The 27 fleeting days between Thanksgiving and Christmas are not for the faint of heart! Do you agree? Today’s culture crowds our schedules with driving demands and insistent expectations. However, by Living With Eternal Intentionality®, a new and better way emerges.
The approach is simple; open the Word of God to Luke 2, and open your heart to the wonder and worship contained in the sacred text of the Christmas Story.
For the next 20 days, commit one verse per day to memory, and allow the Spirit of God to satisfy your soul beyond anything the hype of holiday extravaganza has to offer. As you lay aside mayhem and worship at the manger, you will hear the angels, you will hurry with the shepherds, and you will marvel afresh at the miracle of Immanuel, God with us.
So, jump in and begin today—December 4th—with verse 4. Then, move forward tomorrow, December 5th, with verse 5, and proceed in like manner right through December 20th. Be assured, the effort to Reclaim Your Christmas will not disappoint!
The Birth of Jesus
Luke 2:1-20, NIV
1. In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.
2. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)
3. And everyone went to their own town to register.
4. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.
5. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
6. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,
7. and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
8. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
9. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
10. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.
11. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.
12. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13. Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14. “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
15. When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16. So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
17. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,
18. and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
19. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
20. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
Living with Eternal Intentionality®
How do you believe that committing Luke 2:1-20 to memory could make a difference in your holiday experience?
What challenges threaten to derail your endeavor?
Who is a friend that could possibly join you in hiding God’s Christmas Story in your heart?
Blessings be upon you as you set out to Reclaim Your Christmas!
