Christmas: An Important Task

December 20, 2020

Bible Readings

Take a few minutes to read the Bible verses listed and ask the Holy Spirit to lead you in how this verse applies to you this week.

Luke 1:46-55

Memory Verse

Luke 1:42

In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!" (NIV)

written by Ron VandenBurg
illustrated by Chad Thompson

It’s a church Christmas pageant. From the audience’s perspective, the full stage is visible. The children perform the Nativity scene. Milo is Joseph, and other boys and girls are there playing shepherds and wise men. The stage is not too crowded.
Casey is playing Mary and kneeling behind the manager. She is holding a black doll to represent baby Jesus. They are all in costume. Sofia is a narrator on the left side of the stage. She’s reading the Bible saying, “But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart…”

Close-up on Milo, Casey, and the baby. Milo leans over and whispers to Casey, “I’m glad they picked me to play Joseph.” Casey responds, “ I was scared, happy,...all sorts of feelings.”

She looks down at baby Jesus. To herself a thought bubble, “I wonder how Mary felt.”

Print Comic

Ava remembers when her Sunday school teacher chose her for a special part in a play at her church. She felt so honored to be picked. But as the time for the production came closer, she got really nervous. What if she forgot her lines or made a mistake on stage? What if she just wasn’t good enough? But when it came time, she played the parts she was picked to play. And she really enjoyed it. She learned a lot being in the play and still remembers those lessons today.

Have you ever been chosen for something really special? Maybe like Ava, you got a great part in a play or received a special prize at school. Maybe it was a sports team or your parents trusted you with an important job at home. Whatever it was, how did it make you feel to be chosen? Excited? Nervous? Or maybe you felt something else.

God chose Mary to be the mother of Jesus. Through Mary, God would bring his son into the world to be the Savior of the world. How did she feel when she first got the news? Maybe she felt scared because she wasn’t even married yet. But Mary trusted God. “I am the Lord’s servant,” she said, “Let it happen as you have said” (Luke 1:38). She even wrote the song that’s in the bible reading today, telling us exactly how she felt,

“With all my heart, I praise the Lord, and I am glad because of God my Savior. He cares for me, his humble servant. From now on, all people will say God has blessed me” (Luke 1:46-48).

What an amazing response to being chosen for such an amazing honor!

Prayer

Lord, thank you for calling Mary to such an important task. Thank you for calling me to follow you as well.

Related Resources

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Mary's Miracle

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Christmas Coupon Book

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Kids Corner Christmas Card

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Know Your Bible Activity Book Christmas Part 4!

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Heaven Came to Earth

Bret Lamsma

Bret Lamsma is the Director of Faith Formation at First Christian Reformed Church in Denver, Colorado. He has also served churches in California and Michigan. He has a passion for youth ministry and intergenerational ministry in the local church. When he isn’t working at church or writing he enjoys hanging out with his wife and 2 children, hiking, woodworking, and watching movies.