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Read: Romans 5:15-17

“Melanie says it doesn’t make sense that Christians give each other presents at Christmas,” Andrew told Mom on the way home from school. “She says we just use Jesus’s birthday as an excuse to be greedy like everybody else. Is she right? What makes us different from people who celebrate Christmas but don’t believe in Jesus?”

“Well, tell me this,” said Mom. “Who was Jesus?”

Andrew frowned. “Is this a trick question?” Mom shook her head. “Well, Jesus was God’s Son,” said Andrew. “God sent Jesus to save us from sin.”

“Absolutely right,” said Mom. “And did we pay anything to receive Jesus?”

“No,” said Andrew. “Jesus was a free gift.”

“A free what?”

“A free gif—aha! Jesus was God’s present,” said Andrew as Mom pulled into the church parking lot. “Hey, why are we at church?”

“I had an idea as we were passing by,” said Mom as she opened the car door.

Inside stood a giant tree covered with envelopes, each one labeled with a child’s first name and age. “Why don’t you pick three?” said Mom. “These are kids who could use some presents this Christmas.”

Andrew picked the envelopes of a boy named Andrew, a girl named Ruby Jane, and then—“Melanie—and she’s my age!” exclaimed Andrew.

On the way home, Andrew opened the envelopes and read the lists. “Melanie wants a new hat. When can we go shopping, Mom?”

“As soon as you answer your own question. What makes Christians different, Andrew? Now do you know why we give gifts?”

“I think so.” Andrew thought for a moment. “Christians give Christmas gifts because God gave us His gift. We give presents to remind each other of the best present—Jesus—and show others His love.”

Weeks later at school, Andrew noticed Melanie was wearing a new hat. “I like your hat, Melanie.”

“Thanks. It was a Christmas present.” Melanie smiled. “I was wrong, Andrew. I guess some Christians give presents because, well, Jesus was God’s present. At least that’s what the card that came with my hat said.”

Andrew smiled. “I want to be a Christian like that.”

–Kelly Carlson

How about you? Did you know that when you give a Christmas present, you are pointing to Jesus? When we give gifts with generous hearts, we point others to the greatest gift of all—Jesus Christ. This Christmas, tell a friend or family member why you’re giving them a present. Tell others about Jesus, God’s greatest present to the world.

Today's Key Verse: For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 (NLT)

Today's Key Thought: Jesus is the best present

Anxiety wants to destroy our joy and steal our peace, but God gave us a way to overcome this emotion.

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As I opened the bookshelf assembly instructions with piles of boards and tools strewn on the floor before me, I viewed a set of instructional diagrams of what to do and what not to do. One diagram—with a large X on top—depicted a person staring at a pile of boards and tools with a bemused frown not unlike mine just a few minutes prior. On the right side was drawn the “correct” way to assemble. The only difference? A second person was there. Both figures now had smiles on their faces as they worked together.

So I got my husband. “The instructions say I need your help,” I said, showing him the drawing. He laughed, and we assembled it together. I could have stubbornly tried to find a way to put it together on my own. But the manual was right; the process wasn’t meant to be done alone.

In Romans 12, Paul urged new believers to not try to do life in Jesus alone. Instead of seeing themselves as self-sufficient and thinking of themselves “more highly than [they] ought” (v. 3), they needed to see themselves as part of an interdependent body, where every member needs each other’s help (vv. 4-8).

As Jesus helps us learn how to “be devoted to one another in love” (v. 10), we can experience life “in harmony” with each other, where one another’s needs, griefs, and joys (vv. 13, 15) are never carried alone.

Read: Psalm 119:162-168

“What’s all that material for, Mom?” Serenity asked when she and Charis got home from school. “And what are these little frame things?”

“Your grandma needs some hot pads, so I thought maybe you and Charis could make some for her birthday,” Mom replied. “These ‘frame things’ are little hand looms. I’ll show you how to make hot pads with these strips of material.”

“Oh, I know how to do that!” said Serenity. “I learned at scout club.” And when they started making hot pads a little later, she insisted that she didn’t need any help, so Mom turned her attention to Charis.

Charis watched carefully as Mom showed her what to do. First, she fitted a neat row of red loops between two sides of the loom. Then she used a hook to start blue rows going the opposite way. Charis followed Mom’s directions, checking with her every now and then to make sure she was getting it right.

“How are you doing, Serenity?” Mom asked after a while.

Serenity sighed. “I thought I knew how to do this, but it isn’t turning out right. I’m going to take this apart and start over.” When Serenity was ready to start again, Mom showed her what she needed to do.

That night, Mom suggested they all read a Bible story together before bed.

“Oh, Mom,” Serenity said, “Can’t we read something else? I know all those stories already.”

“I’m sure you know a lot of them,” said Mom, “but it’s good to hear them over and over. God has new things to teach us every time we read His Word. The more we read it, the more we learn about who Jesus is, what He did to save us, and how to live in a way that shows we belong to Him.”

“I guess it’s like the hot pads,” Serenity said. “I learned how to make them before, but I’d forgotten a lot of the details, so I needed you to help me do it.”

“Right,” said Mom. “And when we read God’s Word, the Holy Spirit helps us understand what it says and put it into practice.” She picked up Serenity’s Bible. “Let’s read a Bible story together, and then we can read another one of your books before you turn out the lights.”

–Margaret M. Primrose

How about you? Do you think you know everything the Bible has to say? It tells us everything we need to know about who God is and what He’s done for us, and there’s always more for us to learn from it—even from verses and stories we’ve heard over and over. So keep reading it, and depend on the Holy Spirit to help you understand it and do what it says.

Today's Key Verse: I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word. Psalm 119:16 (NKJV)

Today's Key Thought: Read and obey God’s Word

It's astonishing how technology (smartphones, tablets, laptops, GPS, etc.) has influenced our lives--for both good and bad? So, would it surprise you to know that "technology" shows up in the Bible and plays a vital role in God's story? In this Discover the Word study, the group explores several stories where technology plays a role. And as we study those passages together, we may find wisdom and freedom for how to use tech well in our modern world to draw us closer to God and others. 

WAYS TO LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE:

On our website: https://www.discovertheword.org
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YouTube Music:  https://go.odb.org/yt-music-playlist
YouTube: https://bit.ly/3E8LFdz
LOOKING FOR MORE EPISODES of the Discover the Word Podcast? Listen and subscribe wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts

Pedro became a follower of Jesus at fifty. He’d been an angry, vindictive man who hurt those around him. As he received counseling from his church, he felt remorse over his past. “I now have less years ahead of me than behind me,” he said. “I want to live them well. But how?”

Pedro found his answer in an unlikely source─a genealogy. As he read Moses’ account of Adam’s family line, he noted that one sentence was repeated to describe Adam’s descendants: “ ‘Altogether, [name] lived a total of [number] years, and then he died” (see Genesis 5:8, 11, 14, 17, 20, 27, 31). But one man was described differently.”

Enoch was described as one who “walked faithfully with God” (vv. 22, 24). He drew near to God, and that’s how he spent his earthly life. Because of his faith, “he was commended as one who pleased God” (Hebrews 11:5). Enoch had a steadfast, abiding trust in who God was and what He’d do for those who sought Him (v. 6). He expressed his trust in the Almighty by acting on it and obeying Him, and his faith was such that God spared him from physical death (v. 5).         

“How can I live my years well?” Pedro asked. “By walking faithfully with God.”

Our earthly life doesn’t have to be summed up in just a number. It can be summed up in our faith, which allows God to work in more ways than we can count.

Unshackled is the longest-running audio program ever produced, with nearly 4,000 true stories about people encountering God. Ever wonder why this audio drama has lasted so long when so many other radio dramas have faded into history? You’ll find out why on our 75th Anniversary Special on the next Unshackled! 

Humorist Ken Davis will encourage you to find joy by embracing a lighthearted attitude, even when your life isn’t perfect. He explains how God helped him overcome his own physical disabilities and find self-acceptance by understanding that he only had to be the best version of himself – just the way God made him to be.

The Focus on the Family Comedy Collection

The Source of Self-Worth

Christmas Stories Podcast

Take Focus Wherever Life Takes You!

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Relationships can become strained during the holidays. Marriage and family struggles are often heightened at this time of year. On this Building Relationships with Dr. Gary Chapman, Gary tackles your questions about marriage, parenting, the single life and more. Hear wisdom and practical advice from the author of the NY Times best-seller, The 5 Love Languages. It’s coming up on the post-Thanksgiving edition of Building Relationships with Dr. Gary Chapman.

Featured resource: The 5 Love Languages® Singles Edition

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