In 1943, the United States was deeply involved in World War II. Nearly 9 million Americans were a part of the Army or Navy at that time, and many were deployed overseas. Against this backdrop, Kim Gannon and Walter Kent wrote a song from the perspective of these deployed soldiers who longed to be with family as the holidays approached. The song, originally recorded by Bing Crosby, was called “I’ll be home for Christmas,” and it became an enduring hit.
Though World War II happened a long time ago, people today still resonate with this song, in part because so many are also (for a variety of reasons) separated from their homes at the holidays. Like in 1943, some are deployed in military service, others are working in distant locations, and for others, death or a move have confused the answer of where “home” actually is. But beyond these reasons, every Christian can relate to this song to some degree. What do I mean?
Christians are people who find their identity in their Savior Jesus Christ. If our identity is in Him, then our primary home is in heaven … and if that is the case, all who live on this earth find themselves away from “home” as Christmas approaches.
To help encourage our worship of Jesus this Christmas season, I wrote a 25 day devotional. In this devotional, we will journey home together through the Christmas Scriptures as we reflect on the significance and meaning of the homes of Christmas: Bethlehem, the experiences of Mary and Elizabeth, and the humble manger. Then, we will end the study by receiving anew the invitation from God for us to find our home in Him.
Each day of this devotional includes a Scripture reading, followed by a short reflection on the significance of the verses. The study is written for there to be a reading each day from December 1-25, though you can certainly read the devotional at your own pace. It is my prayer that each of us finds our hope in Him this holiday season.
If you are looking for a church home in Norman, Oklahoma, this Christmas, we would love to have you worship with us at Wildwood Community Church. You can find more information about our church and Christmas programs by visiting wildwoodchurch.org. Merry Christmas!
In Christ,
Pastor Mark Robinson
A few ways to access the devotional:
- You can find the full devotional in pdf format here.
- You can subscribe to the YouVersion reading plan arrangement of this devotional by clicking here.
- ALSO, if you would like to participate in the “Reading with Friends” Reading plan for this devotional on the YouVersion app, follow this link.
- From December 1-25 we will post each day’s devotional entry to this blog.
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