5-Day Devotional: O Come All Ye Faithful

Day 1: Respond With Haste

Reading: Luke 2:15-17

Devotional: The shepherds didn't hesitate when God called. They left their one job—watching the sheep—to encounter their King. How often do we rationalize away God's promptings, citing responsibilities and timing concerns? True worship involves readiness to respond immediately to God's revelations. When the shepherds heard, they went "with haste." God already knows your responsibilities. He's factored them into His calling. If He's directing you somewhere, He's saying, "I've got this." What has God been nudging you toward that you've delayed? A conversation? An act of service? A step of faith? Today, respond with haste. Don't let tomorrow steal today's obedience.

Day 2: Worship With Joy

Reading: Psalm 95:1-7

Devotional: The shepherds burst forth in joyful worship upon finding their King. Their hope in eternity couldn't be contained. Yet how often do we let weekly stress, morning frustrations, or life's hardships dictate our worship? Life is hard—we all face things we don't want to repeat. But when we gather to worship, we're reminded that a day is coming when all suffering stops. We'll wake to Christ's glory and sing in His presence forever. This hope should burst forth from us! Don't forget what you're hoping for. Let the reality of your eternal salvation overflow into passionate praise. When's the last time your worship reflected the magnitude of what Christ has done for you?

Day 3: Proclaim With Boldness

Reading: Acts 4:13-20

Devotional: The shepherds—society's outcasts—became the first evangelists. They didn't wait for seminary training or social acceptance. They simply proclaimed what they had experienced. When we've truly encountered Christ, we can't help but share it. Your testimony doesn't require theological degrees; it requires honesty: "This is what I was like before Christ, this is what He did, and this is the life I'm walking now." The world is broken, and people keep discovering that their attempts to fix it only reveal more brokenness. You know the way out—His name is Jesus. Who needs to hear your story today? Proclaim with boldness what Christ has done in your life.

Day 4: Treasure and Ponder

Reading: Luke 2:19; Psalm 119:11

Devotional: While the shepherds proclaimed boldly, Mary "treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart." Both responses matter. There's a time for proclamation and a time for meditation. Mary didn't dismiss what was happening; she held it close, turning it over in her mind, letting truth sink deep. In our rush to do, we often neglect to be. What has God revealed to you recently that needs pondering? What Scripture has touched your heart that deserves deeper reflection? Treasuring God's word means more than reading—it means meditating, memorizing, and letting truth transform you from the inside out. Today, slow down. Treasure what God is showing you.

Day 5: Come, Lord Jesus

Reading: Revelation 22:12-21

Devotional: "O Come All Ye Faithful" invites us to worship alongside angels, celebrating Christ's first coming while longing for His return. We stand in the tension between "already" and "not yet." Christ has come—Emmanuel, God with us. But suffering, sorrow, sin, and death still reign. So we cry out with the early church: "Come, Lord Jesus!" Until that day, we have a mission. We respond with haste to God's calling. We worship with joy despite circumstances. We proclaim with boldness the hope we've found. We treasure His promises in our hearts. Advent reminds us that our King came once as a baby and will return as conquering Lord. Live today in light of both realities.