A Guide to Christmas Adam

A ONE Church Advent Devotional

Today, my ONE Church Devos friend, you are blessed with a wonderful guest reader. My voice has temporarily left me, so my beloved son, Isaac Anderson Hilton, overheard my feeble attempts and offered his help. He’s an excellent voice and a more excellent young man. Enjoy!

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‘Twas the night before the night before Christmas and...

It doesn't exactly roll off the tongue, does it? Today is the day before the day before -- affectionately called “Christmas Adam”, because it comes just before Christmas Eve. This year it falls on a mid-winter Monday, when many of us are hunkered down or bundled up, while others will have balmy highs in the 70s. Fear not, my friends: whatever your weather, your ONE Church devotional most assuredly won't let you down. This is a full-service operation, so I'm here for you.

Others have tried to supply ideas. A website called “Simply Full of Delight” has a few suggestions for a fun-filled Christmas Adam:

1. Family Movie Night. (E.g., Elf, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.)

2. Bake Cookies. (E.g., Sugar Cookies or Candy Cane Cookies)

3. Drive Around and Look at Christmas Lights.

4. Go Caroling with Friends.

5. Appetizer Night. (E.g., Grilled Buffalo Wings or White Queso Dip(

6. Give/Open One Small Gift. (E.g., Christmas socks or new Christmas pajamas)

The people at “Simply Full of Delight” mean well, of course, and we're very grateful to them for trying; but two things make their advice a bit incomplete for us.

1. Feasibility. Our circumstances may shrink their list. #1 won't work if you live alone, #3 and #4 get harder with windchill. (I see you, my upper-midwestern friends!)

2. Inconvenience. We're walking to Bethlehem, and it's hard to eat white queso on this road without spilling.

I jest! But, seriously, I do believe there's more available for us this Christmas Adam of 2024.

We need an activity that neither weather nor the absence of company can thwart, and we need one that leans us toward the spectacular event we're about to celebrate. I recommend a Bible Reading Hour. (I would, wouldn't I?) Here's your doable-in-one-hour syllabus (click on each listing and, presto, up will come the text):

1. The Angel Gabriel Reveals the Plan to Mary (Luke 1.26-38)

2. The Angel of the Lord Reveals the Plan to Joseph (Matthew 1.1-25)

3. The Christ Child is Born in Bethlehem (Luke 2.1-21)

4. The Word of God Comes into the World (Genesis 1.1-5 and John 1.1-18)

5. The Equal-with-God One Humbles Himself (Philippians 2.5-11)

6. The One through Whom God Speaks (Hebrews 1.1-4)

7. The Image of the Invisible God, the Firstborn over All Creation (Colossians 1.15-20)

An hour will give you plenty of time to read each passage slowly. We’ve laid the groundwork, focusing on each of these passages during our ONE Church December devo walk. So take your time, contemplating what each says about who Jesus is and how God has been for us in that lowly stable. Listen for things you haven't seen before. Pray for God to help you do this.

On this day before the day before, friends, your mission possible “should you choose to accept it” is to read your biblical way toward the world-changing appearance of God in the flesh. And may God bless you with these words about THE Word!

Have a marvelous Monday and a crazy-good Christmas Adam!

Prayer -- God, open your scriptures and open our hearts. Take us to the stable ready for all that it can be, in Jesus. Amen.