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“Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations.” Isaiah 42:1

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Cameron walked onto the playground, excited for field day kickball. As a team captain, he got to pick his team. He looked around and thought, “Who runs fast? Who kicks hard? Who catches the ball?” He wanted the very best team. But picking was hard. What if he chose the wrong person? Cameron kept wondering, “Did I pick the right teammate?” Only time would tell.

Waiting a few months can feel long. Now imagine waiting 700 years! That’s longer than your great-great-great-great-grandparents ago. That’s a really, really long time. If we had to choose a champion 700 years ahead of time, we would get nervous and change our minds.

But God is different.

The prophet Isaiah wrote these words 700 years before Jesus was born: “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight.” God was saying, “This is the one I choose.” God didn’t guess. He didn’t worry. He already knew the perfect champion.

God had been talking about this champion for a very long time. He promised Adam and Eve a Savior. He promised Abraham a Savior. He promised through Isaiah. And then he sent his Son, Jesus. Jesus is God’s forever choice. His name “Christ” means “the Chosen (Anointed) One.”

Jesus did what no one else could do. He obeyed God perfectly. He died on the cross for our sins. And he rose from the dead. That means Jesus defeated sin, the devil, and death—for us! God picked the perfect champion, so we never have to wonder if we are safe.

God’s choice is good. And Jesus is our champion.

Dear Father in heaven, thank you for sending your Son to be our champion over sin, Satan, and death. Lead us to keep on trusting in him alone for our salvation. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

Questions for Elementary Age Children

Questions for Middle School and Above

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