Rend Collective - Campfire Christmas DevotionalSample

“Ding Dong Merrily On High” Devotional
Rend Collective

Ding dong merrily on high
the curse of sin is broken
ding dong open up your eyes
the celebration’s starting!

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.” - John 3:16-17 (NIV)

Remember what it felt like as a child seeing snow for the first time of the year— or maybe even the first time ever? You put on your brightly coloured coat and scarf, maybe some too-big-for-you mittens, and ran outside with your mum calling out for love of all that’s good, to please put your hat on?

There was an undignified joy that accompanied it all: free falling into the snow to carve out angels’ wings, taking big steps with clumsy boots and licking icicles like sweets.

Sometimes I think we need to welcome Christmas more like we’re celebrating the first snow, and less like we’re welcoming a political dignitary. Because the truth we celebrate at Christmas is the absolute best news we’ll ever hear. The curse of sin is broken through Jesus— forever! The world is no longer bound to condemnation or separation from God, but we get to know him personally in this life and the next.

And while we would never take Jesus’ sacrifice lightly, we feel like the only adequate response to such joyous news is to let out all the undignified and childlike wonder within us! Through Jesus’ birth here on earth, we’re all invited into the family of God. We’re no longer slaves, but sons and daughters!

So this year, open up the eyes of your heart! Celebrate the joy we have through Jesus the Messiah our world has been waiting for since the Garden of Eden! And find peace in the knowledge that you’ve been unconditionally loved and brought into the family of God the Father.

What things keep you from experiencing this truth at Christmas time? What sorts of distractions call you away from believing the hope that is yours through Jesus’ birth? Today do something childlike to celebrate the birth of Jesus— let joy be your anthem!