A Christmas Devotional
These are mainly verses and a quote on the joy of Christ coming and what it means:
“For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” 2 Cor.4:6
What God has done for us through Christ:
“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” Eph. 2:4-7
What love the Father has bestowed on us because of Christ’s coming:
“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” 1 John 3:1-3
What a wonderful position we are in because of Christ:
“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” Col. 3:1-4
What we look forward to because of Christ:
“As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.” Psalm 17:5
A quote by Samuel Rutherford that puts things into perspective:
“When we shall come home and enter to the possession of our Brother’s fair kingdom, and when our heads shall find the weight of the eternal crown of glory, and when we shall look back to pains and sufferings; then shall we see life and sorrow to be less than one step or stride from a prison to glory; and that our little inch of time-suffering is not worthy of our first night’s welcome home to heaven.” The Loveliness of Christ by Samuel Rutherford. pp 16
All this because God commanded the light to shine out of the darkness to show His glory through Christ. And we have that! Back to our opening verse:
“For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” 2 Cor.4:6
No matter how hard your sufferings here on earth. Let that light shine in your hearts and draw you upwards to Him and all the wonder that is to come!