December Devotions and Doodles – Day 19 (December 18)
Scripture Reading: John 1:1-5
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it.
December 19 Devotional: Beautiful Light in an Ugly World
Every year, our church youth group has a Christmas party with an ugly Christmas sweater theme. The students wear the ugliest Christmas sweaters they can. The youth building looks like Christmas threw up inside it. There are sweater cookies that the kids can decorate and games to play. It is a blast!
Ugly Christmas Sweaters are Strange
Ugly Christmas sweaters are a strange thing. How did weird looking sweaters become a trendy thing at Christmas, the most beautiful season of the year?
But the truth is that they can be a reminder that Christmas happened because of the ugliness of the world.
Full of Darkness
The world was full of darkness. Full of sin. Full of ugliness.
And yet, Jesus left the perfection of heaven to bring light to this dark world. To be the Light to this dark world.
When it comes into contact with the Light, the darkness has to bow to the Light. It cannot overcome the Light.
A Beautiful Light in an Ugly World
Jesus shines as a beautiful light in a dark and ugly world, so much uglier than the tackiest Christmas sweater.
He asks us to shine His light in this dark world this Christmas season and throughout the year.
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16
December 19 – Action Step:
Today (December 19) and throughout this Christmas season, celebrate Jesus as the Light in this ugly world. And, shine His light in the darkness. Think of at least one way that you can shine this season: encouraging a friend, helping out a family member, giving to a toy drive or volunteering at a food shelter. The ideas are endless.
Prayer:
Dear God, Let Your Beautiful Light shine through us in this ugly world. Let every ugly Christmas sweater and every tacky decoration point our hearts to You this season. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Drawing Tutorial – December 19: How to draw an Ugly Christmas Sweater
- Start with a small rounded, skinny rectangle.
- Add two short curved lines on each end.
- Extend the short lines to make rounded shoulders.
- The sleeves are basically elongated, open-ended rectangles that descend from the shoulders.
- The body of the sweater is just a larger open-ended rectangle that connects to the sleeves.
- Decorate the sweater using skills we have already learned, like the zig-zag from a wise man’s crown or a string of Christmas lights.
Click here to check out other posts in this series: December Devotions and Doodles!