The One We’re Waiting For by Taylor Combs

This is a 25-day Advent devotional with Jesse Tree ornaments included. Each day, you read a few pages of the author’s retelling of a Bible story. The stories work from Genesis through the Christmas story. After the reading, there is a song for family reflection, followed by discussion questions.

Target Age: 4-11

While this isn’t a unique devotional, there are many that trace the Biblical narrative from Genesis to Christmas, it is well thought out and crafted. The author makes a point of pointing to a person in the story of the day and howt hey are not “The One We’re Waiting For.” There are excellent connections from the Old Testament to Christ and the illustrations are truly lovely.

Overall, this is a very Biblically accurate resource. There were a few times, however, that the author used language that I may not have chosen myself. Also, when God is quoted, it’s not a direct quote. In giving a reason for God’s silence in the intertestamental period, the author says, “[God] was just saving up the best message yet.” These instances are few, though. 

I greatly appreciate how the author clearly present the Gospel as well as not shying away from sin and the reality that, “We deserve to die because of our sin.” Our children can handle hard truths, and I am thankful the author seems to agree and doesn’t talk down to our children or reduce the Gospel to something it isn’t.

Overall, I think this is a wonderful resource for families!

Note: It is said that Christ was born in a stable.

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