Rejoice that God Sent his Son – Family Devotion – December 21, 2020

Read: Luke 1:26-38

You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.
Luke 1:31

Rejoice that God Sent his Son

 

Family Devotion – December 21, 2020

Devotion based on Luke 1:31

See series: Devotions

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

When kids are little, they often want something right now, but often they just need to wait. One mom asked her impatient children, “What’s Grandma’s word?”

They’d sigh and reply, “Patience.”

And then they’d wait.

When you’re reading the book of Luke, the story of an angel appearing to Mary comes so close to the story of Jesus’ birth that it seems like Mary didn’t have to be patient. Actually, when the angel told Mary she’d have a baby, Mary had to wait about nine months until Jesus was born.

You want to know how long nine months is? That’s how long it’s been since COVID-19 began to shut down our country. How much have you done since then? School online or in person. You’ve played in the backyard, done puzzles, watched a lot of movies, read books, played basketball, listened to music, went to the beach, taken a walk. Maybe you even went on a small trip.

Nine months was a long time for Mary to patiently wait. But she waited, God kept his promise, and Jesus was born.

You know what? The truth is that people had to wait a whole lot longer than nine months for this baby. After Adam and Eve first sinned and God promised he’d send a Savior, believers waited 4,000 years for the Savior to arrive. While they wanted the Savior right now, God was telling them, “Patience.” God knew when the time would be right to send the one who would save us from our sins.

He knew the exact right time to send Jesus to take our place, to live perfectly for us, to endure pain and suffering and death for us. Three days later he rose from the dead to defeat Satan—and give us the victory.

You know what else? We are still waiting for Jesus to come back again. At that time, Jesus will come to take us to heaven with him. Sometimes we want him to come right now, but God knows when the time is right.

So rejoice! Be happy! Be patient. God sent his Son once, and he will send him again.

Closing Prayer:

Dear God, thank you for always acting when the time is right. Thank you for sending your Son the first time to save us from our sins. Give us patience while we wait for you to come again so that we can all live together in heaven.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

  • Why is waiting for Christmas so hard?
  • Until Jesus comes again, how does he want us to wait? (Hint: “What’s Grandma’s word?”)

Questions for Elementary Age Children

  • Name two promises God gave you.
  • How have you have seen God keep those promises—even if it took a while?

Questions for Middle School and Above

  • Discuss a time when weren’t happy that you had to wait, but God’s timing turned out better than yours.
  • What promise of God means the most to you and why. Talk about how you have seen him keep that promise.

Hymn: CW 59:1,4 – Christ the Lord to Us is Born

Christ the Lord to us is born, Alleluia!
On this joyous Christmas morn, Alleluia!
Refrain:
Of a virgin lowly, He, the King most holy,
Born this day to save us.

God has saved us through his Son, Alleluia!
Conquered lies the evil one, Alleluia!
Refrain

 

Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship.
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
Print Friendly, PDF & Email