Christmas Morning Devotional: Preview

Christmas Morning Preview

Christmas morning is a magical time.  As a Pastor, Christmas season is busy with lots of extra activities.  Christmas Eve night is especially full with multiple worship services and special events.  

When our son was young, I would hurry home after leading Christmas Eve services.  We would pack the car and drive 2.5 hours to join our extended family for Christmas Day.  I have fond memories of sliding into the driveway after midnight on Christmas Eve, carrying my sleeping son upstairs to bed with his cousins, having a cup of hot cocoa, and staying up with my wife and in-laws putting toys together and arranging them under the tree.  Then we would go to bed and take a short winter’s nap.

I say short because the aforementioned activities would usually wrap up around 2AM.  Then about 6:30, we would hear the kids assembling at the foot of the stairs.  Like the Sooner Schooner preparing for the Oklahoma land run of 1889, the kids would be lined up waiting to stake their claim.  Finally, all parents and grandparents would be up and positioned, the gate would be moved, and the kids would hurry in to see what surprise was waiting for them to enjoy.

Christmas morning always felt like the sun was rising on a new and joyous day. 

The original Christmas was certainly a magical time as well.  Since the foundation of the earth, God was preparing to one day send His Son to be our rescuer from sin and judgement.  Jesus, the Son of God, was carried to the manger on that first Christmas Eve by Mary and Joseph.  With all things arranged as the Father intended, and after the world had endured a long winter’s “nap” awaiting the arrival of the Messiah, Jesus was born!  This Gift of gifts was a poorly kept secret. God had spoken of this day for over 1,500 years through the prophets, but His birth still caught a sleeping world by surprise.  That Christmas morning, the Son rose on a new day.

In His Gospel, Luke recorded with a physician’s precision the eyewitness testimony of those who experienced that first Christmas morning. This 25 day Bible reading plan will take you through the preparations and presentation of that first Christmas morning to understand more fully the gift that Jesus is to us. 

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 starting December 1, you can click here.
• From December 1-25 we will post each day’s devotional entry to this blog.