As sons and daughters, we long to be in the presence of God the Father. Galatians 4:6 says, “You can tell for sure that you are now fully adopted as his own children because God sent the Spirit of his Son into our lives crying out, ‘Papa! Father!’” (MSG).

Devotion

God established an eternal covenant with us through Jesus. This time of the Lord’s favor is now! Jesus has come, paid for our sins, and is preparing His forever kingdom. No matter our circumstances, we are blessed.  

Devotion

Maybe you need healing from a chronic or undiagnosed illness. Maybe you’re looking for work and wondering how you will provide for your family. The miracle you’re looking for might not come in the package you expect, but it will come. God is faithful in fulfilling His promises.

Devotion

Isaiah 11:1-10 foretells God’s plan for a king to rule His people. These verses announced to God’s people, “Your savior is coming! He will stand in awe of the Lord. He will be righteous and dispense justice based on obedience, not favoritism.” 

This kingdom would be different than anything they, or we, have ever known. This king would ask people to follow Him, not demand obedience from them. He would draw people to Himself through love, not fear.

Jesus is king Isaiah describes. And when He returns to rule and reign, “the whole earth will be brimming with knowing God-Alive, a living knowledge of God ocean-deep, ocean-wide” (Isaiah 11:9, MSG).

Isaiah 52:7-10 and Romans 10:8-15 celebrate the beauty of messengers delivering good news. Believers, like messengers, share the transformative message of salvation through Jesus. As Christmas approaches, the call is to intentionally share this good news, fostering hope in Christ. The conversation starter encourages discussing the joy of sharing faith, aiming to impact lives during the season. The prayer expresses gratitude for salvation's message and seeks divine guidance in being messengers of hope during Christmas.

Devotion

Read John 1:1-14

It’s a common plot for Christmas movies. Girl bumps her head and wakes up in a different reality. She remembers everything, but no one recognizes who she really is. 

Do you ever wonder if that’s how Jesus felt sometimes? He was walking around in the world He created, but few saw Him for who He was. John 1:10 says, “He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.”

Jesus was not part God, part man. He was completely divine and completely human at the same time. This is what makes Jesus’ arrival is the most amazing event in all of history. The eternal, omnipotent, omnipresent, infinitely holy God took on a human nature and lived among us! 

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.” - John 1:1-3

God loves it when we acknowledge the good things He does for us. But even if God never did another thing for us, He would still be worthy of our worship. 

Worship is more than singing. Worship is a life lived for the Lord. Romans 12:1 tells us, “true and proper worship is to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God.” 

Worship is willingly surrendering to God’s plan for our lives every day. When we do, we give Jesus the greatest gift of all — a heart devoted to Him alone.

Read Matthew 2:1-12

Every Old Testament law was designed to teach God’s people to love Him and love others. But after generations of trying, Israel discovered what God knew to be true. We are incapable of keeping God’s law without His help. 

Jesus’ death and resurrection provide a way for us to experience freedom from sin. When we believe in Jesus, we receive His Spirit, and with it, the ability to really love and finally fulfill God’s law.

Read Luke 2:36-40, Matthew 5:17-18

We understand that true and lasting joy comes from our Father in heaven. Listen to this week's sermon to see how we can have joy that lasts!

What we believe about the baby in the manger reveals what is truly in our hearts. Do we see Jesus as a reason to decorate, gather friends, and feast? Or do we see Him as He really is: Savior of the world, Immanuel, Prince of Peace.  

When we see Jesus as our savior rather than a nativity character, our perspective on Christmas changes. Buying presents becomes a reminder of God’s blessing instead of a burden. Gatherings go from obligations to opportunities to celebrate Jesus.

Read Luke 2:21-35

Devotion