22 D E CE MB E R
A REAL CHRISTMAS
Lord Jesus, heaven’s Champion and mighty Warrior, strengthen me today for the challenges that lie ahead. You make me brave because I know You stand with me. Amen
E PHESI ANS 6 : 10-18 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled round your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 10
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 18
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quotation in our church’s Advent devotional guide caused me to rethink my approach to Christmas: “Let us at all costs avoid the temptation to make our Christmas FALL AND RISING OF worship a withdrawal from the stress and sorrow of life into a realm of unreal beauty. It MANY IN ISRAEL, AND was into the real world that Christ came, into FOR A SIGN WHICH the city where there was no room for Him, and into a country where Herod, the murderWILL BE SPOKEN er of innocents, was king. AGAINST. LUKE 2:34 “He comes to us, not to shield us from the harshness of the world but to give us the courage and strength to bear it; not to snatch us away by some miracle from the conflict of life, but to give us peace—His peace—in our hearts, by which we may be calmly steadfast while the conflict rages, and be able to bring to the torn world the healing that is peace.” When Mary and Joseph presented the infant Jesus to the Lord, Simeon said to them: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too” (LUKE 2:34-35). Christmas is not a retreat from reality but an advance into it alongside the Prince of Peace who gives us His armour “so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground” (EPHESIANS 6:13). o DAVID C. MCCASLAND
THIS CHILD IS DESTINED FOR THE
Read today’s passage again. How does Christ’s coming to save you and give you His armour help you have the confidence to say with Paul, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31)
Thank You, Jesus, for being my strength and my armour. You know the battles I face today; please lead me through, protected by Your righteousness and held by Your strong right arm.
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