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A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the LORD—and he will delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked. Isaiah 11:1-4

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

What choices did you make today? Did you choose what to wear, what to eat, and what to do first this morning? Did you decide to brush your teeth or make your bed? We make tons of choices every single day! Some choices are easy, like brushing your teeth (please do!). Others, like picking out clothes, can feel like a big deal.

Just like you make choices, there are people whose whole job is to make really important choices. They’re called judges. In a courtroom, a judge listens to both sides of a story and chooses if someone is guilty or innocent.

During Advent, we remember something important: one day, Jesus will come back, and it will be judgment day. Everyone—every person who ever lived—will stand before him. Jesus will decide where we spend forever.

That can sound a little scary, right? Jesus knows everything. He knows every thought, every word, every action, even the ones we hope no one ever finds out about. If Jesus were a mean or unfair judge, that would be terrifying.

But guess what? He isn’t mean. He isn’t unfair. He is the BEST judge. In the Bible, Isaiah tells us something amazing about Jesus: “He will not judge by what he sees or hears . . . but with righteousness he will judge” (Isaiah 11:3-4). That word righteousness sounds big, but it simply means: Jesus always does what is right. Every. Single. Time.

And here’s the best news: On judgment day, you don’t have to be scared—because the judge is also your defender! Jesus took your punishment on the cross. He gave you his perfect life as a gift.

So, when Jesus looks at you, he says: “Not guilty! Forgiven! Mine forever!” That’s why judgment day isn’t scary at all. For believers, it’s the day Jesus welcomes us home.

Lord Jesus, thank you for being a judge who always does what is right. When I start to feel nervous about judgment day, remind me that you already took my punishment and forgave all my sins. Help me trust you and look forward to the day you bring me home to heaven. 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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