Advent season is a time when many families change from their regular devotional material to Scripture readings that emphasize the beautiful prophecies of our Savior and the Gospel accounts of His birth. This season is also the busiest time of year for many families, and an Advent devotional guide can help us slow down and take comfort in God’s Word and His promises. 

In Come, Lord Jesus! An Advent Devotional for All God’s Children, author Amy Cahill presents twenty-five Advent readings for December 1 through December 25. Each page includes a Bible passage, a devotional lesson, and a short prayer. Cahill writes in a simple, understandable style and includes helpful cultural and historical information. For example, the author explains in more detail why Joseph and Mary had to travel to Bethlehem and mentions that the stable Jesus was born in may have been a cave. These brief historical comments may spark curiosity in readers and inspire them to do more research on their own. 

Even with the many historical details, the author never loses sight of the important themes of the season, such as the fulfilling of biblical prophecy, God’s protection for His people, and God’s plan of salvation: “God had a perfect plan for our salvation, and it all started in Bethlehem with a tiny baby whose name meant ‘God is with us.’” 

While most of the readings focus on the biblical account of the nativity, the author also includes devotional lessons about Christmas traditions, such as the symbolic meaning of the Advent wreath. At regular intervals throughout the book, Cahill focuses on the Advent candles and their meanings. These readings may help us better understand what we hear and see during the lighting of the Advent candles at our church’s worship services.

Another benefit of the book is that it is small and lightweight, making it handy for families to bring with them while traveling during the Christmas season. In the reading for December 25, the author focuses on John 8:12 and the Light of the World: “In today’s Bible verse, Jesus tells us that he is the light of the world. If we know him, we will always have light in our life. He’s not just talking about a candle to brighten a dark room. He is also talking about the joy we have because we know our sins are forgiven and our life is in him.”