5-day Bible reading plan and devotional guide based on the Sunday Message from December 21, 2025:
Day 1: The Word Before Time
Reading: John 1:1-5; Genesis 1:1-3
Before the first star ignited, before mountains rose or oceans formed, the Word already existed. John takes us back beyond Bethlehem, beyond history itself, to reveal that Jesus wasn't Plan B—He was there at creation's dawn. The same voice that spoke light into darkness would one day cry from a manger. This changes everything about Christmas. We're not celebrating a good teacher's birthday or remembering a moral example. We're marveling that the eternal Creator became creation, that infinite power chose infant vulnerability. When you feel small or insignificant today, remember: the One who hung the stars chose to be held in human arms. For you.
Reflection Question: How does knowing Jesus existed before creation change your understanding of His birth?
Day 2: God Pitched His Tent Among Us
Reading: John 1:14; Exodus 40:34-38
The tabernacle was Israel's most sacred space—where God's presence dwelt among His traveling people. When John writes that Jesus "dwelt among us," he uses the word for "pitched a tent" or "tabernacled." God's presence was no longer confined to a building with restricted access. In Jesus, the presence of God walked dusty roads, entered broken homes, and touched diseased skin. The same glory that filled the wilderness tabernacle now had a face, hands that blessed, and a voice that called people by name. God didn't just visit—He moved into the neighborhood. His presence isn't distant or inaccessible; it's personal, near, and pursuing you today.
Reflection Question: Where do you need God's presence to "pitch a tent" in your life right now?
Day 3: Beholding Transforms Us
Reading: John 1:14; 2 Corinthians 3:18
"We have seen his glory," John declares—not a casual glance, but a life-altering gaze. To behold Christ isn't passive observation; it's transformational encounter. Like Ebenezer Scrooge confronted by revelation, we cannot truly see Jesus and remain unchanged. His glory wasn't displayed in military might or political power, but in humility, compassion, and sacrificial love. As we fix our eyes on Him, something miraculous happens: we begin reflecting what we behold. The more we gaze at His grace, the more gracious we become. The more we witness His love, the more love flows through us. Transformation isn't about trying harder—it's about looking longer at the One who is glory itself.
Reflection Question: What aspect of Christ's character do you need to behold more deeply this season?
Day 4: Love Moves Toward the Hurt
Reading: Luke 4:16-21; Isaiah 61:1-3
Love doesn't keep its distance. When fear drove people away from the sick in 1980s New York, nuns moved toward the crisis, explaining simply: "We go where Jesus would go." This is the heart of incarnation—God moving toward our pain, not away from it. Jesus announced His mission by reading Isaiah's words about bringing good news to the poor, freedom to prisoners, and sight to the blind. His entire ministry was directional: toward lepers, toward tax collectors, toward the woman caught in adultery, toward the thief on the cross. Christmas proves that divine love doesn't wait for us to clean up first. It comes close, enters our mess, and says, "You are not alone."
Reflection Question: Who in your life needs love to move toward them this week?
Day 5: Fully Human, Fully With Us
Reading: Hebrews 4:14-16; Philippians 2:5-8
Jesus didn't pretend to be human—He became fully human. He experienced hunger, temptation, exhaustion, and grief. He knew the ache of loss and the sting of betrayal. This matters profoundly: when you cry out to God in your weakness, you're heard by One who understands from experience, not just observation. Infinite became infant. Almighty was carried in a woman's arms. The King of Glory grew through awkward adolescence. He embraced every human limitation except sin so that He could be the perfect High Priest who sympathizes with our weaknesses. Whatever you're facing today—loneliness, pain, questions, fear—you have a Savior who walked through it first and now walks through it with you.
Reflection Question: How does knowing Jesus experienced full humanity give you confidence to approach Him with your struggles?
Closing Reflection
This Christmas, we celebrate more than a historical event. We celebrate Emmanuel—God with us. The Word became flesh not to observe humanity from a distance, but to enter fully into our story. His presence transforms everything: our pain has purpose, our loneliness has company, our darkness has light, and our future has hope.
As you've reflected this week on the incarnation, consider this: the same love that came down at Christmas desires to dwell in you and flow through you to others. You are a tabernacle of God's presence in your world. Where will love move through you today?
Day 1: The Word Before Time
Reading: John 1:1-5; Genesis 1:1-3
Before the first star ignited, before mountains rose or oceans formed, the Word already existed. John takes us back beyond Bethlehem, beyond history itself, to reveal that Jesus wasn't Plan B—He was there at creation's dawn. The same voice that spoke light into darkness would one day cry from a manger. This changes everything about Christmas. We're not celebrating a good teacher's birthday or remembering a moral example. We're marveling that the eternal Creator became creation, that infinite power chose infant vulnerability. When you feel small or insignificant today, remember: the One who hung the stars chose to be held in human arms. For you.
Reflection Question: How does knowing Jesus existed before creation change your understanding of His birth?
Day 2: God Pitched His Tent Among Us
Reading: John 1:14; Exodus 40:34-38
The tabernacle was Israel's most sacred space—where God's presence dwelt among His traveling people. When John writes that Jesus "dwelt among us," he uses the word for "pitched a tent" or "tabernacled." God's presence was no longer confined to a building with restricted access. In Jesus, the presence of God walked dusty roads, entered broken homes, and touched diseased skin. The same glory that filled the wilderness tabernacle now had a face, hands that blessed, and a voice that called people by name. God didn't just visit—He moved into the neighborhood. His presence isn't distant or inaccessible; it's personal, near, and pursuing you today.
Reflection Question: Where do you need God's presence to "pitch a tent" in your life right now?
Day 3: Beholding Transforms Us
Reading: John 1:14; 2 Corinthians 3:18
"We have seen his glory," John declares—not a casual glance, but a life-altering gaze. To behold Christ isn't passive observation; it's transformational encounter. Like Ebenezer Scrooge confronted by revelation, we cannot truly see Jesus and remain unchanged. His glory wasn't displayed in military might or political power, but in humility, compassion, and sacrificial love. As we fix our eyes on Him, something miraculous happens: we begin reflecting what we behold. The more we gaze at His grace, the more gracious we become. The more we witness His love, the more love flows through us. Transformation isn't about trying harder—it's about looking longer at the One who is glory itself.
Reflection Question: What aspect of Christ's character do you need to behold more deeply this season?
Day 4: Love Moves Toward the Hurt
Reading: Luke 4:16-21; Isaiah 61:1-3
Love doesn't keep its distance. When fear drove people away from the sick in 1980s New York, nuns moved toward the crisis, explaining simply: "We go where Jesus would go." This is the heart of incarnation—God moving toward our pain, not away from it. Jesus announced His mission by reading Isaiah's words about bringing good news to the poor, freedom to prisoners, and sight to the blind. His entire ministry was directional: toward lepers, toward tax collectors, toward the woman caught in adultery, toward the thief on the cross. Christmas proves that divine love doesn't wait for us to clean up first. It comes close, enters our mess, and says, "You are not alone."
Reflection Question: Who in your life needs love to move toward them this week?
Day 5: Fully Human, Fully With Us
Reading: Hebrews 4:14-16; Philippians 2:5-8
Jesus didn't pretend to be human—He became fully human. He experienced hunger, temptation, exhaustion, and grief. He knew the ache of loss and the sting of betrayal. This matters profoundly: when you cry out to God in your weakness, you're heard by One who understands from experience, not just observation. Infinite became infant. Almighty was carried in a woman's arms. The King of Glory grew through awkward adolescence. He embraced every human limitation except sin so that He could be the perfect High Priest who sympathizes with our weaknesses. Whatever you're facing today—loneliness, pain, questions, fear—you have a Savior who walked through it first and now walks through it with you.
Reflection Question: How does knowing Jesus experienced full humanity give you confidence to approach Him with your struggles?
Closing Reflection
This Christmas, we celebrate more than a historical event. We celebrate Emmanuel—God with us. The Word became flesh not to observe humanity from a distance, but to enter fully into our story. His presence transforms everything: our pain has purpose, our loneliness has company, our darkness has light, and our future has hope.
As you've reflected this week on the incarnation, consider this: the same love that came down at Christmas desires to dwell in you and flow through you to others. You are a tabernacle of God's presence in your world. Where will love move through you today?