Christmas Eve | JOY for Today

Sometimes the build-up to Christmas is not joyful. In fact, the Christmas of the Bible was shocking, confusing, heartbreaking, and dangerous. But even in these moments, when emotions overwhelm us, if we choose to seek God's presence, recognize His truth, and respond in obedience, we open the door for His eternal JOY.

Christmas Eve | December 24th Annually

JOY for Today Offerings:

• Did You Know... Facts about Jesus' birth.
• Wolfe Stew Connects To recognition and obedience.
• Bible Verses and Quotes Related to Jesus' birth.
• Activity Suggestions Christmas Eve service, movies, snacks, questions, and family challenge.

UPCOMING HOLIDAYS: 

• Christmas (December 25th Annually)
• New Year's Day (January 1st Annually)
• Thank Goodness It's Monday Day (January's First Monday)

Did You Know:

1. To fully understand the magi's journey, we have to start nearly a thousand years before Christ's birth? Balaam, a prophet during the time of the exodus, blessed Israel. Part of his blessing spoke of a star from Jacob and a scepter from Israel. From knowledge of this star's foretelling, and likely also prophecies in Daniel, the ancient astrologers recognized the truth revealed and began their journey to Jerusalem. Out of obedience to recognition of truth, these magi witnessed fulfillment of prophecy more than a thousand years in the making. (Numbers 24:17, Daniel 9:25, Matthew 2:1-11, Got Questions)
2. Mary accepted her unexpected pregnancy with submission? There was fear: "She was startled" and Gabriel's response, "Don't be afraid." There was confusion: "How can this be? I'm a virgin". But in the end, submission: "I am the Lord's servant. Let everything you've said happen." In recognition of truth and God's abilities, Mary chose obedience. Through her obedience, Light came from darkness. (Luke 2:26-38)
3. John the Baptist started preparing the way of the Lord before his birth? Mary's cousin, Elizabeth, was barren but God enabled her to become pregnant. The miracle of Elizabeth's pregnancy was revealed to Mary to help her understand that nothing is impossible with God. We know Elizabeth's baby as John the Baptist, who in recognition of the truth about Jesus, lived a life of obedience. His obedience, beginning with the obedience of his parents, prepared the way of the Lord. (Luke 1:5-25 Luke 1:35-37, Matthew 3)
4. Joseph nearly divorced Mary? After realizing Mary was pregnant with a child not his own, Joseph, in adherence to the law, considered divorce. But out of recognition of truth revealed by an angel in a dream, he awoke and chose to obey. In obedience, he took Mary home as his wife.(Deuteronomy 22:20&21; 24:1; & Matthew 1:18-25)
5. The wisemen never saw baby Jesus in a manger? By the time they met Jesus, Mary and Joseph were living in a house in Bethlehem. Jesus could have been as old as two when the wisemen worshipped Him. And, his life was in danger. King Herod ordered every male child two and under to be killed after learning exactly when the star rose from the wisemen. However, after recognizing the truth about Herod revealed in a dream, they returned to their country by another route. The wisemen's obedience prolonged Jesus' earthly life. (Learn Religions & Matthew 2:1-16)

We'd Love to Know:   

Which story of recognition and obedience interests you most?

Wolfe Stew Connects

Christmas Eve, to many, is nearly as important of a day as Christmas. It's the day before the big event. In many ways, I always preferred Christmas Eve to Christmas. We would all don our new Christmas outfits, attend Christmas Eve service, sing our favorite Christmas carols, watch the annual reenactment of the nativity, then return home to open one present, watch movies, and snack on Christmas treats. 

Christmas Eve was the build-up, Christmas the sigh of fulfillment. 

But, when Jesus was born, there was no widespread anticipation, and few felt a sigh of fulfillment. Instead of holiday lights and cheerful singing, overlooked shepherds gathered around a manger. There was no preparation, only obedience and recognition. 

And that is what we still need today. We need to recognize and celebrate Our Savior, Jesus, by choosing to obey the way He lights for us in His Word. That is the preparation. 

So, this Christmas Eve, instead of planning for perfection, let's commit to finding Him in every moment - even the imperfect ones; instead of attending every event, let's set aside time to learn how He is asking us to obey; instead of fretting over finding the perfect gift, let's truly accept Him as the only perfect gift.

In response:

1. Do these three things:
1. Begin the practice of finding God by in every moment by reflecting on the worst part of today. 
2. Plan time alone with God on Christmas Eve and schedule an alternate time because life happens. Commit to keeping it. 
3. With each thought of presents reflect on His presence and thank the Father above for His good and perfect gift (James 1:17).
2. Wrap up Proverbs 31 with us as you wrap your Christmas gifts. Last week, we began the work of memorization. Next week, we will interpret the whole poem from varying perspectives. 

Bible Verses and Quotes 

Bible Verses 

• "And [Mary] gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn." - Luke 2:7 ESV
• "So [the shepherds] hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger." - Luke 2:16 EHV
• "Every good action and every perfect gift is from God. These good gifts come down from the Creator of the sun, moon, and stars. God does not change like their shifting shadows. God decided to give us life through the word of truth. He wanted us to be the most important of all things he made." - James 1:17-18 ICB
• 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 ESV
• "Loving God means obeying his commands. And God's commands are not too hard for us." - I John 5:3-4 ICB

Quotes

• "There was no pomp and ceremony in connection with the birth of Jesus - rather the opposite: it took place in simplicity and poverty." - Keith O'Brien
• "God goes to those who have time to hear him - and so on this cloudless night he went to simple shepherds." - Max Lucado
• "This is what Jesus did for all mankind. He reached down from Heaven by giving Himself to us - a people in great need of a relationship with their God and Maker." - Billy Graham
• "The birth of Jesus made possible not just a new way of understanding life but a new way of living it." - Frederick Buechner
• "I see worship is the obedience of Mary, Joseph, and the Magi before the arrival of the Christ child. The example of loving God through everyday actions, not just grand gestures." - Marie Osborne

We'd Love to Know:

Which verse or quote will you ponder this Christmas Eve?

Activity Suggestions

Attend a Christmas Eve Service

If you do not already have a local church where you attend, or a preferred online church, we invite you to attend our Christmas Eve service that is broadcast live online with us. There are six choices for service times on either Saturday or Sunday. Hopefully one works with your schedule. If not, the messages are posted on the website and also shared as a podcast and YouTube channel for you to attend at your convenience.

Spend Time Alone with God

That's it. I'm not going to link devotionals, worship songs, or suggested prayers. I just ask that you seek to understand where He's asking you to accept that you have strayed from walking in obedience to Him.

Watch Favorite Christmas Movies

Our favorites to consider adding to your list:

• The Mr.'s: It's a Wonderful Life
• The Mrs.'s: Miracle on 34th Street
• Our Nephew's: Christmas Chronicles
• Our Brother's: The Santa Clause

And if none of these strike your fancy, check out this list of 100 Christmas favorites.

Share Favorite Snacks

Our favorites:

• The Mr.'s: A cheese ball with crackers
• The Mrs.'s: A chip dip made by adding cream cheese and Rotel to browned sausage
• Our Nephew's: Glazed sugar cookies
• Our Brother's: Muddy buddies

For more options view this list.

Discuss "Would You Rather..." Questions

• Attend Christmas Eve service in-person or online?
• Watch Christmas movies or play Christmas themed games?
• Eat only sweet or savory snacks all night long?

These questions are unique to this post. If you would like three "Would You Rather...?" questions for every December day, download this Wolfe Stew PowerPoint or get it (for free!) at our TPT store.

Take on the Family Challenge

Commit to spending some time together this Christmas Eve, but also some time apart and alone with God.

We'd Love to Know:

Your favorite Christmas Eve activity suggestion.

We’re excited to share one more day with you and wish you JOY for Today and HOPE for Tomorrow. 

Your Partners in JOY Finding,

Sample these related posts:

To think about Christmas.

To snack on chocolate chip cookies.

To rate yourself on a scale of Herod to herald.

To consider giving and relationships.
To start thinking about the New Year.

Find even more JOY for Today in our monthly calendars, holiday, and seasonal posts.

*Image credit: Shepherding Livestock by Patrick Schneider at Unsplash