THE UPPER ROOM DEVOTIONAL 1ST DECEMBER 2024, SUNDAY MESSAGE
Read The Upper Room Devotional 1st December 2024 written by Dawn M. Adams (Massachusetts, USA)
TOPIC: What Do We Need?
Today’s Reading
John 1:1-5
[The Lord] has shown you . . . what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. – Micah 6:8 (NIV)
Today’s Message
This past Christmas at church we decided to do something different. During the first week of Advent the sanctuary was set up as normal: wreaths and candles in the windows, a decorated tree up front, a full crèche scene, and candles for each Sunday of Advent with the words Peace, Love, Joy, and Hope in front of them. Every week that followed, though, something was removed. First the wreaths came down from the windows. Then the tree. Eventually, by Christmas Eve, only Mary and Joseph were left.
During the service, the children were called up to the simple scene that remained. But before they placed Jesus in the manger, they were asked why we took down all the decorations except Mary and Joseph. A young boy responded, “Because we don’t need them.” He was asked, “What do we need then?”
His answer put tears in our eyes. “Peace, love . . .” And the congregation helped him finish, “joy and hope.” With that, baby Jesus — who is the source of peace, love, joy, and hope — was placed in the manger. Christmas is not the bows or the presents, the cards or the decorations; it is the celebration of the birth of our Savior, God incarnate. And for that, all we need is an open heart.
Today’s Prayer
Holy One, help us to remember the simplicity into which you came. Remind us that the only necessary preparations for this day are for our hearts to be open to receive you. Amen.
Thought for the Day
Christmas is peace, love, joy, and hope.
Prayer Focus
Those overwhelmed by holiday preparations
The Upper Room Devotional 1st December 2024, is a daily devotional magazine published in more than 30 languages and 100 countries around the world. The daily meditations are written by readers of the magazine and others interested in sharing their faith experiences through writing—both laity and clergy, published authors and new writers. Read More