Jesus is more.
He is more than a day in December. Though much of our Christmas celebration finds its climax on December 25, we know Jesus to be worthy of every ounce and minute of our devotion. This Advent Devotional Guide is meant to serve you be providing a daily rhythm where you get to encounter the One whom the book of Hebrews describes as a “consuming fire.” May each day of Advent be consumed by the fullness of Jesus.
And, though Jesus is more than a day in December, He has given us this day for a purpose. As Hebrews 3:13 says, “But encourage each other daily while it is still called today.” May this guide be a source of daily encouragement for you.
May God bless this journey of Advent!
Want to listen?
Audio readings of each day’s devotion is available on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6XTuChj1QRqN0XGeJn0F2z
Week 1: Hope
By Nikki Berger
Scripture
Observation
Christmas is a time of reflection over God’s ultimate gift: hope and a future through His son, Jesus Christ. We sinful rebels have been washed clean and made adopted children of God and because of that we have hope, not a vain hope, but a hope that we know with certainty will be fulfilled.
Think back on the best gift you’ve received. After getting it, what did you do? Were you excited? Did you express your gratitude to the person who gave it to you? Did you go tell anyone about it? Or, did you stow it away in the back of a closet and only take it out once in a while to look at it? Christians have been blessed with the greatest gift in the history of humanity. As such, we should be so overwhelmed with joy that we can’t help but give thanks to God, praise Him and tell everyone we know of how great a gift He has given us. But do we?
David certainly did so. It is evident in his Psalms that he couldn’t contain the hope he found in God. Similarly, in the New Testament, the Apostles had such deep hope in Christ that they couldn’t help but share it with everyone they could.
Today we also have that hope, but do we act like we do? Or is our hope stored away in a closet?
If it is, today is a perfect day to bring it out and share it.
Application
What is a truth you can carry with you? How will you obey this passage? Are there any promises to claim or sins to avoid?
Prayer
Take time to pray for God to help you understand and apply this text today.
Share
Write down the name of someone you can share this with today.
By Angela Young
Scripture
Observation
Celebrating Christmas in December brings an element to the holiday season of reflecting on the past year and looking forward to the next.
Reflecting back over a year of life events, I can see where my hope was in all those events. I hoped that things would go well. I hoped that plans would come together. I hoped that good results would come in. I hoped that a tough season would come to an end. I know I didn’t always have control over outcomes, but I hoped. I also see that things didn’t always go well, plans didn’t always come together, and the results were not always good.
The hope that is mentioned in today’s passage is more. The hope we have in the name of Christ is one of confidence; confidence that the Spirit was put on Him, and He came to proclaim justice to the nations. He came quietly and peacefully. And we embrace those images as we celebrate Him as the baby in a manger with the confidence of knowing that this was just the beginning of all that He came to bring.
Looking forward into the coming year, I will continue to hope for peace, joy, happiness and wellness in all the coming life events. But I will rest in the confident hope that, over all that is, Christ is Lord.
Application
What is a truth you can carry with you? How will you obey this passage? Are there any promises to claim or sins to avoid?
Prayer
Take time to pray for God to help you understand and apply this text today.
Share
Write down the name of someone you can share this with today.
By Greg Stephenson
Scripture
Observation
A prisoner carved these words on the wall of a concentration camp: “I believe in the sun, even though it doesn’t shine. I believe in love, even when it isn’t shown. I believe in God, even when He doesn’t speak.”
What eyes could have seen good in such horror? There is only one answer: eyes that chose to see the unseen. As the apostle Paul wrote, “We set our eyes not on what we see but on what we cannot see. What we see will last only a short time, but what we cannot see will last forever” (2 Cor. 4:18).
Jesus asks us to make a choice: either to live by the facts or to see by faith. When tragedy strikes, we are left to choose what we see. We can see either the hurt or the Healer. The choice is ours… so, put your trust in the Shepherd. He knows the path that leads to your new beginning, and He’s just waiting for you to join Him on your new journey in patient hope.
Application
What is a truth you can carry with you? How will you obey this passage? Are there any promises to claim or sins to avoid?
Prayer
Take time to pray for God to help you understand and apply this text today.
Share
Write down the name of someone you can share this with today.
By Andrew H.
Scripture
Observation
Ahmed was a young man raised in a country where everyone is taught that you are born a Muslim and will die a Muslim. You must perform good works according to a strict law, a straight path, to hopefully be approved by God. Reflecting on his life, he knew deep inside he wasn’t good enough. How could God approve of him?
One dark night, Ahmed pleaded for God to reveal Himself. That night he had a dream where he met a man who gave him a book and told him that he would find his way within it. Ahmed searched for this man on the internet and found a Christian website that said they would mail him a Bible. He filled out the form and soon received a New Testament in the mail. Ahmed began reading and saw the Light.
Against all hope, Ahmed, in hope, believed that Jesus had taken his place. Going out to a spring, he baptized himself and a feeling of peace he’d never experienced washed over him. Hope in this Jesus was more hope than he had ever experienced.
The story of Abraham referred to in Romans 4 teaches us that hope is not blind optimism; it’s a deep conviction that God will fulfill His promises, even when evidence suggests otherwise. Ahmed embraced this in his context. Like Abraham and Ahmed, we are called to hold fast to the assurance that God is at work, even in the dark. May our belief in His goodness and provision shine brightly during this Christmas season, illuminating the path ahead as we await the ultimate fulfillment of hope in Christ.
Application
What is a truth you can carry with you? How will you obey this passage? Are there any promises to claim or sins to avoid?
Prayer
Take time to pray for God to help you understand and apply this text today.
Share
Write down the name of someone you can share this with today.
By Emerson VanDeWege
Scripture
Observation
Woah! What an amazing promise! Because of the faith and justification we have as Christians, we are at peace with God. As humans, we fail to justify ourselves before God, but He loved us so much that He sent His son to die, paying our debt. Our shame was erased, and we were freed from the chains of death.
In Romans 5:1-5, Paul the Apostle points to this same justification, explaining that our faith alone gives us access to the grace that we stand on. Because of this, we have invincible hope. There is nothing that can separate us from this love and grace, and if we have absolute certainty in our salvation, then what have we to fear?
Later in Romans (8:38-39) Paul assures us that “neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God.” Not only do we have no reason to fear these things, but we are told that these earthly sufferings bring glory when we are holding fast to hope. Our sufferings lead to perseverance which in turn adds to our character and finally we are filled with more hope!
In light of this passage, I urge you to prayerfully consider: are you taking hold of the hope that you have in all parts of your life? In what ways would your life change if you removed any hope that you still place in the world, and instead were filled with confidence that even through suffering, as being a recipient of the grace of God?
Application
What is a truth you can carry with you? How will you obey this passage? Are there any promises to claim or sins to avoid?
Prayer
Take time to pray for God to help you understand and apply this text today.
Share
Write down the name of someone you can share this with today.
By Ed Holt
Scripture
Observation
A man approached a little boy on a Little League team and asked what the score was. This little boy, who was really pumped up and excited, told him that the other team was winning, 18 to nothing. He asked the boy how he could be so happy when they were losing. The little boy replied, “We haven’t been up to bat yet.”
Some people seem to have that ability to hope even when there does not seem to be any logical reason for hope. Some are probably hoping for a white Christmas, though we know that the odds of that occurring are only about once every 10 years.
The scripture for today’s thoughts presents a different kind of hope. As you read it, you see statements like, “we have confidence” and “full assurance of faith.” The hope we have as Christ followers is not just wishful thinking; rather the author of Hebrews says that we have hope because “He who promised is faithful.” We have “full confidence in a new and living way” because the sacrifice of Jesus Christ satisfied the justice of God on our behalf, and Jesus has become our “great priest” who stands before God pleading our case.
Perhaps, in addition to the scripture that we are studying today, we should also focus on 1 Peter 1:3 during this holiday which says, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”
Application
What is a truth you can carry with you? How will you obey this passage? Are there any promises to claim or sins to avoid?
Prayer
Take time to pray for God to help you understand and apply this text today.
Share
Write down the name of someone you can share this with today.
By Joy Young
Scripture
Observation
When was the last time you saw someone in pain, yet they were rejoicing? You might have thought they were crazy! Imagine seeing a prisoner, bound in chains in a prison cell, rejoicing despite his circumstances. Paul, in Colossians 1:24, says, “Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of His body, which is the church” (NIV). I remember the day I read this Scripture for the first time and truly understood its meaning; it brought me to tears.
Recently, while preparing for this very devotional, I shared with a friend the scripture I was given to write about, and we both laughed at it. If you know me, you know that suffering plays a significant role in my testimony. The Lord is so intentional in everything, even down to the Scripture each person is given for this Advent guide.
As believers, we are called to suffer as a continuation of Christ’s suffering, which felt like a weight lifted off my shoulders. Due to the fall, we will experience suffering on this side of Heaven, but we can rejoice in knowing we are not alone in our suffering. All of our suffering has a purpose, and personally, that gives me a great deal of peace as I hope it does you.
In this section of Scripture, Paul provides us with a prime example of how to react to suffering. Our suffering is with Christ, not apart from Him. In our suffering, we can cling to the glory and hope that can only be found in Jesus Christ, whom we have the honor of celebrating this holiday season and in every season.
Application
What is a truth you can carry with you? How will you obey this passage? Are there any promises to claim or sins to avoid?
Prayer
Take time to pray for God to help you understand and apply this text today.
Share
Write down the name of someone you can share this with today.
Week 2: Peace
By Elijah Meadows
Scripture
Observation
Sometimes life is chaotic. Actually,
most of the time life is chaotic, especially when it comes to Christmas. Trying to organize family gatherings, figure out the perfect gift, prepare the ultimate dinner, and find time for Jesus during a holiday that centers around His entire birth because you have been too busy worrying about the other three things can be tough. All while you try do normal life stuff, like your job or school (or both), raise a family, feed pets, do the laundry, eat, sleep, etc.
Stress seems to creep in and take hold, causing us to worry about what will be instead of enjoying what is and trusting that God has our future figured out. Every person is not only uniquely created by Him, but He went the extra mile to prepare our paths. Isaiah says in chapter 26 how the Lord has made the path level for the righteous. He also talks about how we will “keep in perfect peace” by trusting in Him. While life will not always be easy, we can find peace in the fact that we have a Father who will always take care of us. The more I pray, read the Word, enjoy creation and praise Him, I find peace. Everything seems a little less scary. That overwhelming feeling of stress dies down, and peace replaces it. He calms the storm of chaos, no matter the season.
With that, I encourage you to take time when the whirlwind of life starts to weigh on you to remember this passage and give those worries up to the Keeper of Peace.
Application
What is a truth you can carry with you? How will you obey this passage? Are there any promises to claim or sins to avoid?
Prayer
Take time to pray for God to help you understand and apply this text today.
Share
Write down the name of someone you can share this with today.
By Tyler Richter
Scripture
Observation
Every Christmas Eve, my wife Amy and I end our day by watching the film The Nativity Story. One of my favorite aspects of the movie is its portrayal of the shepherds.
As Mary and Joseph approach Bethlehem, they warm themselves by a fire alongside one of the shepherds. The shepherd notices that Mary is pregnant and exclaims, “We are all given something; a gift! Your gift is what you carry inside.” (He didn’t know just how right he was.)
Mary then asks, “What was your gift?” The shepherd responds, “Nothing. Nothing but the hope of waiting for one.”
During this Advent season, perhaps you can relate to this shepherd; it seems as if life has passed you by, what you’ve experienced and accomplished feels insignificant, you’re full of regret, and you’re hoping for better days.
Isn’t it amazing that God sends a choir of angels to announce the birth of the Messiah, not to nobility or royalty, but to lowly shepherds? In the film, as the aforementioned shepherd kneels before the newborn Savior, Mary reminds him, “We are each given a gift.”
You are given a gift: a Savior born to you, who is the Messiah, the Lord. He came for those who feel hopeless, insignificant and full of shame. His favor is upon you, Christian, and so you can have His peace.
Application
What is a truth you can carry with you? How will you obey this passage? Are there any promises to claim or sins to avoid?
Prayer
Take time to pray for God to help you understand and apply this text today.
Share
Write down the name of someone you can share this with today.
By Steve Kepes
Scripture
Observation
At Christmastime, patience and peace can be in short supply. We can all appreciate the difficulty of waiting, especially at this time of year. It doesn’t matter if you’re young or old, the anticipation of celebrating and exchanging gifts can make patience elusive. The hustle and bustle of the holidays may also leave us feeling stressed or anxious, and even a moment of peace may be difficult to find.
Simeon knew something about patience and peace. In Luke 2, we learn that the Holy Spirit revealed to Simeon that he would not die until he saw the Messiah, but he had no idea when that would happen. And so, he waited expectantly on God’s promise.
Then one day, the Spirit prompted Simeon to enter the temple where he found Jesus with His parents. The Spirit told Simeon, “That’s Him, that’s the Messiah!” Elated, Simeon took Jesus in his arms and praised God. He had waited his entire life in devotion for that one moment, and his patience was rewarded with peace. He rested in the unwavering confidence that God’s redeeming plan for all humanity had finally come.
During this season of Advent, I pray we are reminded that the same Spirit that dwelled in Simeon dwells in us today, and that God’s faithfulness is unchanging. We can experience that holy peace right now, even in the waiting of our most difficult circumstances, knowing that Jesus, our Prince of Peace, was born. We are His, we are loved, and we are saved.
Application
What is a truth you can carry with you? How will you obey this passage? Are there any promises to claim or sins to avoid?
Prayer
Take time to pray for God to help you understand and apply this text today.
Share
Write down the name of someone you can share this with today.
By Denny Kirkpatrick
Scripture
Observation
The year we moved to Florida, hurricane Floyd hit. We decided to “hunker down” at home. The storm was very powerful. By 2 a.m. we thought we’d lose the roof and windows. Floyd churned over us for 10 hours before it relented.
In Mark 4, we read that a great windstorm arose and waves were filling the boat. Jesus was asleep. The disciples were fearful and woke Him and He rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” The wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?”
Are there storms in your life? Are you fearful of things you can’t control? Christmas brings joy, but also anxiety. With a word, “Peace”, Jesus calmed the storm and displayed His mighty power over all things. The antidote to fear is faith.
When Jesus says “Peace, be still,” remember, He is always in control, and, when we trust Him, He calms the storm inside us. Philippians 4:6–7 tells us what to do: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” He can calm the storm, but He also calms our souls during the storm. God didn’t promise to bring peace to every storm, but He promised to give us peace through any storm if we trust Him.
Application
What is a truth you can carry with you? How will you obey this passage? Are there any promises to claim or sins to avoid?
Prayer
Take time to pray for God to help you understand and apply this text today.
Share
Write down the name of someone you can share this with today.
By Beth Kirkpatrick
Scripture
Observation
In John’s gospel, Jesus told His disciples that he was going to leave them, but not to be troubled because He would leave them His “peace.” Though these men knew Jesus and had witnessed His miracles, this probably didn’t sit well with them. How could they have peace if their Teacher, the prophesied Messiah, the one they had waited their entire lives for, was now leaving?
The disciples did not yet understand what was going to transpire, and the words Jesus spoke made them fearful, understandably. We all face unexpected trials that can evoke fear, even as children.
When I was about seven, I suffered from nightmares. I would wake at all hours, and I could not be consoled unless my mother climbed in bed with me. After many long nights, my mother taught me to pray for God’s peace. She carefully advised me to pray with belief in my heart that God would protect me and that I had nothing to be afraid of. I was obedient and like magic, every time I prayed for His peace, I received it. The nightmares did stop eventually, but this practice taught me to go to God in prayer for peace no matter what my fear.
When Jesus left this earth, Christ’s disciples were given a supernatural peace that only a true believer will ever experience. This gift was proof the debt of sin was paid. He reconciled the sin of the world when it was finished and left us “His Peace.”
Application
What is a truth you can carry with you? How will you obey this passage? Are there any promises to claim or sins to avoid?
Prayer
Take time to pray for God to help you understand and apply this text today.
Share
Write down the name of someone you can share this with today.
By John Presko
Scripture
Observation
As I read these verses and think of Christmas time, there have been some fears over the years during this season; if there would be enough money to buy gifts for Christmas. Or fear of giving an older loved one COVID during the pandemic. Or, even fears that a loved one may not live long enough to enjoy another Christmas.
In this passage, there was much fear after the death of Jesus. As He appeared among the disciples, I am sure they were not only startled, but they were full of fear as Jesus had to tell them twice, “Peace be with you!” The presence of Jesus quickly took the disciples from fear to being overjoyed. Jesus had an incredible mission for His disciples that would not be easy because it would bring persecution similar to what He had experienced, but He reminded them that they were going to have the Holy Spirit in which to live out this mission to tell the world about His forgiveness.
I often find myself sitting in the living room during the Christmas season when everyone else has gone to bed, or early in the morning, and the only light in the house is from the Christmas tree with its bright star on top. I feel some moments of peace from all of the hustle of the busy season, but more than that, I am overwhelmed with the thought that I have been forgiven and redeemed from my sin through Jesus. I have, living in me, the power of the Holy Spirit, which bears the only real peace for every season of my life because of Jesus. That is something you and I can be overjoyed about.
May Paul’s words in 2 Thessalonians 3:16 be true for you this Christmas season and for the next year. “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all.”
Application
What is a truth you can carry with you? How will you obey this passage? Are there any promises to claim or sins to avoid?
Prayer
Take time to pray for God to help you understand and apply this text today.
Share
Write down the name of someone you can share this with today.
By Kevin Punch
Scripture
Observation
When news spread that Saul was coming to join the apostles, fear must have gripped their hearts. Despite Saul’s radical encounter with Jesus, his past as a persecutor and killer of Christians preceded him. Now, this same man wanted to join their ranks. It likely felt like a trap, and fear took hold.
Fear is a powerful emotion. In healthy amounts, it can protect us from harm. But when fear takes over, it can imprison us, keeping us from living the life God intends. Fear of not fitting in can prevent us from connecting with God’s people. Fear of change can halt our growth in Christ. And fear of certain groups of people can stop us from reaching out to those far from God. Yet, God calls His people to live not by fear, but by faith.
Barnabas trusted God and vouched for Saul’s transformation. Because the apostles chose faith over fear, they welcomed Saul into their community, and as a result, the church experienced peace. Just as the apostles trusted God with their fears, we too, are invited to trust Him with our uncertainties and doubts. Faith, not fear, leads us to a place of peace.
Take some time today to reflect on your fears, even those that seem to creep in through the holidays. Ask God to lead you to a place of faith and fill you with the peace that comes from Him.
Application
What is a truth you can carry with you? How will you obey this passage? Are there any promises to claim or sins to avoid?
Prayer
Take time to pray for God to help you understand and apply this text today.
Share
Write down the name of someone you can share this with today.
Week 3: Love
By Kim Bushnell
Scripture
Observation
Abraham’s heart must have been aching as this story plays out and it becomes apparent that Isaac will be the sacrifice. I cannot imagine how horrible this must have been for both of them. Abraham loved his son! How was this part of God’s plan? Abraham was to sacrifice his only son? But God was testing Abraham. He did have a plan. God wanted Abraham’s heart even over Abraham’s great love for Isaac.
This passage (vs.2) contains the first use of the word love in the Bible. Its original meaning conveys delight and desire. This is a picture that points to God the Father’s great love for Christ and even more so many years later as a picture of God being willing to sacrifice His own Son as an offering for our sins. Abraham loved his son Isaac, but as the story unfolds, you see a devotion exceedingly greater for God. God taught Abraham that day but He also kept His promise to him.
Many years later, God kept His promise again as He sacrificed His own Son, except this time there was no substitute. Jesus, the Lamb of God, was sacrificed for our sins.
During the season of Advent we are reminded of this great love. Yes, we focus on Jesus as a baby this time of year, but in God’s divine love for us, a plan and a promise was unfolding. This story reminds us that God loves us beyond our imagination, so much so, that He sent us His only Son to be the sacrifice once for all.
Application
What is a truth you can carry with you? How will you obey this passage? Are there any promises to claim or sins to avoid?
Prayer
Take time to pray for God to help you understand and apply this text today.
Share
Write down the name of someone you can share this with today.
By Scott Levin
Scripture
Observation
Loving God sounds so simple, yet it can be difficult for us to do at times. How do we go about loving God the way that Moses is asking us? We obey His commands.
It says in John 14:15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commands.” Living our life this way means that we have to make sacrifices. We have to give up our own wants/desires to pursue what God has in store for us, which is far better than anything we can imagine for ourselves. God displayed this kind of love for us by making the ultimate sacrifice, His only son Jesus. John 3:16 says “For God loved the world in this way, He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life”.
God showed us the pinnacle of His love by giving. I believe this is also one of the best ways we can show love to those around us and share our relationship with God with others. By giving others our attention, time, prayer and focus, we can help lead people closer to Jesus, who gave it all for us. It isn’t easy to do this, but we can count on God to enable us to love like Him. It says in 1 John 4:19 “We love, because He first loved us.” So it is out of God’s love for us that we will grow in our ability to love others like Him, to love others the right way. For us to love like God, we must also live in the way of His Son, who gave everything. How can you give God’s love to someone today as an early Christmas present?
Application
What is a truth you can carry with you? How will you obey this passage? Are there any promises to claim or sins to avoid?
Prayer
Take time to pray for God to help you understand and apply this text today.
Share
Write down the name of someone you can share this with today.
By Annie Denney
Scripture
Observation
I work for a nonprofit that specializes in disaster relief. This year, I went with our disaster services team to Florida in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Helene to hear and share the stories of the people we served.
To hear from survivors, I walked the lines of cars in our drive-thru distribution and stopped at whoever had their window rolled down. Many times, I asked if I could pray for the families as they waited for their relief supplies. No one said “no,” so I held their hands and prayed that God would comfort them, make Himself known to them, and that they would know He loves them.
When I opened my eyes after prayer, someone would be crying, whether it was me or the family or all of us. It was a moving, paradoxical combination of devastation and hope.
A devastating hurricane, but the hope of help in recovery.
A devastating crucifixion, but the hope of resurrection.
A devastating fall from grace, but the hope of God’s love for us.
John 3:16 tells us that God loved us so much that He gave His Son so that those who believe in Him would not perish, but have eternal life with Him. Our eternal life — our hope — is the result of God’s love for us. In this season of giving, God’s love is an indescribable and marvelous gift. Take time to thank and praise Him for this unworldly love.
Application
What is a truth you can carry with you? How will you obey this passage? Are there any promises to claim or sins to avoid?
Prayer
Take time to pray for God to help you understand and apply this text today.
Share
Write down the name of someone you can share this with today.
By Jim and Teri Riley
Scripture
Observation
This Christmas our family is getting ready for a wedding. We will be celebrating the answer to 28 years of praying that God would give our daughter a follower of Jesus who will love her and care for her beautiful heart. We will be celebrating the end of their years of preparations and the beginning of their new life of love together. We now begin praying that they will embody Jesus’ command in John 13:35.
When Jesus said to His students, “as I have loved you, love one another,” it wasn’t just a regular day, a regular moment, a regular sentence. Our Lord had prepared for this day since the beginning of time. Right there, on the eve of His crucifixion, Jesus hands His followers a secret to how His disciple making movement would continue after His departure. He gives His disciples a mission, a goal, a motivation, a reason to get up each morning: to glorify Jesus by loving each other as the Messiah loves His Bride, the Church. The result: people notice. People see Jesus in the way we love each other.
How are we doing this Christmas? Are we loving each other well? Are we giving up our lives for our brothers and sisters? As we prepare for Christmas, let’s make a commitment to show the world how Jesus’ followers love one another. What practical ways can you love others today?
Application
What is a truth you can carry with you? How will you obey this passage? Are there any promises to claim or sins to avoid?
Prayer
Take time to pray for God to help you understand and apply this text today.
Share
Write down the name of someone you can share this with today.
By Rodney Anderson
Scripture
Observation
At the time I write this, I am waiting for the birth of my first grandchild, Robin, who will be born any time now. Family, given to us by the Father, is love embodied. I love my unborn granddaughter even without having seen her. How much more the Father, who sees us even in the womb, loves us.
Just as I would make whatever sacrifice necessary to help my soon to be granddaughter, so also our Heavenly Father makes all the sacrifices necessary to help us out. He sent His only begotten Son, to show us in a visible, physical way what His divine nature is. His divine nature is LOVE!
As the Father shows us His love in Jesus, so He also shows us love in His actions towards His Son, Jesus. He was with Jesus through His trials and troubles even to the point of raising Him from the dead!
The child born to us was also the child of God who died FOR us in order to free us from separation from the Father! Love reunites family! In love, the Son was restored to the Father! In that same love, we, the adopted children, are restored to the Father also!
This Advent, may you be rooted like a tree in the love of the Father and grounded in that love. May you grow to the fullness of a tree reproducing the fruit of the Spirit which is Love and sharing it with all around you!
Application
What is a truth you can carry with you? How will you obey this passage? Are there any promises to claim or sins to avoid?
Prayer
Take time to pray for God to help you understand and apply this text today.
Share
Write down the name of someone you can share this with today.
By Wyatt Jenkins
Scripture
Observation
The hustle and bustle of the Christmas season can leave us empty. We did all the right things: bought the gifts, sent the cards, welcomed the families, sang the songs, and went to the services. Yet, something is missing.
This beautiful passage in Colossians is like a warm hug from a dear family member. It gently reminds us that we belong in the family of Christ, that we are dearly loved, chosen and forgiven. We don’t have to search for identity or turn to success to give us purpose, connectivity and meaning. We don’t have to have a perfectly decorated home or a Louvre-worthy family picture on our Christmas card to come to the Father. Miraculously, we are welcomed into and find belonging in the body of Christ through the loving sacrifice of Jesus…just as we are.
Just like those around us, the people who left us off their Christmas card list, ignored us, forgot us, never reached out, took something from us, abandoned us, or hurt us… none of us deserved to be welcomed into the family of Christ. Yet, out of God’s great love for hurting, broken sinners, Jesus came to earth to make a way for us to be welcomed into the body.
Love put on flesh and bone to unify us with the Father. Growing in the likeness of Jesus, may we, who are flesh and bone, put on love to maintain unity in the body of Christ this Christmas season to the glory of the Father.
Application
What is a truth you can carry with you? How will you obey this passage? Are there any promises to claim or sins to avoid?
Prayer
Take time to pray for God to help you understand and apply this text today.
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By Kasen Scott
Scripture
Observation
Happy Christmas season! I can’t believe it is only four days till Christmas. This is a crazy season full of shopping, eating food, and a huge part of it is…presents! My family and I have always enjoyed opening presents together. I remember jumping out of bed ready for presents not knowing it was only 5 AM!
Our family tradition is to read the story of the birth of Christ before we open presents. This might make you think that my siblings and I would be super anxious about opening our presents, but it brought peace. It felt like we were already given a great present. In 2 Corinthians 13:11-13 we get a glimpse of the love of God through the presents of Christ…see what I did there?
How is Paul trying to encourage us? With the love of God that will be with us…Emmanuel. Paul knows that the world is corrupted and that we can sometimes go days without feeling loved. Here’s how much God loves us; He sent His Son to die on the cross for our sins. So, as you hear the story of Jesus, be filled with the love and peace that only comes from the God of Heaven and earth.
I pray that as you inch closer to Christmas, you will be filled with peace and you will show love to your family, as well as the people around you this Christmas season.
Merry Christmas!
Application
What is a truth you can carry with you? How will you obey this passage? Are there any promises to claim or sins to avoid?
Prayer
Take time to pray for God to help you understand and apply this text today.
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Week 4: Joy
By Garrett Holle
Scripture
Observation
Isaiah encapsulates the justice of Jesus so well, and he does it 700 years before Jesus is even born! Verses 6 and 7 may seem familiar to us, but we would do well not to miss the scope of justice in the first verses of the chapter.
Christmas is the coming of Christ, whose life and arrival is the truest picture of justice lived out. Don’t get it twisted: the Christmas story may be cute, but it’s more than that. Jesus’ arrival is a promise that “there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress.” Isaiah is proclaiming that one day, God’s righteousness will spread to all nations, all people – and it did! Here we are!
With Christ’s arrival, we get to live in the reality of His justice/righteousness. Christmas is precious, but not because the story involves a baby and barn animals. Christmas is precious because we see the embodiment of God’s divine Justice taking the throne. It points us to a future where His peace has no end, an almost comical story of a birth that carries cosmic meaning. So, when we think about Christmas, we should think of Justice and Righteousness.
Have you lost the wonder of Christmas? The lights, trees and cookies not doing it for you this year? The arrival of Justice brings joy; His Righteousness can help us find awe again.
Application
What is a truth you can carry with you? How will you obey this passage? Are there any promises to claim or sins to avoid?
Prayer
Take time to pray for God to help you understand and apply this text today.
Share
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By Ryan Smith
Scripture
Observation
Each time my wife was pregnant, we got to experience our children’s movement before their birth. Amanda would experience it differently and more often than me (especially if she ate something spicy), but she’d alert me to the baby’s movements and I would anxiously come to place my hand. Would I feel anything? Maybe. There was anticipation in that hand placement sometimes I wouldn’t feel anything, but many times I would feel their little kicks and movements as they adjusted position.
Those moments elicited JOY. As we sat there feeling our child(ren) move, we would dream of what our lives and their lives would be like. What would we name them (if we hadn’t already)? What kind of person would they become? A common phrase for a new baby is to refer to them as a bundle of JOY. For new parents, they fully understand that joy is not necessarily tied to emotion. When you have late nights and babies that can’t be consoled, the emotion you feel is not necessarily happiness. But JOY remains. You have a little copy of yourself that is full of potential regardless of your current happiness or frustration; JOY remains. Similarly, Jesus came as a bundle of JOY causing a leap of excitement from John in utero. Jesus was made in His Father’s image, full of potential that played out to completion on the cross.
Just like John, we should leap with joy in His presence take a moment to rediscoer your JOY in Him.
Application
What is a truth you can carry with you? How will you obey this passage? Are there any promises to claim or sins to avoid?
Prayer
Take time to pray for God to help you understand and apply this text today.
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By Joy Colvett
Scripture
Observation
I was blessed with one of the finest grandmas on earth. She was born in the early 1900’s and lived through the Great Depression. She was a prayer warrior deluxe and always had joy, no matter the circumstance. She prayed constantly for us grandkids and others, and I’m so thankful to have witnessed that! She was also instrumental in leading me to Christ as a child.
As 2024 nears an end and my family looks forward to spending time together for Christmas, we are reminded of Grandma’s passing into Glory twenty years ago. We will never forget surrounding her deathbed, singing hymns, holding hands as she began taking her final breaths. We sang “Because He Lives,” as it was one of her favorites. We began the final stanza:
- “And then one day, I’ll cross the river,
I’ll fight life’s final war with pain;
And then, as death gives way to victory,
I’ll see the lights of Glory, and I’ll know He lives!”
Words and Music by Gloria Gaither and William Gaither, 1971 Hanna Street Music, CCLI License # 274134
As we sang, Grandma’s feet tapped in perfect rhythm to that stanza and also to the chorus. Grandma worshiped in her last moments on earth because she knew the real source of JOY in this life was Jesus!
1 Peter 1:8-9 reads: “You love Him even though you have never seen Him. Though you do not see Him now, you trust Him, and rejoice with a glorious inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting Him will be the salvation of your souls.”
As we embark on Christmas Day tomorrow, let’s thank our Heavenly Father for the gift of His Son, Jesus, who came into the world as a baby, lived a sinless life, and would take all our sins to the cross that we might live with Him for ALL ETERNITY! That gives reason for us all to live with REAL JOY!!
Application
What is a truth you can carry with you? How will you obey this passage? Are there any promises to claim or sins to avoid?
Prayer
Take time to pray for God to help you understand and apply this text today.
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By Hanes Koshy
Scripture
Genesis 1:3-4; John 1:1-5; 1 John 1:7
Observation
No more in darkness.
From the dawn of creation, God’s first command was, “Let there be light.” He saw that the light was good and separated it from the darkness. Yet, after the fall of man, darkness clouded humanity, creating this illusion that hiding in the shadows would conceal our true selves.
In John 1, when the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, Jesus the Light of the world, did not separate from the darkness. Instead, He chose to step into it.
The song “Here I Am to Worship” captures this beautifully: “Light of the world, You stepped down into darkness, opened my eyes, let me see.”
Jesus didn’t just bring light; He is the Light, He illuminates our path, revealing the truth, dispelling the shadows of sin and despair.
On this Christmas Day, we remember that the same God who spoke light into existence continues to shine through Christ. His light draws us into awe and worship, a love so powerful it pierces through the deepest darkness. As we reflect on His sacrifice, we can truly say, “Here I am to worship, here I am to bow down.” For, “If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and His blood purifies us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).
This Christmas, may Christ’s light fill our hearts as we shine it brightly into a world in need.
Merry Christmas!
Application
What is a truth you can carry with you? How will you obey this passage? Are there any promises to claim or sins to avoid?
Prayer
Take time to pray for God to help you understand and apply this text today.
Share
Write down the name of someone you can share this with today.