The Christmas QuestSample

Day 1 – A Long-Expected Party
Isaiah 7:14, Micah 5:2, and Isaiah 9:6

In seventh grade, I went to the theater to see The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, and I was blown away. I fell in love with the world Tolkien created, and before The Two Towers came out in December of 2002, I set out to read the trilogy myself!

The first part of that epic adventure is set in the small village of Hobbiton in the Shire. There, the hobbits gather excitedly for Bilbo Baggins’ one hundred and eleventh birthday. The long-awaited day had finally come. Gandalf the Grey arrives in Hobbiton with magical fireworks, music, banners, and tables spread across the green grass. The entire town comes together to celebrate with joy.

In a similar way, the Jewish people longingly waited for their promised Savior. God had foretold long ago that through the line of David, in the town of Bethlehem, a child would be born—Immanuel, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. A child who would save them from their oppressors.

Little did they know that God was not speaking of political or military oppressors, but of their spiritual oppressors: sin and death. In today’s readings, we will look at three Old Testament prophecies that foretold the coming of Jesus. Ancient Jews clung to these promises with hope, believing that God would deliver them. The long-expected arrival of this child is what we celebrate every Christmas. Yet the holiday can so easily be crowded with activity that we risk missing the true reason for our joy.

So we are inviting you—and your family—to join us over the next seven days as we approach Christmas morning. Take a few moments each day to step away from the gifts, the parties, the eggnog, and the ugly sweaters, and grow in anticipation with us for the Bethlehem baby to be born. Let’s recapture the true meaning of Christmas, and like the small village of Hobbiton preparing for Bilbo’s birthday, let’s prepare our hearts for the long-expected Savior.

Family Devo - Waiting for the Party

Have you ever had a birthday party that you just couldn’t wait for? Maybe you counted down the days, imagined the cake, the balloons, and who would come celebrate with you. Waiting for something exciting can feel like forever!

A long time ago, God’s people were waiting for the most exciting promise of all. God had told them that one day a Savior would come….someone who would rescue them from sin and bring peace. They had zero clue when it would happen, but they kept hoping and waiting.

Finally the day came, a baby was born in Bethlehem, it was like the best party surprise ever! That baby was JESUS! The promise had come true. That’s why we celebrate Christmas, not just for presents or fun traditions, but because Jesus was born, just like God promised!

Family Question 💬
What is something you’ve had to wait a long time for? How did it feel when it finally happened?

Apply it 🎯
There are so many distractions that can pop up over the next week that try to get us to forget the importance of Jesus’ birth. To combat that, take some time each morning to say a thank you to God for the birth of His son. “God, Thank you for Jesus today. Amen” Let a different family member say it every morning (or day)!