All the Children of the World
Ray and I enjoyed the annual English country dance Christmas ball last Friday night.
The group, which was made up mainly of people our age and older when we began dancing in 1998, has transformed into a group of mainly homeschooling families and graduates.
We are now the oldest dancers in the group. We had a fabulous turnout of around 60 people this year. Ray and I dance almost every dance together, except when we dance the Virginia Reel. Our nine-year-old grandson and I have a standing date for that. He looked so handsome at the ball in his sport jacket and red necktie.
Ray and I met a new dancer. She is a Christian from India. She loved it. It was so fun to watch her broad smile. I am excited about our next dance session. She is to teach us a dance from India.
The easy devotional idea for today reminds us that the good news of Jesus’ birth is great joy for all the people.
Praise God that He loves, as the song says, “all the children of the world.”
Read: Luke 2:8-15
In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”
When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.”
Discuss: What do you think this scene really looked like?
Pray, giving glory to God in the highest. (Luke 2:14)
Add to the basket: hand cutouts. Have each family member trace his or her hand. Color the hands, using for each one a different shade of skin color that God gives people around the world. Cut the hands out.
The hands represent the truth that the good news of great joy is for all people.
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father
and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all that I commanded you;
and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:19-20
Opening his mouth, Peter said:
“I most certainly understand now
that God is not one to show partiality,
but in every nation the man who fears Him
and does what is right is welcome to Him.
Acts 10:34-35
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Optional Song: If you would like to add a song to today’s devotion, you might enjoy singing “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing.”
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King:
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!”
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With th’angelic hosts proclaim,
“Christ is born in Bethlehem!”
Refrain:
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King”
Christ, by highest heaven adored,
Christ, the everlasting Lord,
Late in time behold him come,
Offspring of the Virgin’s womb:
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
Hail th’incarnate Deity,
Pleased with us in flesh to dwell,
Jesus, our Immanuel. [Refrain]
Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
Risen with healing in his wings.
Mild he lays his glory by,
Born that we no more may die,
Born to raise us from the earth,
Born to give us second birth. [Refrain]