Love’s pure light: Christmas Eve/Day devotional

May you find God's hope, peace, joy and love this Advent season
May you find God's hope, peace, joy and love this Advent season

The Journey of Advent ends with Christmas. We have sought hope, peace, joy and love this Advent, and now we celebrate the birth of Jesus.

Continue to nurture your spirit

Take time to reflect and grow during each week of Advent with the help of the accompanying devotionals in the Love's pure light series.

Explore additional Advent, Blue Christmas, Christmas and Epiphany resources, stories and videos.

So long ago, Joseph and Mary traveled to the city of Bethlehem to be registered, as was required by the emperor’s decree. Luke 2:7 tells us that while they were there “she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no place” for them.

Knowing that Jesus is God’s Son, it is hard to imagine that the world wasn’t ready for Jesus. It is incredible to think he was born in such a humble way.

In many ways, our world mirrors the ancient world. Many are not paying attention to the ways in which Jesus is Emmanuel, “God with us.” Jesus is always with us and for us. Indeed, he tells us in John 3:17, “God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world but in order that the world might be saved through him.”

This is the Good News: Jesus came, and continues to come, into our hearts to be with us through all of life’s joys and pains. 

This Advent, we have been focusing on light. Love’s pure light is here! May the light of life burn brightly in our hearts. Like the shepherds and angels, let us adore him, Christ the Lord!

Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, for coming to us. Thank you for walking this earth and knowing what it is like to be human. Help us to always feel your presence with us. Amen.

Activity: Celebrate!

Read Luke 2:1-20, attend a worship service and sing your favorite Christmas hymns.

United Methodist Communications is an agency of The United Methodist Church

©2025 United Methodist Communications. All Rights Reserved