“Here it is, the most important gift in the entire world,” I told my kids as I tucked a neatly wrapped box underneath the Christmas tree. For 25 days my kids wondered and guessed what this gift could possibly be. With each passing day, anticipation mounted … until finally, it was time.

Almost knocking the Christmas tree over, they grabbed the box and tore open the wrapping paper. Inside the cardboard box was a baby doll.

“A doll!” yelled my son, not hiding his disappointment. But as I read from the Bible, he soon began to understand why this gift is so important.

“Then after her baby is born, name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” So the Lord’s promise came true, just as the prophet had said, “A virgin will have a baby boy, and he will be called Immanuel,” which means “God is with us.”

Matthew 1:21-23

On Christmas Day, we celebrate the truth that God sent his son, Jesus Christ, to be God with us. There is no greater gift than Jesus. No other gift can bring us peace when our hearts are sad, hope when life is hard, and love when we feel rejected.

Connecting to Jesus through the Bible

Through God’s Word we learn about Jesus and his unfailing love for us. We read stories about his amazing power to heal the sick and power to set people free. It is God’s Word that leads us to the gift of Jesus. It is the Bible that makes Jesus’s love a reality.

So, this Christmas, we want you to join us in praying this one simple prayer. Pray that every person will have an opportunity to connect to Jesus through the life-transforming words found in the Bible.

This powerful prayer can remove these barriers that prevent people from reading God’s Word:

• Accessibility. There are millions of people around the world who still don’t have a single verse of Scripture in their own language. More than 1,575 languages are still in need of Bible translation.

• Relevance. For many who have access to a Bible, there can be confusion about what the Bible teaches and how it can help guide them today. These resources will help them explore the Bible and find solutions to life’s challenges.

• Pain. When people endure wounds of the soul and spirit, pain and suffering can block them from God. But through God’s Word, people can find hope and begin their journey of healing.

Let’s Pray Together:

God, thank you for the precious gift of your Son, Jesus. This Christmas, we pray that all people will encounter Jesus through your Word. Where people don’t have a Bible, please help guide translation projects to make your Word available. Where people have a Bible, we pray for a renewed passion to read it.