Advent Devotions – December 4th

Luke 2:2 This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.

Do you remember your first Christmas growing up? Your first Christmas coming home from college? After moving away and coming back? Your first married Christmas? First Christmas with children? Maybe this is your first Christmas after a divorce, or after losing a loved one, and you aren’t sure how you will get through it. You may be looking at the Christmas lights on your tree through a blur of tears. There are so many Christmas “firsts”… both happy and sad. And we all know this is the first (and dear Lord, please let it be the last) Covid Christmas!!!

Think about Mary, Jesus’ mother. Her first time pregnant, and because of a government regulation/requirement she had to distance herself from the comfort of home/family, and ride a donkey to Bethehem at nine months’ pregnant.  And you thought wearing a mask was uncomfortable?!?!?!  Talk about firsts — and I’ll bet she wasn’t expecting the first moments of motherhood to be in a foreign land, giving birth in a stable and putting her newborn into a feeding troth!  

Society and the media hype Christmas as a perfect time of joy, love, peace, and good will (not to mention those two-hour Christmas movies where everything comes out wonderful, true love is found, everyone comes home, and life is beautiful). Get real.

Let’s face it – this isn’t the circumstances any of us thought we’d be in this Christmas.  It’s okay to not be okay.  If you are sad, give yourself permission to be sad – share this with the Lord. Have a quiet time of conversation with Him today, sitting in front of the tree. Take your Bible and read Luke 2:1-20, and learn about Christ’s first time as a baby in a manger. This Christmas, get real before God. Pour out everything to Him, and let it be your gift of praise, whether it is joy, or a broken heart. He will wrap His love around you like a warm blanket of comfort.l

And if you’ve never given your heart and life to Jesus, why not do it this very day? Find out what it’s like to have a “first Christmas” as a true believer and follower of Christ – now that’s something to really celebrate!