As a boy, like most kids, Christmas brought with it the anticipation of gifts. Most years I was not disappointed. In fact I don’t recall a year that I didn’t feel blessed with all my gifts.
In my family there was a tradition that made the anticipation even stronger. We opened our gifts on Christmas Eve and just before that moment my dad would read the Christmas story from the Bible.
This was the tradition in many homes at the time, but it was also my dad’s way of reminding us and himself of what Christmas is all about.
The celebration of the time God became a man and lived among us. He did that so he could pay for our sins by dying on the cross. He rose from the dead and promised to come again.
By believing in Him we can have our sins forgiven and have eternal life.
I want to share with you some of the Bible verses we used to read.
Read them alone or with your family, or wherever you are.
Enjoy your gifts, the music, movies, and the food…but let the Bible verses remind you of the awesome reason we have this thing called Christmas.
Isaiah 9:6
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon[d] his shoulder,
and his name shall be called[e]
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Matthew 1:18-21 ESV
Now the birth of Jesus Christ[e] took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed[f] to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
Luke 2:8-20 (ESV)
And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”[d]
15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.