Morning Devotional:
Around dusk last Wednesday evening I was sitting on my front porch when I saw this bright star shining in the eastern sky. It was the only star in the sky at the time, it was bright and it was gorgeous.
As I sat there staring at it I recalled the story in Matthew chapter two where the Magi said to King Herod, “Where is he who has been born King of the Jews? We have seen His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” My mind then jumped to a story thirty some years later in John chapter four, where a Samaritan woman asked a man at the local well where the proper place was for her people to go and worship the Lord.
It was that theme of worship that lingered with me as I sat watching that star in the sky. How far did those Magi travel to seek out the object of their worship? And how troubled must that Samaritan woman have been about where she had to go to offer proper worship only to find that the object of her worship was standing in front of her? I think that is the most wonderful thing about the coming of Jesus Christ, and the celebration of Christmas. It’s our reminder that we don’t have to wonder if we’re in the right place to worship Him, or search for Him at all. He is right where we are as our Immanuel, our God with us.
– Beth
Burning Question:
What’s the Christmas present you’ll always remember?
Bible Quiz:
Question: Who were the first twins mentioned in the Bible?
Answer: Jacob and Esau (Genesis 25:23-26)
Storytime: White Elephant gift exchanges can be hard for kids!