Just as with opening the doors of an Advent calendar day by day, this Advent devotional will build your anticipation for Christmas so that you can fully absorb and enjoy its central gift—Jesus Christ.
Reflecting on a few short verses each day, this devotional examines the wonderful gifts of grace that we receive through the coming of Christ and belief in his gospel. Author Jared C. Wilson says in his introduction:
“My prayer for you is that examining the diamond of the gospel facet by facet for the next 24 days will find you on Day 25 more awestruck and joy-filled about the glory of Christ our Lord. It is ...only by beholding Christ’s glory, in fact, that we can be made like him (2 Corinthians 3:18).”
(Review written for 'Gifts of Grace')
I really appreciate the format of this devotional that includes a focus on a particular gift each day. Gifts include hope, reconciliation, propitiation, victory, glorification, etc. Each day is a short read of around 5 pages or so. Wilson writing center on Christ and include refreshing humor. Each day’s title is from a Christmas carol and I like that the list of carols is included at the end of the book. It’s nice to listen to the carol before/after the day’s reading. All in all, I was very blessed by this book and look forward to reading it more in ...coming years. It’s the type of book devotional that can be read for years to come.
(Review written for 'Gifts of Grace')
Jared helpfully and wonderfully makes you consider again all the richness of the blessings that God has given to Christians. From expiation and justification to hope and peace, he clearly and simply gives you good things to think on in the build up to Christmas reminding us that the coming of Jesus as our saviour was the greatest and first of many good gifts from God.
(Review written for 'Gifts of Grace')
I really enjoyed reading Gifts of Grace.
Like an Advent Calendar, each day you receive a treat and then look forward to the next day.
As a child I wanted to eat the next chocolate of an advent calendar before the day has arrived.
I found myself wanting to do the same with this devotional.
There are devotions for 25 days, 1 for every day leading up to Christmas and Christmas day itself.
Each day Jared shares a gift of Biblical Truth inspired from a sentence of a Christmas Carol.
This devotion is theologically rich yet easy to receive as ...Jared shares many modern analogies to illustrate the point.
What I liked most about this devotion is that it encourages you to anticipate Christ's second coming as you consider his first.
A lovely read with the family leading up to Christmas.
