new edition has recently been published by Scott Aniol at Religious Affections Ministries. The devotional is 25 days long, meant to be read between December 1st and December 25th. On Christmas morning, before we open any presents, we read the story of Christ’s birth, as it is recorded in the gospels of Matthew and Luke. Those texts are included as the devotional for December 25th.
Each daily meditation also has a Christmas hymn to be sung or read through as a family. Hymns include some familiar favorites such as “Angels We Have Heard On High,” “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” “O Come, All ye Faithful,” and “Silent Night.” But there are also some other lesser-known Christmas hymns such as “Christians Awake” by John Byrom, “Glory Be To God On High” by Charles Wesley, “The People That In Darkness Sat” by John Morison, and “From Heaven Above To Earth I Come” by Martin Luther that I am sure your family will enjoy learning as well.
This Christmas devotional is meant to be a help to families focus on Jesus Christ, God in the flesh. There are meditations on things surrounding Christ’s existence and deity prior to His incarnation, prophecies about His birth, the purposes for His incarnation, as well as some particular aspects surrounding His birth.
With December 1st only about three weeks away, if you are interested in purchasing this Christmas devotional, you can go here and find ordering information.
May God help us all this Christmas to Rejoice in Christ, the Newborn King!
About Guest Author
This guest article has been published because an editor has determined its contents to be supportive of the values of Religious Affections Ministries. Its publication does not imply full agreement between its author and RAM on other matters.
