The Christmas We Didn’t Expect: Daily Devotions for Advent is written by David Mathis and published by The Good Book Company.
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The Christmas We Didn’t Expect: Daily Devotions for Advent
There are many of the devotionals in the Christian book market, so should you take time to read this one? I would say, absolutely! Let me give you some reasons why.
- This book is theologically rich. Mathis is concerned with bringing the truths of Scripture to the forefront in his book. He isn’t trying to be devotional without first giving you the glorious truths to be devoted to.
- This book is heart-warming. Mathis is wonderfully pastoral in his tone in this book. As the executive editor of Desiring God ministries, he is surely concerned with his audience being satisfied in God, and this comes through beautifully on these pages.
- Short chapters. This book could easily be read through by taking one chapter a day beginning on December 1.
- Prayer. Mathis offers short and very sweet prayers at the end of each chapter. These prayers themselves are heart-warming.
- Unexpected truths. I really liked the portions of the book that provided a correction to the often misunderstood elements of the Christmas story. Mathis shows us where our traditions have steered us wrong (i.e. who were magi were, and who they weren’t…such as three kings).
This was a very nice advent devotional, and I heartily commend it to you. Tolle lege, take up and read!
Disclaimer: My thanks to The Good Book Company for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. The opinions expressed are my own.
Matt became a joyful follower of Jesus at the age of 21. He is very grateful to be a husband to Lindsey, and a father to four boys. He is an ordained minister (teaching elder) in the PCA. He previously served as a pastor of biblical counseling and is currently a corporate chaplain in southern Delaware. Matt received his Master of Divinity degree in Biblical Counseling from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and holds an advanced certification in biblical counseling from the Association of Biblical Counselors. In his free time, he loves playing with his boys, traveling with his wife, and reading (and buying!) books.
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