Christmas Devotional

The Christmas season is here, and that means Christmas parties, treats, lights, fun, AND Jesus! It can be hard to remember to take time to celebrate Jesus when the Christmas break is less like a break and feels more rushed. The season of Advent, leading up to Christmas, is the four weeks before Christmas. This season helps you take time to remember four key aspects about Jesus: hope, peace, joy, and love! 

Hope:

Jesus gives us hope for a restart and a second chance! Genesis 6 is the story of Noah and the ark, and after the flood, God promises that he will never destroy the whole world again with a flood and that his offspring will be fruitful and multiply, and says that his offspring (descendants) will deliver him, indicating a hope for all of their sins. This hope is for everyone! God is the only one who can give us Hope, and it will never fail! 

Peace:

We are also given Peace from Jesus! In Genesis 12, God says that he will make Abram a great nation so that he will be a blessing. He gives us all this blessing, and we are given the honor to bless others with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and faithfulness! God also promises Abraham that “kings will come from you.” (Genesis 17:6) God gives us peace because of who he promises as a future blessing, while seeing past our limitations. 

Joy: Living the life God gives us, with God by our side, gives Joy that can be with us even in struggles. In Deuteronomy 30:11-19, God shows us the difference between choosing life vs death. In life, we will prosper, live, and multiply,  but in death, there is only darkness and pain. If you truly believe and love God, you have accepted God into your life, you have chosen life, and have the Joy that God promises! God gives us Joy for the life that Jesus promises those who love him! 

Love: God promises a faithful future and a forever king from the line of the descendants of David. A shepherd-king! Jesus is that shepherd king that God gave us because of how much he loves us and cares for us! Praise for a God who loves us and wants to be with us in spite of our failings. 

Have a wonderful Christmas!