JULY: GOD'S LOVE WAS BORN, A BABY MESSIAH NAMED JESUS
Concept:
It’s Christmas in July! After some time in exile, many of the people were able to return to their homes. But life continued to be hard for the people - it was difficult to be Jewish in the Roman Empire. The prophets had been promising a Messiah - someone who would come and save the people. That powerful Messiah came in a surprising form - a newborn baby, born to ordinary people in a very ordinary place.
When God wanted to change the world, God didn’t send earthquakes or superheroes. God didn’t send a big, loud, powerful person to start ruling over everyone. God sent a baby, who would grow up to gently guide the people in God’s way of love. And even now, when God wants to change the world, God sends a baby. (Photo by Tadeusz Zachweija on Unsplash)
It’s Christmas in July! After some time in exile, many of the people were able to return to their homes. But life continued to be hard for the people - it was difficult to be Jewish in the Roman Empire. The prophets had been promising a Messiah - someone who would come and save the people. That powerful Messiah came in a surprising form - a newborn baby, born to ordinary people in a very ordinary place.
When God wanted to change the world, God didn’t send earthquakes or superheroes. God didn’t send a big, loud, powerful person to start ruling over everyone. God sent a baby, who would grow up to gently guide the people in God’s way of love. And even now, when God wants to change the world, God sends a baby. (Photo by Tadeusz Zachweija on Unsplash)
Read It: Luke 2:1-20 (Shine On 165-167, The Peace Table 170-172)
Pray It: Jesus, thank you for being born and for changing the world.
Help us know how we can bring love to the world, too. Amen.
Help us know how we can bring love to the world, too. Amen.
Do It:
Recite the Story:
- Read more of the story: From Shine On (pp 158-173) or The Peace Table (162-179), read a story each evening.
- Artistic Representation: Create a nativity using natural materials that you collect outside. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Storytelling: Tell the stories of how the children of your household being born changed your world. Tell birth stories and adoption stories. Look at pictures of everyone in your household as babies and young children.
- Baby care: With a doll or with a real baby in your life, practice baby care. Babies have all kinds of needs - diaper changing, feeding, snuggling, singing, reading… Notice how much help babies need, and marvel at how God came to us as a baby who couldn’t do anything for himself and needed all this help.
- Celebrate: Have a little Christmas-in-July celebration. Throw a birthday party for Jesus, or make small gifts for each other and have a gift exchange, or eat a feast.
Recite the Story:
- God created, and it was good.
- God called a family to be a blessing to all the earth.
- God saved the people and they became a shalom community.
- God's steadfast love showed the people the way in a new land.
- God spoke through prophets when kings missed the mark.
- God gave hope when the people had to leave their homes and families.
- God’s love was born, a baby Messiah named Jesus.
Explore It: Notes from Tami
December is the time we traditionally celebrate Jesus’ birth. But we do not know when Jesus was born - It may have been in July! Though we don’t know exactly when Jesus came into this world, it is always time to celebrate His life and teachings. Following are some more insights and suggestions for you.
December is the time we traditionally celebrate Jesus’ birth. But we do not know when Jesus was born - It may have been in July! Though we don’t know exactly when Jesus came into this world, it is always time to celebrate His life and teachings. Following are some more insights and suggestions for you.
