Scripture Reading: Genesis 22:1-19, Luke 2:32

As we are nearing the day we wait for all year long, we look beyond the gifts and tinsel to praise Most Holy God for the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus. 

We find ourselves in a search looking for what might bring us close to God and forgive us for the wrongs we've done. Do you know if you are forgiven by God? Is it something we can do for ourselves? Is it a love offering that I could give? What about a monetary gift? ... can we provide a bribe, a wage, our time, a promise, our house, car, bank account, 401K, stocks, jewelry, education, abilities, family??? What? The search goes on but nothing found can take away our sin...

Abraham loved God and was obedient to God and did not disobey Him for Issac's safety. Abraham said to His son, Isaac, "God himself will provide the Lamb." Abraham was asked to sacrifice his son, but God provided a substitute. God sacrificed his Son, Jesus, as a substitutionary atonement for our sins.  Jesus willingly humbled himself and became obedient unto death - even death on a cross.

"I am too ashamed and disgraced, my God, to lift up my face to you, because our sins are higher than our heads and our guilt has reached to the heavens." Ezra 9:6

Have you ever prayed a prayer similar to Ezra's?

Have you searched to find forgiveness for what you've done wrong, a sin, against God?

What provision could be made for the sinful state we find ourselves in? Was there something I could do?

God provided a Lamb in Christ Jesus - finding the perfect redemption wasn't up to me - God already gave it. Like Abraham, we obey God knowing and trusting he has provided all we need for the forgiveness of sin.

The babe laying in the manger was God's sacrificial gift to us and the babe himself, the Son of Sacrifice, was a bundle of love, joy, peace and our redemption.

Take some time now to thank the Lord in prayer.

Thank you, Jesus, for coming to our broken world full of sin and despair. Thank you for showing us how to live through your life. Thank you for being the ultimate sacrifice for each of us who believe in you. Thank you, Son of Sacrifice, for carrying the cross and dying for me that I might live with you forever.

I'll Give Him My Heart (by The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir)

What can I give Him Poor as I am

If I were a shepherd,

I would bring Him a Lamb

If I were a wise man, I'd sure do my part

So what can I give Him

Give Him my heart

What can I give Him

But all of my heart

Scripture Reading: Luke 1:32

The birth of Jesus wasn’t random.  It was promised thousands of years beforehand -- He is the Son of Promise.  Hundreds of years before Jesus, God promised David that he would raise up one of David’s descendants, whose throne would last forever. (2 Samuel 7:13).  Here in Luke 1:32 we see that promise fulfilled.  Even farther back, God promised Abraham that “all the nations of the earth will be blessed by your offspring.”(Genesis 26:4).  This promise was also fulfilled by Jesus. (Galatians 3:16).  What’s incredible is that even in the Garden of Eden right after Adam and Eve fell into sin, we see the promise of one who would “strike” the “head” of Satan. (Genesis 3:15).   This too is fulfilled by Jesus -- his death and resurrection conquered Satan, Sin, and Death.

Reflection Questions:

1.      As we saw with the birth of Jesus, God keeps his promises.  But it might not be in our timing– David probably didn’t anticipate it would be hundreds of years before the promise was answered.  Are there ways that you are experiencing impatience with God’s promises?

2.      Let’s think about some other of God’s promises:  Read Philippians 1:6; 1 Peter 5: 8-10; Revelation 21: 3-4; Hebrews 13:5-6.  How does seeing that God kept his promise to send Jesus, give you more faith that he will keep his other promises?

Scripture Reading: Luke 1:32; Gen 14:18-20; Heb 5:5-10; Psalms 110:4

Depending on your background, you may be unfamiliar with the idea of having to go through a priest to make peace with God. But ever since the fall, there has been a requirement for sin’s atonement. And in Scripture, we see that God has always provided the specific parameters for that atonement.

In the Old Testament, the Jewish people had high priests from the tribe of Levi who would offer sacrifices on behalf of themselves and the Jews. There was a routine structure in place and the stakes were very high.

Read Luke 1:32; Psalm 110:4; Gen 14:18-20

Many passages of Scripture refer to Melchizedek, a high priest from a different lineage whom Hebrews 7 describes as worthy of priesthood not because of heritage but by character. He serves as a precursor to Jesus Christ, our permanent high priest whose ultimate sacrifice on the cross does not need to be replenished or accompanied by additional sacrifices.

Take a moment to consider what it means that Jesus stands between us and the Father, interceding on our behalf.

Read Hebrews 5:5-10

Jesus, whom Hebrews describes as our forever high priest, has made the final, totally sufficient sacrifice in His body on the cross for all sins past, present, and future. For those who have trusted in the blood of Jesus for the atonement of their sins and have submitted their lives to Him, Scripture tells us He is always interceding for us before the Father. What an amazing thought!

Reflection Questions:

1.     Have you struggled to believe that Jesus is praying for you? How do you feel knowing that Jesus is interceding for you right now as you read this? (See Hebrews 7:25)

2.     That in Him, God is for you? 

Take a moment today to pray and reflect on the reality that Jesus has reconciled us to the Father – forever and thank Him for constantly interceding for you to the Father in prayer.

Scripture Reading: Luke 1:26-38

Before Jesus was born, it was promised that he would appear. That was one great promise! Can you remember a time when a promise was made to you, that came true, and was wonderful? Maybe you were promised a special gift that you received, and you treasured that gift when it was yours. Maybe you were told that you would go on a trip to a far away place and the destination seemed almost unreachable until you arrived.

When God sent the angel, Gabriel, to tell Mary that she would give birth to Jesus, she was troubled by Gabriel’s message. She didn’t quite understand why he came to her with this earth shattering news. Gabriel reassured Mary that she had found great favor in God’s eyes. Mary should trust that God loved her and was pleased with her. This helped her believe that God was going to do something that seemed impossible.

Believing in a promise means putting your hope into the fact that the promise will be fulfilled. Just like Mary, we as Christians are faced with the question of whether we will trust God and His ways or whether we will lean into our own understanding. We are called to obey God even when we do not know exactly what He is doing. Just like Mary, the picture God is painting in front of us may trouble us. However, just like Mary, we too, have great hope that God’s plans are perfect.

God loves us and is pleased with us because His promise came true about His Son, Jesus. Yet, sometimes we struggle to believe what God says in His Word, and because of this, we sometimes fail to trust God and follow in obedience. However, in His great love for us, God made a way for you and I to be forgiven for our sins and to live in eternal relationship with Him. When we believe that Jesus is the Son of God according to the truth of Scripture, turning away from our sins, then we become sons and daughters of God. Amazing! Like Mary, we can be found favorable in the sight of God…not because of our goodness, but because God’s promise is true.

When you’re tempted to wonder how you can possibly trust God in the face of something that seems impossible, remember Gabriel’s promise to Mary. He told her that the Holy Spirit would come upon her and accomplish all that God had declared to happen. We can have hope and find freedom in the fact that when we trust God, and believe in His Son, the Holy Spirit will lead us to obey and live for God’s glory.

Questions & promises for reflection:

1.       Have you ever had trouble believing, or keeping, a promise?  Ask God’s forgiveness when you doubt or when you do not fulfill a promise. Remember that God keeps all His promises, and they are all fulfilled in Jesus Christ!

2.       How would you have felt if you were Mary? Remember that God is bigger than what we see. He is bigger than our fears. 

Family Activity:

The angel Gabriel helped to calm Mary’s fears by telling her some good news. Think of a time when you helped someone to overcome a fear by sharing good news or encouragement. What did you say? Did he or she feel better after you shared this news? Now, write down the name of a friend or family member whom you can share the good news of Jesus with this Christmas!

Christmas Song:

The Promise of a Savior – The Chapel

Scripture Reading: Genesis 3:1-24

As we prepare to reflect on the birth of Jesus, we cannot ignore the reason for which He came. It is important to ask, why would God send His only Son to Earth? Along with the Holy Spirit, the Father and the Son existed, and continue to exist, in perfect harmony with one another. What was God’s plan in sending His Son?

When we go back to Genesis, the first book of the Bible, we see God’s creation of man and woman, humans who were made in God’s image and meant to live in union with their Creator. As we read, we quickly learn that this union was broken by the disobedience of Adam and Eve; the fall of man. Adam and Eve fell out of a right relationship with God and were face to face with their own sin, shame and brokenness for the first time. This is now true of us; we often live in fear and shame over our sins being revealed.

The truth is that God has already seen all of our sin, and he has offered divine grace to us. That is what Christmas is all about. Jesus was born to live a perfect life on Earth and to die for our sins on the cross. Christmas is a divine rescue mission!

God promised Adam and Eve that there would be One who would come to forever strike the head of the serpent and conquer evil and death in this world. As we look toward Christmas Day, we look to the hope that Christ died for our sins, and we believe in Him for forgiveness and redemption. One day, we will live forever in the presence of God, by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ alone. Today, we can already worship Jesus as King, Rescuer and Conqueror.

Reflection Questions:

1.    What is the primary reason Jesus was born? Why is it important to first realize why Jesus was sent to Earth before anything else?

2.    What are some ways the birth of Christ gives you hope this Christmas season?

3.    Who is someone you could invite to Christmas on the Moon with you tomorrow (12/3)? Invite them directly if you have not already!

We are excited to introduce CITYCHURCH’s Advent study and podcast to you. We will be providing you with a series of daily devotions to carry us through the Advent season. Our brothers and sisters throughout history and around the world have set aside this season to concentrate on, and celebrate the coming of Jesus Christ. In this study, we invite you to join in a series of daily devotions to help direct our attention and affections to this Christ who stepped out of heaven and came for us. Go ahead and check out our Advent website and subscribe to our podcast today to make sure you have this content delivered to you as soon as it’s available. 

Welcome to City Church’s Advent devotional. We pray that this blesses you and your family.