Last week I challenged you to complete a Christmas Reading Plan. The passage for the final day is Isaiah 9. This chapter illuminates a group of people who had been greatly suffering and a vow for that suffering to end. Isaiah was saying that God’s promises will be fulfilled and there will be great joy. A messiah will be born, and He will give them victory over all their troubles. He will come as a man so that He can relate to their sorrows but will live a perfect life so He can give the ultimate atonement for their sins.

He will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. Unlike the Israelites, we do not have to wait for this promise to be fulfilled. Jesus was born! He is the King of kings and Lord of lords. He has taken our sin and replaced it with His mercy and grace. His love is so great there is literally nothing that can separate you from Him. I pray that as you go about your busy holiday, you remember that this is the real reason we celebrate. To thank and worship the God who saved us. 

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Day 4 of the Christmas Reading Plan is Luke 2. This is one of my favorite chapters in the Bible. Can you imagine being a shepherd just tending to your sheep on an average night when suddenly, an angel was standing in front of you to give you the incredible news that the long-awaited for Messiah had just been born?! Then thousands more angels appeared in the sky and started praising God! What a sight that must have been.

These things really happened; they aren’t just some story! Everyone knew the Messiah was going to come but no one knew when. I want to take a break from our Christmas messages to remind you that Jesus is coming again. And, just like in the Christmas story, He will come in an instant at a time no one knows. It is imperative that you are ready and waiting for Him. The Bible says to be alert, have self-control, show faith, love, and hope, encourage each other, give each other strength, and share the good news. What a glorious day that will be for Christians and I pray I am alive to witness it! See less

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Matthew 2 is the chapter for Day 3 of the Christmas Reading Plan. What a beautiful picture of faithful and obedient people! First the magi, who traveled hundreds of miles to follow a star and worship a child. Then of Joseph, who trusted the Lord when He told him to take his family to Egypt instead of back to their home and families.

Moses and Jesus had many similar experiences as children. The Israelites had experienced 400 years of bondage before Moses came along. The Israelites had experienced 400 years of silence before Jesus came along. Both were Levites. Both were born during a time of oppression. Both were hidden as babies because someone wanted them dead. Both survived an order by the king to kill all baby boys under the age of 2. Both were royalty even though they were born into humble families. And both came out of Egypt to redeem their people. (There are WAY more similarities if you compare their lives – I encourage you to study it if you haven’t done so before).
My favorite verse in this chapter says, “Where is the one who has been born King of the Jews? We saw His star when it rose and have come to worship Him.”
Worship. That is the true purpose of the season. 

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Tuesday’s chapter for the Christmas Reading Plan is Matthew 1. I love how this chapter is first in our Bibles (even though it wasn’t the first gospel written) because the genealogy at the beginning is like God is saying, “I’ve been silent for 400 years, but I am ready for this story to continue”. Matthew was Jewish and was primarily writing to the Jewish people to help them understand how Jesus was the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecy. This was the main purpose for the genealogy, to clearly relate him to some of the greatest men and women in history and demonstrate His right to the throne.

There were three steps to a marriage in those days. First, the couple would get engaged. This was often arranged by the parents. Then would come the betrothal. This made the engagement legally binding. It would last about one year and could only be canceled through a divorce. Finally, the actual wedding would occur, and the couple would be officially married and ready to start their lives together. Mary and Joseph were in the betrothal stage. I can only imagine Joseph’s surprise at Mary’s pregnancy. He was a good man and was willing to quietly divorce her to save her shame and embarrassment. He was also a faithful man because when the angel of the Lord spoke to him, He trusted God and went forward with the marriage.
My favorite thing in this chapter is how the angel said people would call Jesus “Immanuel”. This name means “God with us”. God never left the Israelites, but He couldn’t come to them the same way He can now come to us. This is the most important thing to celebrate this season.

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Today’s chapter in the “5 Day Christmas Reading Plan” is Luke 1. My favorite verse in this chapter is “for no word from God will ever fail”. Since the beginning of time, all of creation has waited for this moment – the moment God’s promises would be fulfilled through the birth of His Son, Jesus Christ.

I can only imagine the surprise of the men and women chosen to participate in this incredible privilege. Zacharias, who was serving in the temple and suffered from some unbelief. Elizabeth, who thought her chances of becoming a mother were long past. And Mary, the young woman who was going to miraculously give birth to the savior of the world.

What an incredible time to be alive! God made a promise, and His word never fails. That statement was true then and is still true today. Is there any better reason to celebrate this Christmas?

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