The following excerpt, taken from The 25 Days of Christmas by James Merritt, seeks to joyfully point you and your family back to the true reason for the season—Jesus’ birth. Experience richer joy and deeper peace as you discover what Christmas is really about, starting on December 1. This devotional is day 14 of 25.
Three for the Price of One
Luke 2:8-14
I’ve always loved a good bargain. If I’m out shopping and a sign tells me I can get “three for the price of one,” I’m going to stop and look, and if it’s really a good deal, there’s a good chance I’ll be buying three even if I didn’t need one in the first place! We’ve heard many times that Jesus is the best gift of all, and while that’s absolutely true, it’s easy for those words to start to sound a little cliché and for us to become desensitized to just how true they are. When I think of the gift of Jesus, I remind myself that He’s not just one gift, but “three for the price of one.” One of the most well-known Christmas songs of all time, “Hark! the Herald Angels Sing,” perfectly summarizes the three gifts that Jesus brought to the world when he was born.
“Joyful, all ye nations rise.” The first gift Jesus brought was joy. Anyone who’s ever celebrated a new baby understands the joy that surrounds the birth of a new life, and Jesus’s birth was no different. The angel immediately proclaimed “good news of great joy”—and not just for his mother and father. All people everywhere would experience great joy because of his birth. That tells us a lot about the kind of Father God is to us. Yes, God cares about our righteousness, but he also desperately wants to offer us real, lasting joy—the kind that can’t be jeopardized by changes in our economic status, employment, possessions, or relationships.
“God and sinners reconciled.” The second gift the angel announces is hope. “Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” To a world of sinners, doomed since Eden to die for our sins, a Savior has come. No longer do we need to fear death; no longer does our sin have to separate us from the God who loves us. He has made a way for us to be reconciled with him—he has sent a Savior.
“Peace on earth and mercy mild.” Finally, the angel is joined by a vast number of heavenly messengers who sing, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace.” In the current age of conflict and violence, peace may feel like a foreign concept. We wince every day when we turn on the news, afraid of what new attack or threat we’ll hear about. When Jesus came, he brought the internal peace of knowing we are loved by God and reconciled to him. He also brought hope for peace with the world around us as we respond to violence by sharing the lasting peace we’ve found in Christ.
The angel wasn’t just making a birth announcement, but advertising an unbelievable three-in-one gift of joy, hope, and peace, given by God to anyone who wants it. When we receive Jesus, we’re receiving everything we could ever want, and that’s why he is truly the best gift of all.
Father God, thank you for the incredible gift you gave us in your Son, and thank you for the gifts of joy, hope, and peace found in him. May our joy this season remind us that you are a good Father. Help us to be mindful of the hope for salvation we have in Jesus. And help us to find ways to share the peace we have in you with the world around us this Christmas. Amen.
Give Thanks
The birth of Jesus gives us many gifts to be thankful for, and just as we want to acknowledge and appreciate every one, so we should also show our appreciation for the gifts we receive from friends and family. Purchase or create some Christmas-themed note cards and write some thank-you notes to some of the people in your life. Younger children can draw pictures of what they’re thankful for, and parents or
older siblings can add a note. Thank grandparents for their support and love in your lives, for coming
to soccer games or choir concerts, or having your favorite snack when you visit. Thank teachers for the
time they spend preparing lessons and the personal interest they take in each of their students. Thank
church staff for their service and their leadership in your spiritual life.
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Make Christmas even more meaningful this December—one day at a time.
The 25 Days of Christmas, by James Merritt, will take you on an unique 25-day journey to Christmas, offering new perspectives and practical application centered on the birth of Jesus Christ. As you and your family unravel the nativity story and learn how it affects us today, may you never forget the joy, hope, and peace found in His promises.
Share this with your family and celebrate the wonderful gifts King Jesus has given us this Christmas season!
Learn more about this Christmas devotional and how to purchase here.
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