December 25 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Luke 2:1-18:

¹And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.
²(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
³And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
⁴And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
⁵To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
⁶And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
⁷And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
⁸And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
⁹And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
¹⁰And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
¹¹For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
¹²And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
¹³And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
¹⁴Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
¹⁵And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
¹⁶And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
¹⁷And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
¹⁸And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

Devotional

In order to experience the true Christmas joy we must have faith, a childlike faith. Tell the Christmas story of the birth of Christ to a child, and the child will believe it. But we older people have our doubts. How the Son of God could become a man is a mystery for us, which we cannot understand. And as we think about it, our reason says, Can this be true? and our unbelief says, It cannot be true. And when this takes place, all true Christmas joy is gone. We cannot rejoice over a thing we do not believe. Oh, we must be converted and become as little children, if we are to enter into the kingdom of heaven. The angel on Bethlehem's field brought the glad tidings of the birth of Christ to the shepherds. The shepherds did not ask, How is this possible? They believed. They came with haste to see the thing which the Lord had made known unto them. They believed that the babe, lying in the manger, was the Son of God, their Saviour. Why not? "Is any thing too hard for the Lord?" With God nothing is impossible. By his almighty power He works faith in our hearts, and where faith is, there is this great joy of which the angel spoke. And wheresoever these glad tidings are proclaimed and believed, there is "joy unspeakable and full of glory." Dear reader, may this be your Christmas and your eternal joy!

Prayer

Our Father in heaven, we thank Thee for the gift of Thy Son Jesus Christ, the Saviour; for the knowledge of salvation, which He brought unto his people by the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God; to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death; to guide our feet into the way of peace. Amen.

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Scripture in Devotional: Matt. 18:3; Luke 2; Gen. 18:14; Luke 1:37; 1 Pet. 1:8.

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