Christmas – Day by Day

Written by Betty Free

December 20 – Coming soon!

“God sent the angel Gabriel to (Mary). The angel said to her, ‘Don’t be afraid, Mary, because God is pleased with you. Listen! You will give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus’” (Luke 1:26, 30-31).

In five days we’re going to celebrate Jesus’ birthday! Many months before Jesus was born, God sent an angel to Mary. She was very surprised. Mary was even more surprised when she heard the angel’s message from God! She must have been afraid, too, because Gabriel told her she didn’t need to be.

What was God’s message to Mary?

Dear God, thank You that the Bible tells us all about the time when your Son, Jesus, was born. Amen.

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December 21 – I’ll do it!

“Mary said, ‘I am the servant girl of the Lord. Let this happen to me as you say!’ Then the angel went away” (Luke 1:38).

When Mary hear the angel’s message, she wondered what it meant. Gabriel explained that Mary was going to be the mother of God’s very own Son, Jesus! Mary knew this wouldn’t be easy because people wouldn’t understand. But she told the angel that she would be God’s servant. She would do whatever God wanted her to do.

What did Mary agree to do? Why?

Dear God, thank You that Mary did what You wanted her to do. Help me to do the things You want me to do. Amen.

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December 22 – A husband for Mary

“An Angel of the Lord came to [Joseph] in a dream. The angel said, ’ … Don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife. The baby in her is from the Holy Spirit.’” (Matthew 1:20).

Joseph heard that Mary was going to have a baby. He didn’t know what to do because he wasn’t the father. But God wanted Joseph to take care of baby Jesus. So God sent an angel in a dream. The angel said that Mary’s baby came from the Holy Spirit of God. The angel said that it was okay for Joseph to let Mary be his wife. So he did!

What was God’s message to Joseph?

Dear God, thank You for helping Joseph believe Your message. Help me to believe what You say in the Bible. Amen.

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December 23 – A long trip

“The emperor of Rome…made a law that all the people should be counted. Everyone was told to go back to the home of this ancestors to be registered.” (Luke 2:1, 3).

Joseph and Mary lived in the town of Nazareth. But King David had been born in Bethlehem. He was one of Joseph’s ancestors, a relative who had lived many years before. So Joseph and Mary had to go to Bethlehem to be counted. The trip seemed very long to Mary, who was going to have her baby soon.

Why did Joseph and Mary go to Bethlehem?

Dear God, thank You that it’s almost time to celebrate your birthday. Amen.

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December 24 – A place to stay

“There were no rooms left in the inn” (Luke 2:7).

Have you ever taken a trip? Maybe you stayed in a cabin or at your grandma’s house or at a motel. In the town of Bethlehem there was an inn for travelers. It had many rooms, but the rooms were filled with people when Mary and Joseph came. The only place left for them to stay was a stable. That’s where the animals stayed. So Mary and Joseph had to go where their donkey went!

Why couldn’t Mary and Joseph stay at the inn?

Dear God, I’m glad Mary and Joseph found a place to stay, even if it was just a stable. Amen.

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December 25 – The best gift

“The time came for (Mary) to have the baby…. She wrapped the baby with cloths and laid him in a box where the animals are fed” (Luke 2:6-7).

Mary and Joseph were spending the night in a stable. They didn’t get much sleep because that was the night when Jesus was born! Mary wrapped baby Jesus in strips of cloth, as all mothers did in Bible times. Then she laid him in a manger. This wooden box was where the animals usually ate hay. What an exciting night for everyone, including the animals!

Whose birthday are you celebrating today? But who is getting presents?

Dear God, thank You for sending a very special Gift to the world – your very own Son, Jesus! Amen.

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December 26 – Great news from Heaven

“That night, some shepherds were in the fields nearby watching their sheep. An angel of the Lord…said to them, ‘…Today your Savior was born in David’s town.’ Then a very large group of angels from heaven joined the first angel” (Luke 2:8-11, 13).

Sheep were sleeping in a field near Bethlehem. Their shepherds thought it was an ordinary night. That was before the angel came! With bright light all around, the angel told the shepherds about baby Jesus, the Savior. Then more angels came, and they all praised God.

What news did the shepherds hear? Who brought the news to them?

Dear God, I praise You for sending baby Jesus. Amen.

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December 27 – The first visitors

“The shepherds went quickly and found Mary and Joseph. And the shepherds saw the baby lying in a feeding box” (Luke 2:16-17).

When the angels left, did the shepherds think they had just been dreaming? No! They knew that God had sent the angels and that a special baby had been born. So they hurried into town, found the baby and told everyone about the angels. Then they went back to their sheep, praising God. They were so happy that they had found baby Jesus!

What did the shepherds do about the good news they heard?

Dear Jesus, I’m glad that You grew up and went back to heaven I can’t see You like the shepherds did, but I can talk to You whenever I want to. Thank You! Amen.

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December 28 – Out-of-town guests

“Some wise men…asked, ‘Where is the baby who was born to be the king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east. We came to worship him’” (Matthew 2:1-2).

Some wise men lived far away from the place where Jesus was born. When they saw a new star, they knew that a king had been born. So they traveled to Jerusalem and talked to King Herod. He sent them to Bethlehem. Herod said to let him know when they found the king because he wanted to worship the new king too. But Herod was telling a lie. He really was jealous of the new king.

How did the wise men know there was a new king?

Dear God, thank You for letting people from far away know about baby Jesus. Amen.

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December 29 – Gifts for a little king

“The same star they had seen in the east…went before (the wise men) until it stopped above the place where the child was” (Matthew 2:9).

The wise men still didn’t know exactly where they were going. So they were happy to see the star that they had been following again. It took them all the way to a house in Bethlehem. When they saw little Jesus there, they got down on their knees and worshiped him. They gave him gold and two kinds of very nice perfume.

What did the wise men do when they saw Jesus?

Dear Jesus, the wise men didn’t know much about You, but they worshiped You. I know a lot about You, so of course I want to worship You too! Amen.

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December 30 – Don’t go that way

“God warned the wise men in a dream not to go back to Herod. So they went home to their own country by a different way” (Matthew 2:12).

When you travel, you might see a detour sign. That means you have to take a different road. Maybe a bridge is out, and you would be in danger if you kept going. Well, God knew there was danger ahead – not for the wise men, but for Jesus. King Herod wanted to hurt Jesus. God told the wise men not to go back to Jerusalem and see the king again. So the wise men found a different way to go back home.

How did God keep his Son, Jesus, safe?

Dear God, thank you for keeping Jesus safe. And thanks for all the times when you keep me safe. Amen.

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December 31 – One rule

“When the baby was eight days old, he was…named Jesus. (Then) the time came for Mary and Joseph to…present him to the Lord” (Luke 2:21-22).

No one in the Bible is more important than Jesus! That’s the name the angel said to give him. It’s a special name that means “Savior.” Jesus came to be our Savior – to save us from our sins. When he was a month old, Mary and Joseph presented him to God at the temple. Jesus came from God, his heavenly Father. And as he grew up, he lived his life on earth for God.

What is special about the name Jesus?

Dear God, thank You for sending Jesus to be my Savior. I want to live for God just like He did. Amen.

Related: Take an online interactive life lesson based on the Carols of Christmas!

Excerpted from Day by Day, The One Year Devotional for Young Children, by Betty Free. Unfortunately, this book is out of print.