Jesse Tree Devotionals

Transcription

1 Jesse Tree Devotionals Church Children s Ministries Created by Christ Community Church in Tucson, AZ, used with permssion. There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. Isaiah 11:1 40

2 Introduction The Jesse Tree devotional is designed to help families focus on what is truly important in the days leading up to Christmas. Among the parties, the shopping, and the rest of the Christmas shuffle, people sometimes forget where the proper focus should be. The name comes from Isaiah 11:1 where Jesus is described as a shoot coming up from the stump of Jesse bearing fruit. This book contains twenty-five daily devotions tracing the lineage of Jesus from Creation leading up to His birth. Each daily devotion includes a family scripture reading which should be completed prior to reading the devotion. There is a memory verse and suggested reading for further study for those who desire to go more in depth. Prayer is an important part of any time devoted to the study of God s Word, so suggested prayers are included for each day. Finally, there is an ornament which corresponds to each day s devotion. The ornaments are designed to serve as objects the children will associate with the Bible account each day. Most ornaments are completed, although there are several you may create and customize for your family. The Children s Ministries Team prays this devotional will help your family stay focused on the celebration of the birth of the Christ Child this Christmas. All Scriptures are provided in the English Standard Version. Inspiration for some devotions from The Advent Jesse Tree by Dean Smith Jesus followed God s will and left His throne in Heaven and all of His Glory to become a little baby for us. Do you remember where they laid Him? (in a manger, a feeding trough for animals) No one had made room for Him. Jesus was born exactly the way that prophets hundreds of years before had said He would come. This was so that we could know for sure that He was truly the promised Savior. The account of Jesus birth is a wonderful part of the Gospel message. God loved us so much that, even though we were sinners and deserved punishment, He sent His Son to earth so that He could take our punishment for us. If we believe on Him, He will save us from our sins. That is the reason why we celebrate this special day, because God showed us how much He loved us. He wants each and every one of us to believe in Him so that one day we can spend eternity with Him in Heaven. If you have never done that, you can ask Him to forgive you from the wrong things you have done and believe that Jesus came, died, and rose again. Then Jesus can be your Savior too! Prayer: Thank God for this special day when we celebrate the birth of His Son. Thank Jesus for coming as a little baby to be our Savior. Help us to make room in our hearts for Him this Christmas and follow Him all the days of our lives. 2 39

3 December 25 He is Here! Ornament: a baby A Savior is Born Memory verse: For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 Scripture Reading: Luke 2:1-10; John 3:16-17 Additional Reading: Luke 2; 19:10; John 3:2; Corinthians 8:9 Devotion: Do you know what we celebrate today? (Jesus birth) It is the day we celebrate Jesus birthday, when He became a little baby. Jesus is different from us, however, because He was God s only Son. In fact, He was alive when the world was created. He has been from the beginning of time, just as we learned on the first day of our devotions. Jesus was there at the time that the world was created. Do you remember how sin came to the earth and spoiled it? (Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating the fruit He had told them to not eat and sin and death entered the world) God needed Someone to come to our earth and take away that sin. It couldn t be just anyone though! Our Savior had to be perfect, sinless. Jesus, the Son of God, was willing to come and be our Savior. That s why the angels sang so gloriously on that first Christmas Day because Jesus had come to take away the sins of the world! There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. 2 And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. 3 And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear, 4 but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. 5 Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his loins. 6 The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them. 7 The cow and the bear shall graze; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 8 The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder's den. 9 They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. 10 In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious. Isaiah 11:

4 December 1 Ornament: a globe We Are Created To Praise Memory verse: In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1 Scripture Reading: Genesis 1:1; John 1:1-5; Colossians 1:15-17; Psalm 150 Additional Reading: Genesis 1-2 Devotion: What did God create? (He created the world and everything in it.) As we just read together, the world has not always existed; it had a beginning. We may not think about it, but everything has a beginning. The earth, mountains, animals, stars, and oceans all have a beginning. Each one of us, our family members, our friends all have beginnings too. What do we call our beginning? (Yes, our birthday.) What about God? Did He have a beginning? (No, God unlike everything He created has always existed. Our reading in John tells us Jesus was with God before creation and was/is God.) The Bible tells us in Psalm 90:2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. He has no beginning or ending! He is our Creator and provides everything we need. The angel and a whole sky full of angels came that Christmas night to say the Savior had finally come into the world! This is what the world had been waiting for since Adam and Eve first sinned! The angels began praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will to men. (v. 14) Now we have a special message from God to tell others. We can be God s angels when we share the good news that Jesus was born, died, and was raised from the dead for our sins and that when we believe on Him, He will save us from our sins and give us eternal life. What a wonderful message to share! Prayer Suggestions: We can never thank Him enough for His great gift to us at Christmastime! Thank Him for His Son, Jesus, who loved us enough to die for us on the cross. Encourage us to go forward and tell other people about who Jesus is and what He has done. Ornament Tip: Cut out paper along lines; hold angle facing you, fold skirt into a circle connecting wings and back. Why did God create and fill the world? Why were we created? We were created to glorify, praise, and worship God (Isaiah 43:7). God made Adam and Eve different from the rest of His creation. Man was made in the image of God; we were made to worship our Creator (Genesis 1:26). Reread Psalm

5 Prayer: Thank God for sending us Jesus, the Light of the world, to show us how to find eternal life. Ask God to help you be more like Jesus and keep your light shining for Him. Help us to shine for Him today, like little candles burning in the night so that others can know You and have eternal life. Angels Proclaim the Coming of the Savior December 24 Ornament: an angel Memory verse: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased! Luke 2:14 Scripture Reading: Hebrews 1:14; Luke 2:8-14; Romans 6:23 Additional Reading: Luke 2:8-14; Hebrews 1:1-14; Psalm 91:11 Devotion: Do you know what an angel is? (A special messenger) God s angels do whatever He tells them to do, and they go wherever He sends them. They bring special messages to people from God. Who did they bring a special message to on Christmas night? (the shepherds) The shepherds were in the field watching over their sheep, when an angel suddenly appeared before them. The angel was bringing the greatest message of all time to them from God. What was the message they told the shepherds? (Jesus was born) There are many ways we can worship. This Psalm focuses on praising the Lord. It tells us where, why, how, and who should praise Him. We are told where to praise the Lord, on earth and in heaven. We are instructed to praise Him for who He is and for what He has done. Praise can be offered in many ways including through a variety of musical instruments. Everything that has breath should praise the Lord! Just like Adam and Eve we were made to glorify and worship Him (Isaiah 43:7). Adam and Eve glorified God. They walked with Him, at first. However, God knew, before He created the world, that man would disobey. He knew they wouldn t always walk with Him in the garden. He had a plan, a rescue plan. He knew Adam and Eve and all other men and women and boys and girls would need a Savior. He knew exactly who the Savior would be! Prayer Suggestions: During the coming days we will glorify God as we spend time focused on the true reason for Christmas. May we always remember we were created by Him for His glory. Ornament Tip: Have your child(ren) color the ornament blue and green. 36 5

6 December 2 Sin Enters Into the World Ornament: an apple with a snake wrapped around it Memory verse: All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:6 Scripture Reading: Genesis 3:1-10, 23; Isaiah 53:6 Additional Reading: Genesis 3; 1 John 1:8-10; Isaiah 59:2; 53:6 Devotion: After God created we are told in Genesis that everything was very good. The world was perfect, there was no sin or death. Adam and Eve were given one rule; they were not to eat of the tree of the fruit of good and evil (Genesis 2:16-17). What happened after Eve was asked Did God really say? (She made the choice to take of the tree and eat the fruit, which Adam also ate from.) What happened because Adam and Eve disobeyed and ate of the fruit? (After Adam and Eve ate of the fruit, sin and death entered into the world.) What did they do after they ate the fruit and God was looking for them? (They tried to hide from God.) Hiding from God may sound silly at first; after all we know God is everywhere (omnipresent, Jeremiah 23:23-24), but even today people still try to hide from God. Many times when we sin, instead of going to Jesus in prayer and asking Him to forgive us of our sin, we try to cover our sins up ourselves. We may even try to convince ourselves what we did wasn t a sin. Read I John 1:8-10 together December 23 Ornament: a candle The Light of the World Memory verse: Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. John 8:12 Scripture Reading: Luke 1:26-38; 2:25-32; John 8:12 Additional Reading: Luke 1:26-56; 2:21-33; John 1:4-9; 2 Corinthians 4:6; Isaiah 42:6; John 8:12; Revelation 21:23, 24; Isaiah 60:1, 3 Devotion: The time had come for the Light of the world to be born. Do you know who the Light of the world is? (Jesus) The Bible says that when the angel came to Mary to tell her she would give birth to Jesus, she broke forth into a song praising God for His goodness! The True Light was finally coming into the world! After His birth, Mary and Joseph took Jesus to the temple to present Him to the Lord. Who did they see at the temple? (Simeon) Simeon was a godly man who was looking forward to the coming of the Messiah, the Savior. When he saw Jesus, he took Him and declared that He was a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel. (v. 32) Jesus told us that He is the Light of the world. Those of us who trust in Him can be lights in our world, too. We must always let our lights shine so that others can see Christ in us. The Lord wants us to shine for Him, like a city on top of a hill where it can always be seen. What can you do to be a light for Him? (obey, be honest, be polite, tell other about Jesus, etc.) 6 35

7 Prayer Suggestions: Thank Him for loving all creatures, great and small. Just like the little town of Bethlehem, we are small too, but if we let Him, we know He can do great things in and through us. December 22 Ornament: a star Following the Star Memory verse: When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. Matthew 2:10 Scripture Reading: Matthew 2:1-12; Revelation 22:16 Additional Reading: Numbers 24:17; 2 Peter 1:19 Devotion: What did the wise men follow? (a star) Men have used stars to guide them for centuries. Sailors would use the stars to guide them at night. For many years the wise men had studied the stars, waiting for a special star to appear. It would tell the birth of a new King, a great King above all other kings. How did the wise men react when they saw the star? (they rejoiced, v. 10) They had to travel for a long time to get there, but that didn t bother them. When they saw Him in a house in Bethlehem, they fell down and worshiped Him and gave Him gifts. Who is the bright morning star? (Jesus) Just like the wise men followed a special star, we need to follow the morning star. As we follow Jesus, we will become more like Him. Prayer Suggestions: Help us to use Christ as our guiding star and follow Him in everything we do. Ask for help living lives that please Him. Thank the Lord for giving you the greatest gift of all. 34 Can we ever claim to be sinless (without sin)? (No, I John 1:8 and other verses make it clear we all sin.) When we confess our sins what happens? (God is faithful and just and we are forgiven!) What is sin? (Sin is breaking God s law.) Who has sinned? (Every single person in the world has sinned. All in Isaiah 53:6 & Romans 3:23 means all!) Have you sinned? (Remember the Bible tells us all have sinned.) Even though we have all sinned, there is good news. Remember yesterday we learned God knew before He created us that we would sin. He knew we would need a Savior. He is never surprised! Prayer Suggestions: Thank God for sending His Son to be our Savior. Pray that we understand that we are all sinners saved by God s grace. Ask God to forgive us from our sins. December 3 Ornament: a rainbow Inside the Ark Memory verse: For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 Scripture Reading: Genesis 6:5-8; 7:17-23; 9:16; Romans 6:23 Additional Reading: Genesis 5-9:17; Joshua 23:14 7

8 Devotion: After sin entered the world because of Adam and Eve s choice the world changed. In Genesis 6:5 you just read The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. God knew the hearts of each man and woman, each boy and girl. Who was the man who found favor in the eyes of the Lord? (Yes, Noah Genesis 5:8) God commanded Noah to build the Ark and Noah loved God and faithfully followed Him. While Noah was building the Ark, he also was preaching to the people calling on them to repent, to ask for forgiveness for their sins, and to believe in God. The Bible tells us though only Noah and his family boarded the Ark. When God closed the door on the Ark, the rains began to fall. The Ark was God s tool to save those who had believed in Him. Noah s family spent more than a year aboard the Ark. Once the waters parted and the Ark came to rest on dry ground Noah built an altar to the Lord and offered a sacrifice to Him. God made a covenant, a promise that He would never again destroy the world with water or a flood again. Along with this promise He gave a sign, so man would remember His covenant. The sign He chose is one many of you have seen after rain. It is a rainbow. The rainbow should be a reminder to us of God s love, mercy, and grace. It should remind us of the patience God has with each one of us. 8 The people of Israel waited for many years for Jesus to be born and yet many people still missed His coming. Today there are still many people who have missed Jesus coming and don t understand why we celebrate this special day. Some day the Bible says that Jesus will return! Are we ready for Jesus to come? Prayer Suggestions: Just as the people returned to Jerusalem and began waiting for the Messiah, may we prepare our hearts to celebrate HIs coming this Christmas. More importantly, help us to be ready for His return. December 21 Prophecy of Bethlehem Ornament: Bethlehem town with star Memory verse: I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 Scripture Reading: Luke 2:1-7 Additional Reading: Micah 5:2-4 Devotional: Just like the song O Little Town of Bethlehem we are reminded in these verses that Bethlehem was a very small and unimportant city, but God chose it to be the birthplace of His only Son, Jesus. In Micah 5:2-4 it was prophesied that the Messiah (the Savior) would be born in Bethlehem and that He would come from the line of King David. When the time was right, Mary gave birth to her Son in a lowly stable, and Mary and Joseph were both in the line of King David! It s amazing to think of Jesus humble beginnings, but God here reminds us that even though we may be small and seem unimportant, He can still use us for His great purposes, when we put our faith and trust in Him. 33

9 December 20 Ornament: a block wall The Return to the Land Memory verse: He who testifies to these things says, Surely I am coming soon. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! Revelation 22:20 Scripture Reading: Nehemiah 1:3; 2:18; 6:15, 16; Malachi 3:1 Additional Reading: Ezra 1 (For all the events of the rebuilding of the Wall, read the entire books of Ezra and Nehemiah) Devotion: Can you guess what this brick wall is a symbol of? (It represents the Wall of Jerusalem.) A long time ago, people would build large walls around their cities to keep out their enemies. Jerusalem had a wall that circled all the way around it. Do you remember why the people of Israel were sent into exile? (They worshiped idols) They disobeyed God s Word and God punished them by allowing their enemies to tear down the Wall of Jerusalem and take all the people as slaves into different lands. In order for Jesus to be born, the Bible said the people would return to Jerusalem, and sure enough, more than 400 years before Jesus was born, they began rebuilding the Wall of Jerusalem. When the Wall was complete, the waiting for the Messiah began. It took many years for the people to be ready for Him. The flood did not solve the problem of sin. Men and women were still born sinners, they still sinned, and many chose to turn away from God. God knew the Ark could not save His people from their sin, but He had a plan. A perfect plan, as only God s plans are! He knew there was only one way people could be reunited with Him. There was only one way they could be saved from their sins. He knew they needed a Savior and He knew exactly who that Savior must be. The time was not right yet, but God always has perfect timing. He was going to send the Savior, at just the perfect time, a time He decided from before He created the universe. Who is this Savior? When did He come? Why do we need Him? We will answer these questions and more as we continue to study the Bible together each day. Prayer Suggestions: Thank God for His faithfulness in keeping His promises. Thank Him, too, that He always has a plan to save the faithful. December 4 Ornament: a camel A Call to Abram Memory verse:... and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. Genesis 12:3b Scripture Reading: Genesis 12:1-7; Hebrews 11:8, Matthew 1:1 Additional Reading: Genesis 12, 15, 17 Devotion: God called Abram to follow Him and he faithfully did. Abram did not know the destination, he did not know how far it would be; all he knew was God told him to go and he had faith and went. He followed God! 32 9

10 Take a moment and think about what Abram did. Abram was 75 years old and was probably set in some of his ways. He had not moved around very much. He had friends and family. Yet his faith in God was great; when God told him to leave his home, his country, the place where he felt comfortable he did. He didn t argue with God. He didn t think it over and weigh the options. He followed God! It may be easy for us to think, if God told me to leave my home, to leave Slidell, to leave even the state of Louisiana to follow Him I would. Yet, when we think about the real situation Abram was in, we can see how tremendous his faith was. It is no wonder we read about Abraham in the New Testament in many places including Hebrews 11, described at times as the hall of faith because of the examples set by those listed. God chose to use Abram in many ways and Abram followed him. The first seven verses of Genesis 12 reveal the promises God makes to him. (Genesis 15:1-21 describes the promises as well.) What did God promise Abram? (He would become a great nation and receive land. He was promised seed, that his offspring would be as numerous as the stars, and was given divine blessing.) These promises were not all fulfilled in Abram s lifetime. Abram struggled against sin, as each of us does. He lied about being married to Sarah and even doubted God would give him a son. Yet through it all he grew in faith, he grew to know there is nothing too difficult for God. He learned God always keeps His promises! He grew to become a man of tremendous faith as we will learn about more in tomorrow s devotional after God changed his name to Abraham. December 19 Ornament: a fiery furnace The Exile Memory verse: Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord. Jeremiah 1:8 Scripture Reading: Daniel 3:19-29; Jeremiah 1:8 Additional Reading: 2 Kings 17:1-23; 25:1-17; Daniel 3; Isaiah 43:2; Jeremiah 1:8 Devotional: Idol worship was one of the main reasons God brought judgment on the children of Israel. But as we see in this passage, not everyone worshiped idols. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were brave young men and they loved God. They refused to worship a big idol (or statue) that King Nebuchadnezzar had built. They were probably afraid of what might happen to them, but it was far more important to them to obey and trust God than to give in to their fears or dishonor God. They knew God is the One who gives eternal life and strength in this life to overcome fears and temptations. God honored their faith by saving their lives! Then King Nebuchadnezzar saw what happened and he began to praise God too. Prayer Suggestions: Sometimes we are tempted to be afraid or do bad things. Ask God to make us strong like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to stand up and be counted for Him. Help us know that He is with us and will strengthen us. Prayer Suggestions: Pray for obedience in following God wherever He leads, and trust Him in all circumstances

11 December 18 Prophecy of the New Covenant Ornament: a heart with writing on it Memory verse: For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people, declares the Lord. Jeremiah 31:33 Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 31:31-34; Acts 16:31 Additional Reading: Deuteronomy 6:6-7; Hebrews 8-10 Devotion: A long time ago, God made a promise or covenant with the children of Israel. As long as they obeyed the Ten Commandments, God provided for them. But if they broke any of the laws, God punished them. That would be very hard to live by, and it was! After all, God knew none of us would be able to keep the entire law. But God still loved His children even though they continued to break His laws. So God decided to give them a new promise, or a New Covenant. He would write His law on their hearts. God sent His Son Jesus Christ, who was the only man to fulfill the law, to earth to save us from our sins, and when we believe and trust in Jesus to forgive our sin, He puts His law in our hearts. He also gives us the Holy Spirit who will be our Helper, who leads us and guides us and gives us strength. God gives us grace to help us in times when we need help (Hebrews 4:16). Prayer: Thank Him for the New Covenant which is written on our hearts. 30 December 5 Ornament: a lamb Isaac and the Lamb Memory verse: Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! John 1:29b Scripture Reading: Genesis 22:1-19; Isaiah 53:7; John 1:29; 1 Peter 1:19 Additional Reading: Genesis 22; John 1 Devotion: Abraham and Sarah had a child named Isaac just as the Lord had promised them. They loved Isaac very much, as God intends parents to love their children. What did God ask Abraham to do? (Yes, He asked him to take Isaac to the top of a mountain and offer him as a burnt sacrifice.) How was Isaac described in verse 2? (Abraham s son, his only son, the son whom Abraham loved ) Did Abraham argue with God? (No) Did he turn and try to hide like Adam and Eve? (No) What did Abraham do? (He obeyed God the next morning, gathered the materials he would need, and departed with Isaac as the Lord instructed him too.) As Abraham was about to offer Isaac as the sacrifice, what happened? (God told him to stop) What did God provide to Abraham and Isaac for the offering? (a ram) Why did God ask Abraham to offer Isaac as a sacrifice? (He was testing Abraham s heart.) In the Old Testament one of the animals which was sacrificed was a lamb. The lamb was sacrificed in order to cover sin and to pay the price for it. In the verses you read together as a family, who was going to be sacrificed? (Isaac) Abraham thought he would be sacrificing his son, Isaac, just as a lamb is sacrificed at times. In the Old Testament this type of sacrifice needed to be given once a 11

12 year, since the lamb was not enough to pay for all the sins the people would commit. Think about the description given in verse 2 (you may want to reread the verse). This verse describes Isaac, but who else does this description sound like? (Clue: Think John 3:16) God asked Abraham to do something that He knew He would have to do! Though unlike Abraham, whom God stopped from offering his son Isaac as a sacrifice, God s Son would be sacrificed! He would be described as a lamb who was led to slaughter, the Lamb of God, a lamb without blemish, etc. Unlike the lambs though, He would die once, paying for the sins of the world. God knew there was only one way we could be saved. Prayer Suggestions: Pray for a heart after God, being willing to obey and trust in all circumstances. Thank Him that He was willing to sacrifice His Son in our place. Ornament Tip: Have your child(ren) cut out a lamb. Glue cotton balls to body. 35 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, Behold, the Lamb of God! John 1: Devotion: It s amazing to think that God would love us so much that He would send His only Son, Jesus, who was perfect and never sinned, to die on the cross for us. It s as if Jesus was born to die! But that was God s plan. The Bible says in Hebrews 9:22 that without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. As we read in Isaiah 53, it was prophesied hundreds of years before Jesus was born that the Messiah (the Christ or Savior) would suffer and die for us. That by His wounds we would be healed (forgiven of our sin) and made right with God. Jesus willingly left heaven to be born as a human baby, grow up and become a man so that He could die on the cross for our sin. The Bible says that Jesus became sin on our behalf (2 Corinthians 5:21). That means all the sins of everyone in the whole world and everyone who would ever live were laid on Him while He was suffering and dying on the cross. Jesus willingly took the punishment for our sins; He took the punishment that we all deserve! Only Jesus could do this because He had never sinned. The cross symbolizes God s great love for us, and that Jesus Christ willingly died for our sins. But, that s not all God raised Jesus from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:3-4) and now Jesus is in heaven praying for us all the time! The Bible says that Jesus intercedes (prays) for us day and night (Hebrews 7:25). Like we read yesterday, our Lord will never leave us when we put our trust in Him. What a wonderful Savior, that He would be willing to suffer on the cross to make us right with God and give us eternal life! Prayer Suggestions: Thank God for the cross; suffering for us, taking the punishment we deserve. Ask Him to help you to live lives pleasing to Him. 29

13 A shepherd leads his sheep to green pastures where they get plenty to eat; he leads them to still waters where they can safely get a drink. The shepherd s staff is used to guide them or catch them if they fall. A shepherd keeps predators away from the sheep if a wolf tries to attack, the shepherd defends the sheep by fighting off the wolf! The sheep don t need to be afraid of anything because the shepherd is watching over them; just like we don t need to be afraid of anything because the Lord Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, is watching over us! Jesus is the Good Shepherd who came to die for us so that we can be forgiven of our sin. Have you trusted in the Good Shepherd to save you from your sin? Jesus came to die for us, but He didn t stay dead, and if we trust in Him, He has promised to never leave us (Hebrews 13:5-6). He will always be our Good Shepherd, watching over us and eventually bringing us to His kingdom in heaven where we ll live with Him forever. Prayer Suggestions: Praise and thank God for sending Jesus, His only Son, to die for our sin and be our Good Shepherd. Thank the Lord Jesus for being our Good Shepherd and watching over us now and forever, when we put our trust in Him. December 17 Ornament: a cross Prophecy of the Suffering Servant Memory verse: Just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. John 10:15 Scripture Reading: Isaiah 53; Luke 2:8-18; John 19:11-18; John 10:15 Additional Reading: Matthew 26:28; Hebrews 9:22; Romans 5:9, 10, and 1 Peter 1:1, December 6 Ornament: a ladder Jacob s Ladder Memory verse: Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. Genesis 28:15a Scripture Reading: Genesis 28:10-17 Additional Reading: Genesis 27:41-28:22 Devotion: Remember the promise that God made Abram (Genesis 12: 2-3; see Day Four)? Here God repeats that same promise to Abram s grandson Jacob, demonstrating that He has been faithful to fulfill His promise and that He will continue to be faithful. This was probably very encouraging for Jacob to hear at this time, since he was on the run from an angry brother and sleeping on a rock. Jacob is at a low point in his life, but God encourages him by telling him that He has chosen Jacob to be a part of the fulfillment of His covenant with Abraham. Did Jacob do anything to earn the Lord s favor? No, God chose Jacob over his brother for His own reasons that we could never even begin to guess! In fact, according to the world s standards, God should have chosen Jacob s older brother, Esau, to play this part in history. But God in His sovereignty chose Jacob, made Jacob into a great nation, and bestowed upon him the name Israel. It is, indeed, through Jacob and his offspring that all of the families of the earth are blessed; Jesus is part of this family line! Prayer Suggestions: Thank God for His everlasting faithfulness and praise Him for His sovereignty. Ask to always be reminded that He is with you, wherever you go. 13

14 December 7 Ornament: a colorful coat Joseph s Coat of Many Colors Memory verse: And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good Romans 8:28a Scripture Reading: Genesis 37:3-36; 50:18-21; Romans 8:28 Additional Reading: Genesis Devotion: Joseph did not get along very well with his brothers. For one thing, everyone could tell that Jacob, their dad, liked Joseph best because of that cool robe. Also, Joseph told his family about his dreams in which the rest of the family bowed down before him. This really made Joseph s brothers angry! In fact, they were so angry that they planned to kill Joseph! They changed their minds about killing Joseph, but decided to sell him as a slave. The brothers took Joseph s robe and dipped it in goat s blood to use as evidence that Joseph had been killed by a wild animal. Jacob believed that Joseph was dead, and Joseph was stuck as a slave in Egypt. But Joseph s story doesn t end there. Time and time again, God worked things out for Joseph so that eventually Joseph was a great leader in Egypt, preparing the nation for a horrible famine. The famine affected Joseph s family, too, and Jacob sent his sons to Egypt to ask for help. It was there that Joseph was reunited with his brothers, and Joseph was able to provide them with food and save their lives. Joseph understood that through all of his troubles God had been with him, working things out for good, and it was that knowledge that allowed him to forgive his brothers the evil that they had intended him. 14 As you put the dove and crown ornament on your tree play For Unto Us a Child is Born from Handel s Messiah and remember you are not just preparing for the birth of baby Jesus. You are preparing for the coming of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords who will reign forever and ever. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Prayer Suggestions: Thank God that He would send his Son to earth to be your Savior. Pray that we can be patient and continue to pray for our own leaders while we wait for God s eternal government of peace. December 16 Ornament: a staff Prophecy of a Gentle Shepherd Memory verse: My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27 Scripture Reading: Isaiah 40:9-11; Psalm 23:1-2; John 10:27 Additional Reading: Psalm 23; John 10:11-16 Devotion: When King David was a boy, he was a shepherd. He knew all that a shepherd does to protect his sheep. David wrote Psalm 23 because he thought of God just like a Good Shepherd. God loves, guides, and protects us when we put our trust in Him. Have you ever thought about what a shepherd does? A shepherd cares for his sheep completely. Without a shepherd to take care of them, the sheep would die! The shepherd keeps the sheep together with him. The sheep learn to know the shepherd s voice and they will only come when he calls. If someone else calls them, they will ignore the call. 27

15 Prayer Suggestions: Thank God that we can trust in His plan. Pray that as we celebrate Christ s birth we also remember He will be coming again. The Increase of His Government and of Peace December 15 Ornament: a dove and crown Memory verse: Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. John 14:27a Scripture Reading: Isaiah 9:6-7 Devotion: Isaiah 9:6 is one of the most famous prophecies of the Messiah. Remember Isaiah wrote this 700 years prior to Christ s actual birth, but it is a powerful and accurate description of the coming Savior. Read Isaiah 9:6 again, but this time at each reference look to see how this prophecy was fulfilled in Jesus. For to us a child is born (Luke 2:11), to us a son is given (1 John 4:14); and the government shall be upon his shoulder (Matthew 28:18), and his name shall be called (Matthew 1:23) Wonderful Counselor (Colossians 2:2-3), Mighty God (Romans 9:5), Everlasting Father (2 Peter 3:18), Prince of Peace (Romans 5:1). Remember the child s birth we celebrate this Christmas is the Son of God, the Prince of Peace, on whose shoulders a government shall rest like none we have ever seen. Earthly governments rise and fall, but Christ will establish a kingdom in the New Heaven and New Earth that will be perfect, peaceful and have no end (Isaiah 9:7). For Christ s new government will not be one established by men, but made by the zeal of the Lord. Again, God had demonstrated His faithfulness, continuing to fulfill the promise that He had made to Joseph s great-grandfather Abraham, to make his children into a great nation, and to bless all of the families of the earth through him. Prayer Suggestions: Praise God for His faithfulness and sovereignty, and ask to remember in difficult times that He is always with us. Pray for perseverance when things are hard. December 8 Moses and the Ten Commandments Ornament: a tablet with numbers Memory verse: I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:11 Scripture Reading: Exodus 32:15-18; 20:1-20; Psalm 119:11; Galatians 3:19 Additional Reading: Exodus 1-15; 20; 32:15-18 Devotion: God gave Moses two stone tablets, written with the finger of God (Exodus 31:18), on which were outlined a way to live that would serve as a sign, to both themselves and to other people, that God had chosen them as His people and that He would continue to be faithful to the promise that He had made their forefather Abraham. Trouble was, God s people from the very beginning found it impossible to keep His Law (they were breaking Commandments One and Two before Moses even made it down the mountain!), even when they remembered what it said (and they regularly forgot what the Law said)! 26 15

16 God knew that His people would fail to keep the Law, and He knew that they could never be perfect. So why would He bother with something so impossible? God wanted His people to know that they were sinners and completely unable to come to Him on their own. Their sin, our sin, from the time of Adam and Eve, keeps us separated from God, unable to approach Him and certainly unable to live with Him for all of eternity. There is nothing we can do to fix this situation; try as we might, we cannot be perfect. Only God Himself can bridge the gap between us and Him, and it is for this purpose that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, died on the cross, and rose from the grave! God gave His people His Law to make it exquisitely clear that they were, and still are, desperately in need of a Savior. Prayer Suggestions: Thank God for the gift of His Son, and seek His help to honor and obey Him. December 9 16 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. James 1:10 Canaan, the Promised Land of Blessings Ornament: a cluster of grapes Memory verse: Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits Psalm 103:2 Scripture Reading: Genesis 17:7-8, Numbers 13:1-2, 17-23, 27 Additional Reading: Numbers 13-14:38; 24:17 We live now in a fallen world. Because of their sin Adam and Eve were sent out of the peace and daily walking with God in the Garden of Eden and sent to toil the earth and face the challenges of our world (Genesis 3:17-23). But God s plan of salvation will result in the creation of a new Heaven and new Earth where peace will once again reign and believers in Christ will return to living with the Lord in His glory. That is the place that Isaiah is describing. The peace that Jesus will bring is sometimes described by saying, the lion will lie down with the lamb, but that expression is never mentioned in the Bible. The expression probably came from the actual prophecy of God we read in Isaiah 11:6: The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them. Natural enemies in this world will be living in peace in God s kingdom, without fear of being hurt or destroyed. Not only will peace reign, but also Isaiah 11:9 tells us the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord. That is what we have to look forward to: a world of peace filled with the knowledge of the Lord and His glory. And who will lead us to this peaceful place? Isaiah foretells of Jesus twice in this passage. A little child shall lead them (Isaiah 11:6) and the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples (Isaiah 11:10) are both references to the coming Messiah and how He will lead us to God s coming kingdom and reign there in glory. This Christmas we celebrate the birth of Jesus who has already died for our sins, but who will also come again to lead believers to the new Heaven and new Earth. 25

17 Isaiah 11:3-5 tells us more about what the Messiah will be like, but Isaiah 11:2 tells us why He is special. The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, and that Spirit brings with it wisdom and understanding, counsel and might, and knowledge and the fear of the Lord. Jesus is the descendant of man, but He is also fully God with all of His wisdom, knowledge and might. Christmas is not just another holiday. It is the fulfillment of God s promise, a celebration of the arrival of the Messiah, the birth of a baby born fully man, but also fully God. Jesus Christ, the prophesied Messiah, is a descendant of Jesse, but He is also the Spirit of the Lord. For only the God-Man would be able to fulfill God s promise for salvation for the world. Prayer Suggestions: Thank God for fulfilling all of His promises. Pray that you can fully understand the miracle of God s Word becoming flesh to be your Savior. Pray that you can help someone else understand that Christmas is more than a holiday. December 14 The Wolf Dwells With the Lamb Ornament: a wolf and a lamb Memory verse: Of Him shall nations inquire, and His resting place shall be glorious. Isaiah 11:10b Scripture Reading: Isaiah 11:6-10 Devotion: Isaiah not only prophesied about the arrival of the Messiah, but also about what Jesus will still accomplish. Isaiah 11:6-10 describes how Jesus will ultimately change the world by the creation of a new Heaven and a new Earth (Revelation 21:1-7). Devotion: God had promised Abraham that his descendants would be many, that through them everyone on earth would be blessed (referring to Jesus), and that Canaan would be their home. God repeatedly reminded His people of this promise, and many of them trusted in His faithfulness. Sadly, many others did not. The account in Numbers takes place after God had delivered the Israelites from bondage in Egypt. They witnessed the plagues that God brought on the Egyptians (Exodus 7-12); they saw the sea part before them (Exodus 14). God had been before them, leading them, in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night (Exodus 13: 21). He had provided them with water from a rock (Exodus 17:6) and food that condensed from the atmosphere (Exodus 16:13-14). The Lord had done great and mighty things on behalf of His people; surely He had demonstrated His faithfulness! Now God s people had arrived at the land that God had promised them, and it was everything He said it would be! Yet again, God had proven that He will keep His promises. There were some challenges ahead in taking possession of the land, but surely God s people would trust Him to take care of that. But God s people did not trust Him. Well, a few people remembered God s faithfulness, and they tried to convince the rest to do the same. But most of the people whined and complained and did not trust God. So God prevented the people from entering the land for another forty years. Nobody who was alive to complain was still alive when God s people finally entered the land He had prepared for them

18 It seems to be in our nature to forget to trust God. He has demonstrated His sovereignty and His love for us so many times, but it is so easy to doubt Him. We have to make a real effort to remember His faithfulness; we must read in His Word the truth of what He has done and pray regularly that we will remember to trust Him. Prayer Suggestions: Thank God for His faithfulness, and pray to remember to trust Him. December 10 Ornament: a sheaf of wheat Ruth and Boaz Memory verse: Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Ruth 1:16b Scripture Reading: Ruth 1:16, 2:5-17; 4:14-17; Matthew 1:5 Additional Reading: Ruth 1-4; Matthew 1:5 Devotion: Ruth gave up everything to follow Naomi to Bethlehem. She left her land, her friends, and any remaining family she might have had (we know of her sister-in-law, Orpah). The Book of Ruth also makes a point of mentioning that she was giving up her gods; Ruth was a pagan woman. We don t know for sure what her motivation was for doing all this, although it s clear she loved Naomi. Her declaration that your God (shall be) my God suggests that she made the decision to go to Bethlehem as much to leave behind false gods and embrace the one true God as to continue to be with her mother-in-law. Prayer Suggestions: Pray to follow Josiah s example and recommit to God s word. Pray that you will have opportunities and the ability to share God s word with others this Christmas and help them understand that Christ is also their Savior. December 13 The Branch will Bear Fruit Ornament: stump of Jesse with shoot Memory verse: And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. John 1:14a Scripture Reading: Isaiah 11:1-5 Devotion: The book of Isaiah was written by the prophet Isaiah who lived 700 years prior to the birth of Jesus. In chapter 11 Isaiah is describing (or prophesying) about the future Messiah. Isaiah 11:1 starts by telling us what family to expect the Savior to come from. A shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit, tells us to expect the Messiah from the descendants of Jesse. Do you remember who Jesse was? Jesse is famous for being the father of King David. In Matthew 1:5-6 we can find Jesse and King David listed in the ancestry of Jesus just as Isaiah prophesized. Notice how Jesse is described as a stump and the rest of the family tree is a shoot or branch, but Jesus, the Messiah, is the fruit on the branch. Like fruit is more than the branch, Jesus is much more than a man. He is God s Word made flesh and sent to live among us (John 1:14)

19 Josiah s story is one of individual redemption. When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes. (2 Kings 22:11) Understanding he had sinned against God, Josiah purged his kingdom of false idols and worked to have the kingdom of Judah live under God s law. King Josiah is one of the great kings of the Old Testament and a man who truly sought to follow God: Before him there was no king like him, who turned to the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses, nor did any like him arise after him. (2 Kings 23:25) But this is also a story of God s wrath. No matter how good Josiah was the people had sinned against God for years and they would receive His punishment. A prophet told Josiah what would happen to the people because of their sins, my wrath will be kindled against this place, and it will not be quenched. (2 Kings 22:17) Josiah was spared seeing the disaster God brought to Judea because of his obedience (2 Kings 22:17), but after Josiah s death Judea was put under the rule of terrible kings who, did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his fathers had done. (2 Kings 23: 29-37) Remember, Christmas and the birth of Christ is also a story of redemption and punishment. Jesus is born to be the Savior of the world, the God-Man who did not have to rediscover God s Word; He came to fulfill it. Christ s sinless life and sacrificial death was not to redeem Himself, but to save everyone that believes in Him (John 3:16). But God s punishment still exists for those who do not accept God s grace (Romans 6:23). Josiah saved his kingdom for a generation. Jesus saves everyone who believes. Whatever her initial motivation, whether love of motherin-law or love of God, Ruth committed herself to serving them both. There was no visible reward for doing either; as widows, Ruth and Naomi s prospects were dim, and Ruth was committing herself to a life of poverty in a foreign land. Ruth s righteous behavior earned her the admiration of Boaz, and, in deference to Naomi, Ruth proposed marriage (Boaz was so much older than Ruth was that it s not likely that he would have done it). Boaz accepted the role of kinsman-redeemer, and the two were married and had a son. Boaz redeemed Ruth in a way that is not unlike how we are redeemed by Christ; she was delivered from her former life and into a new one. Furthermore, Ruth is fully integrated into the family of God, so completely that she is the great-grandmother of King David and part of Jesus family line! Prayer Suggestions: Praise God that we are part of His family. December 11 Ornament: a gold crown The Unexpected King Memory verse: The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. Psalm 23:1 Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 16:1-13, 1 Samuel 17: 1-11, Devotion: After Saul, the first king of Israel had displeased God, the prophet Samuel was sent to the city of Bethlehem to find and anoint a new king. The Lord sent Samuel to the house of Jesse to find a king from among his sons

20 When Samuel examined Jesse s oldest son the Lord said in 1 Samuel 16:7, Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart. It is easy for us to also focus on outward appearances. When we worry too much about how we look or we judge others only by their appearance we are missing what God considers most important our heart. In Matthew 5:8, Jesus tells us, Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. If Samuel had followed his own judgment, he may have chosen Jesse s oldest son Eliab to be king. But Samuel waited for God s choice and found him where he was least expected, Jesse s youngest son, the little shepherd boy, David. As a boy David is famous for taking on the giant Goliath. King Saul and all his soldiers were frightened of the giant (1 Samuel 17:11,24). For forty days Goliath had challenged the army of Israel to choose a champion and again the choice would be someone no one expected: David, a boy who was only at the camp to bring food to his three oldest brothers who were serving in Saul s army (1 Samuel 17:17-18). David refused armor and a sword and faced Goliath with a shepherd s staff, a sling, 5 smooth stones, and, most importantly, his faith that the Lord would give him a victory (1 Samuel 17:37). David defeated the giant and the unexpected king became an unexpected champion who defeated the enemy in a way that surprised everyone. Understanding David s story helps us prepare our hearts to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, God s champion and the anointed King of Kings. A little baby born in a manger is not how anyone expected the Messiah to arrive and no one but God expected the battle over sin to be won by the Son of God dying on a cross for our sins. Jesus is the truly unexpected King, God s champion, who won the greatest victory not through battle, but by doing God s will and sacrificing himself. Prayer Suggestions: As you prepare for Christmas, pray that God will help you focus on what is truly important, God s love in your heart. Pray that you can have the faith and courage to stand up to the challenges that you will face. And pray that in all things you will seek God s will however unexpected it might be. December 12 Ornament: a scroll Josiah Finds the Law Memory verse: But Jesus said, Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it. Luke 11:28 Scripture Reading: 2 Kings 22: 1-2, 8, 10-13, Kings 23: 1-5, Devotion: King Josiah was a descendant of King David and is listed in the genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:10). Josiah lived over 600 years before the birth of Christ and became king when he was eight years old, ruling over Judea for 31 years. Before Josiah became king, God s people had turned away from Him, worshiping false idols and living against God s law. Josiah helped lead a revival in the land after scrolls with God s laws were discovered and he realized how evil his kingdom had become