Week Five

As Christmas draws near, lets focus on the Redemption that we have because of Jesus. Redemption is a gift that God desires us and the whole world to receive. As you spend time in this week’s readings and activities reflect on the meaning of Christmas and how we are redeemed because of His good gift.

Every Good Gift Prayer Box

As a family or in your own quiet time, grab 2 small pieces of paper and write down a sentence or phrase that answers the following:

How have you seen God’s redemptive work in your life this year?  Where have you seen God actively redeeming you (or someone you know) from sin?  Write it down and celebrate it.

What are some areas in your life where you desire to see more of God’s redemptive work? Write them down and pray about them.

Place those pieces of paper in the box to be opened on Christmas day.

Redemption

Luke 2:22-38

As two young parents come to Jerusalem to present their young son to the Lord (as was the custom of their people and their day), they encounter two people in the temple that God uses to reveal the gift that is Jesus. God reveals to an old righteous man named Simeon and an old prophetess named Anna that Jesus is a gift not only to his parents and his people, but to the entire world. Jesus is the gift of God’s redemption; His salvation; a light to the world and glory for God’s people.

Mary and Joseph went to present their son according to the Laws of Moses, bringing Jesus to the temple to offer sacrifices to God and to have Him dedicated before the Lord. Yet, little did they know that God had a surprise in store for them. God was once again going to remind Mary and Joseph of the truth of who Jesus was and how Jesus was coming to be the ultimate gift for all people.

Simeon is an elderly man who had lived a good and righteous life. He had dedicated himself to the ways of God and had received a Word from God that he would see God’s promised messiah before he died. God drew him to the Temple that day and Simeon’s heart was filled with praise at the sight of Jesus. Taking Jesus up in his arms, Simeon rejoiced at the fulfillment of God’s promise to His people. His longing for deliverance, joy, help, mercy and peace were all fulfilled in the redemption brought by this child. Simeon was beholding God’s great salvation!

In the same fashion, a prophetess named Anna was also in the temple that day as was her habit – constantly praying and worshiping there before the Lord. Just as with Simeon, God revealed to Anna the truth of who Jesus was, leading her to speak of Him to all who were waiting for the redemption of God’s people. All of Anna’s hopes and longings were coming true before her very eyes, and it led her to praise her God and to proclaim his goodness for all to hear.

We have a similar opportunity as we remember the gift that is Jesus and as we realize that this gift is no longer a hope but a reality. Jesus has come! He is our salvation, our light and our redemption! And now we have the opportunity to praise God for all that He has done in and through Jesus; for the truth that He has saved us and that He is redeeming us from our sin and our brokenness. Together, we have the opportunity to proclaim this good news to all who would hear it: that Jesus is the ultimate gift of redemption, salvation and truth.

Family Activity

Merry Christmas! Spend some time this week celebrating the greatest gift by looking at Christmas lights together.
Ask your family:

What makes looking at lights so special?

What is it about light that makes life better?

What would life be like if there were no light in the world?

What would happen to us?

How does this make you grateful for Jesus who, God says, came to be the light of the world?

For some extra fun as you head out to look at the lights, make a game of it by looking for these 10 specific decorations:

A house with all white lights

A house with only red and white lights

An inflatable snowman

A wooden nativity scene

A candy cane trail

A Disney themed house

The Grinch

A snow globe

Musical lights

A Charlie Brown Christmas tree

On Christmas Eve, before opening presents or leaving out the milk and cookies, read Luke 2:1-38 together. Spend some focused time in prayer as a family thanking God for all the gifts He’s given you, but most of all thank Him for Jesus: the greatest gift ever given.

Daily Reading