Christmas Morning Devotional: Day 3

Day 3

Read: Luke 1:8-17

Have you ever been at a shopping mall or theme park and needed assistance finding your way from one point to the next? You just left one store or stepped off one ride, and now you need to navigate to your next location … but you don’t know where it is. You might wander over to a large map showing all the points of interest. Surely this map will help you find your way! The problem is, you need a point of reference. If you don’t know where you are, you can’t possibly navigate to where you are going next.

Thankfully, these maps help you find a point of reference. They often have a large sticker declaring “you are here!” By knowing where you are on the board, you can find your way to your next destination.

The Old Testament is full of prophecies about Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. In the Old Testament (written between 1,500 – 400 years before Jesus was born) there are 400 prophecies that Jesus fulfilled! That is a lot of data points on the map! So how would the people of Israel find where they were on God’s calendar to know when the Messiah would arrive? Malachi 4:5 says that God would send Elijah before the day of the Lord arrived. Isaiah 40:3-5 tells us that Elijah came to “prepare the way of the Lord.” Elijah’s arrival would serve as a giant “you are here!” sticker inside the map of biblical prophecy to let everyone know that the Messiah would soon arrive.

In today’s verses, an angel appears to Zechariah letting him know that he and his aging wife, Elizabeth, would conceive and have a child named John who would come in the “spirit and power of Elijah.” This meant that the arrival of the Messiah would soon follow! What tremendous news Zechariah heard that day. The sorrowful days were about to be invaded by the Glory of the Lord … the people needed to get ready. After all those years of waiting, they. were. here.

What ride did you just get off? What are you looking for in life? Do you even know where you are or where you are going? 2,000 years ago the earthly arrival of John was like an opening act, letting everyone know that the Headliner, Jesus, would soon be taking the stage. Let these prophetic clues orient you to finding your way to true life in Him.

You can find the full devotional in pdf here!

You can find more information about our church and Christmas programs by visiting wildwoodchurch.org

Christmas Morning Devotional: Day 2

Day 2

Read: Luke 1:5-7

Back in 1984, Bruce Springsteen recorded the song “Glory Days.” This song told the tale of a few aging people looking back on their childhood exploits with great fondness. Their “grown up” lives were not as exciting as their high school heroics, so they preferred to sit around talking about the “good ole days.”

We all have a temptation to look at some former era of life with nostalgic fondness, and long to return to some bygone era when life was easier and times were good.

Luke 1:5-7 informs us that the Jewish people, in the era when Jesus was born, were NOT living in the glory days. Their glory days had passed them by long ago. When Jesus was born, Herod the Great was the King of Judea. Herod may have been “great” in power, but he was certainly not in righteousness. He was a ruthless leader, commanding all the babies in Bethlehem to be killed out of jealousy and fear (Matthew 2:16). Herod was so unpopular that he feared no one would mourn when he died. As he aged he had likable people arrested with an order that they be killed on the day he died so that someone might mourn on the day of his death! He was one terrible guy.

Herod was the local ruler in Judea because he proved his loyalty to the political sovereign, the hated Romans. When Luke says that Jesus was born in the days of Herod, king of Judea, he was saying that Jesus was born in sorry days, not glory days!

Not only were these days tough politically, they were also tough personally for Zechariah the priest and his wife Elizabeth. They had no children, and their empty arms had become a heavy burden. No glory days indeed.

This year, as you head into Christmas, you may look around and see hard times. Job insecurity, a new illness, world events, or other challenges may tempt you to flee in your mind to the “glory days” of Christmas past.

If you are experiencing some sorry days this Christmas season, take heart! Jesus IS THE GLORY that came into our sorrow to bring us peace. Let’s look to Him together this season.

You can find the full devotional in pdf here!

You can find more information about our church and Christmas programs by visiting wildwoodchurch.org

Christmas Morning Devotional: Day 1

Day 1

Read: Luke 1:1-4

George Washington was the first President of the United States. He was a war hero, having been the General of the United States Army during the Revolutionary War. He owned a large plantation known as Mount Vernon, was married to his wife Martha, and they never had any children of their own.

Now, how do we know that any of those things are true? Because George Washington lived in the real world. Eyewitnesses saw his life and recorded it in books that we still reference today. Like a stone hitting the middle of a pond sending ripples out to water’s edge, the impact of Washington’s life and leadership have rippled to the ends of the earth and reverberate still today.

Myths are made up … history happened. George Washington is a person of history, not a myth.

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, really came into the world 2,000 years ago when He was born to the virgin Mary. His life made such an impact on the “pond” of the Middle East that people told others about the things He did and said, and the ripples bounced to the end of the earth. In fact, Jesus made such an impact that people are still talking about Him today! Some of the eyewitnesses even wrote down what they saw and we still read their accounts that have been translated into thousands of languages.

One of the Apostle Paul’s colleagues, a Gentile physician by the name of Luke, had many friends who were eyewitnesses to Jesus’ life and ministry. Luke talked to many, most likely including Mary and some of the apostles. Being an educated man, Luke wrote down these events in his Gospel account of Jesus’ life. He presented this work to a man named Theophilus so that Theophilus’ faith would not rest on emotion or hope, but that his faith might rest on the firm foundation of who Jesus really was and what He actually did.

Jesus is no myth … He really lived.

To what is your faith anchored? To the real person and work of Jesus, or to something or someone else? Over the next several days in this reading plan, Luke will try to convince us to anchor our faith with certainty on Jesus, our solid rock, who really came to this world and offered us salvation.

You can find the full devotional in pdf here!

You can find more information about our church and Christmas programs by visiting wildwoodchurch.org

Christmas Morning (part 1) Sermon Questions, Audio, Video

On Sunday, November 30, 2025 at Wildwood Community Church, I preached a sermon based on Luke 1:5-25. This message was part 1 of the “Christmas Morning” sermon series. Below you will find questions related to the message for personal reflection or group discussion. You will also find sermon audio and video to listen to/watch, download or share.

NOTE: If you are looking for the “Christmas Morning” Devotional, click here.

Sermon Questions:

Pray
Read Luke 1:5-25
In your life, is there a prayer request you have prayed for over a long time? How long? Do you feel like you have gotten an answer to this prayer?
How do you respond when you feel like your prayers have not been answered? Mad at God? Keep praying? Something else?
Had you ever considered the state of the world on the “eve” of the first Christmas? What are some of the “dark moments” you may be experiencing as you head toward the Christmas holiday this year?
Gabriel tells Zechariah that his prayer had been answered (regarding his son). This was not only a blessing to Zechariah and Elizabeth, but to all people, because it informed the world that the Messiah (Jesus) would soon arrive! Zechariah may have assumed the answer was “no” (to his prayers), but in reality the answer was “not yet.” At the fullness of time, his prayer would be answered. How does this encourage you to keep praying in your own life?
Zechariah fails to believe the word that came to him from the Lord and had to deal with the consequences of that. When it comes to salvation through Jesus, are you believing the Word of the Lord? Are you trusting in Him?
Consider reading through the “Christmas Morning” reading plan this Christmas season (pastormarkrobinson.com)
What stands out to you most from this message? Any particular takeaway?

To access these questions in pdf format, click here

To listen to audio offline, click the link below:

Christmas Morning 1

To listen online, use media player below:

To watch the stream, use YouTube online:

Christmas Morning (part 1) Sermon Preview

Have you ever called someone, the phone stopped ringing, but you cannot tell if someone really picked up on the other end? All you hear is silence. Ever happen to you?

Did they answer the phone without knowing it, and you are simply a listening ear in their pocket or purse, while they are unaware of your “presence?”

Did the call malfunction and is stuck in limbo somewhere between satellite and earth?

Did your friend unknowingly speak before picking up the call, and they are simply waiting on the other end for you to say something else?

So many possibilities!

If this happens to you, what do you do? Do you stay on the line and wait patiently, hang up and try calling again, begin screaming into your phone with the hopes that someone will eventually hear you, or toss your phone to the ground and swear off technology forever?!?

Honestly and ultimately, these types of strained phone calls are not that big of a deal and usually work themselves out fairly quickly. But what about another type of “call”?

Have you ever prayed to God, but felt like you got silence back on the other end? Do you wonder if God is listening or if your prayers got trapped somewhere between heaven and earth? Is He even aware we are calling? Does He even care?

If you find yourself in this spot with prayers that seem to have gone unanswered, how do you respond? Do you keep praying? Do you begin speaking LOUDER to God with the hopes He will hear you? Do you wait patiently for an answer? Do you throw your faith to the ground and walk away from God forever?!?

How do you respond?

In Luke 1:5-25, we have the account of a couple waiting and wondering if their prayers will be answered. AND … they are making these prayers inside a situation where the entire universe is waiting and wondering if God really is there on the other end … and if He is, does He care about the suffering they are enduring? Will He answer? Will His silence go on forever?

This Sunday, November 30, 2025, at Wildwood Community Church we will begin our Christmas sermon series “Christmas Morning: Son rise on a new day” by looking at Luke 1:5-25. In the beginning of Luke’s “orderly account” of that which was accomplished through Jesus’ life, Luke focuses on the announcement of the birth of John. Why begin Jesus’ story with the birth of someone else? And what do we learn about waiting for the Lord in prayer from these verses? We will explore this on Sunday in part 1 of our series. We will gather to worship, pray, take the Lord’s Supper, and read the Scripture together. I can’t wait! I am so thankful for you. Join us in our 8:30, 9:45, or 11:00 service … and bring friends!

NOTE: Find this year’s all new Christmas devotional, themed to this year’s Christmas sermon series, by clicking here.

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.

Home for Christmas Devotional: Day 25

Wednesday (Day 25)

VERSES: Hebrews 11:13-16, 2 Corinthians 5:8-10, & John 14:1-6

In this reading plan, we have walked through the theme “Home for Christmas.” The first seven days looked at the hometown of Jesus’ birth, Bethlehem. The second seven days looked at the events in and around the home of Zechariah and Elizabeth in the days when Mary was pregnant with Jesus. The third set of seven days looked at the humble home of Jesus on that first Christmas night, a manger. And finally, the past three days looked at how God leads us home to Him, so that He might shine His light into our lives.

In today’s reading, we conclude our study by asking a bigger question, “Where is our true home?” Years ago, my grandmother was struggling with dementia and would often call our house confused and ask to go “home.” Problem was, she could not identify where home was. Time and disease had sadly confused her.

Where is your home? Many of us have lived in many different houses and in many different towns. As I write this, I am 51 years old and have lived in 13 different houses/apartments in 7 different cities. I spent all of my “growing up years” in one location, but have spent nearly 30 years in another. So which of these places is “home”?

Followers of Jesus, we actually share a home. Our home is not on this earth, but is in heaven. Our primary identity is not bound by this world, but by the God who made it. God has promised us an everlasting home, peace on the earth, and an environment where every need is met and every tear is dried. And yet, we live in a world where homes break down, nations war, and many tears are cried. Are God’s promises for real? Yes, they are! However, not all of them will be fulfilled in this life. When we arrive in our heavenly home, and when God creates the new heaven and the new earth described in Revelation 21-22, then all His promises will come true. We can count on it.

Our citizenship is in His city, so let us live today in light of who we really are, and the values of our “homeland.” One day, we will see Jesus face to face and give an account for our lives. May we follow Him home, expectant for that day.

You can find the full devotional in pdf here.

You can find more information about our church and Christmas programs by visiting wildwoodchurch.org Merry Christmas!

Home for Christmas Devotional: Day 24

Tuesday (Day 24)

VERSES: John 1:9-18

Many years ago in a 1964 game against the 49ers, a Minnesota Viking defensive end recovered a fumble and (in the confusion of the moment) got turned around and ran 66 yards THE WRONG WAY into his own end zone. Thinking he just scored a touchdown, he threw the ball out of bounds in celebration, resulting in a safety. Though he worked hard and sincerely thought he scored, he was mistaken. Instead of “winning,” he was “losing” – that moment at least.

In today’s passage, Jesus is referred to as both “life” and “light.” These are two things that all of humanity wants and needs. In fact, they are intimately connected. You cannot have life without light. When God created the world at the beginning of all things, He FIRST created light, as it was necessary for everything else to survive (Genesis 1:3). Though all of us want and need life and light, we sometimes run the wrong way to find them.

In the confusion of life, it is all too easy for us to get turned around and headed in the wrong direction. Sometimes we think that Jesus wants death and darkness for us . . . to remove the fun out of life by telling us what we cannot do. In the temptation of everyday life, we scoop up an “opportunity” and run in the opposite direction of Christ, headed towards drugs, pornography, an affair, gossip, greed, etc., thinking that if we run hard enough in that direction, we will “win.” The problem is, these temptations do not produce the celebrations we desire. When we reach that “end zone,” like the Vikings “wrong way run,” we find shame and not satisfaction.

When John tells us that Jesus is both life and light, he is like a coach reminding us which goal line we were created to move towards. Jesus does ask us to follow Him as He heads in a particular direction . . . but that direction is always life and not death; it is light and not darkness. This is not to say that there will not be challenges as we follow Christ . . . but it is to say that those challenges are momentary, while the “win” is eternal. When we do not follow Christ, it is just the opposite . . . the ecstatic feelings are fleeting, but the “loss” lasts.

Jesus wants to light your house this Christmas with His life. Will you follow Him?

You can find the full devotional in pdf here.

You can find more information about our church and Christmas programs by visiting wildwoodchurch.org

Home for Christmas Devotional: Day 23

Monday (Day 23)

VERSES: Matthew 2:6-12

How did God lead you “home” to Him? For some, God uses the encouragement and testimonies of friends and family. For others, God uses the preaching of His Word or the reading of devotional material. Still for others, God uses natural revelation that illuminates the awesome power and divine identity of God. For others, God uses a bit of each of these things, all utilized by the Holy Spirit to draw us to God.

The point is, if we have a relationship with God, it is because He has invited us to have a relationship with Him. If the universe were a game of hide-and-go seek and God did not want to be found, we would never find Him. But God does not want to hide. Instead, God wants a relationship with us and has reached out in His grace, revealing Himself to us and leading us home to Him.

The Magi are just another example of God leading people to Himself. Through the testimony of His people (Daniel), and through the authentication of His Word (the quotation of Micah 5:2 recorded in Matthew 2:6), and through the star in the sky (Matthew 2:9), God wooed the Magi from their eastern home, across a rugged desert, past societal expectations, and above ethnic divisions and into the presence of the King of Kings and the Savior of the World.

And when the Magi arrive in Bethlehem, they bow down and worship Jesus with all that they had, offering symbolic gifts highlighting the identity and ministry that Jesus would reveal over His lifetime.

God has invited you home to Him. Like the Magi, have you responded to that invitation?

You can find the full devotional in pdf here.

You can find more information about our church and Christmas programs by visiting wildwoodchurch.org

Home for Christmas Devotional: Day 22

WEEK 4: He leads us home

Sunday (Day 22)

VERSES: Numbers 24:17, Daniel 2:46-49 & Matthew 2:1-6

In the days following Jesus’ birth, a group of Magi from the east (probably Iraq or Iran), saw a new star and made a long journey to Jerusalem. This is a familiar story to us, so it seems “normal” that Magi would journey hundreds of miles across a desert in response to a new star … BUT, we would do well to ask a few questions.

First, who were these Magi? The Magi were a group of star gazers who were prominent in Babylon and Persia for hundreds of years before the birth of Jesus. As a matter of fact, during the time of the Babylonian captivity, several young Jews were carted off to Babylon, and one of them (Daniel) was placed in charge of (you guessed it) the Magi in Nebuchadnezzar’s court!

Second, why would these star gazers associate a new star with a new king in Jerusalem? Daniel lived in Babylon among the Magi 500 years before Jesus was born, but Daniel prophesied about the time when Messiah would come. He put a time table on it in Daniel 9:24-27 that pointed towards Jesus’ day. Additionally, the Jews had another Scripture that alluded to a star representing the arrival of a liberating leader (Numbers 24:17). Daniel may very well have referenced this hope to the Magi during their decades together. It is difficult to know for sure, but it is easy to see Daniel’s influence prompting the Magi to watch for the arrival of a new star around the time of Jesus’ birth.

Third, we also need to ask, why were Herod’s priests and scribes not also looking for Messiah’s arrival? This will come even more clear if you read Matthew 2:13-18, but Herod was a ruthless and jealous man and saw Jesus as a threat. The priests and scribes knew where Messiah would be born, but they were too afraid of Herod to check it out.

It is interesting to see God’s pursuit of the Gentile Magi, using Daniel to teach God’s prophetic promises and create a Messianic hope. The Magi embraced that message and were ready to act and respond when the star appeared. God is still speaking through His Word and through His world today. Like the Magi, will we come and worship or, like the priests and scribes, will we stay at home?

You can find the full devotional in pdf here.

You can find more information about our church and Christmas programs by visiting wildwoodchurch.org