12/21/2024
Read: John 13:34 - “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Reflect: As we reflect on the love we have received from the Lord through Jesus, we must not think of ourselves as reservoirs of His love. As people who continue to receive more and more of the love of God, it can be easy for us to only internalize it, using it to build up our lives and our faith. But rather than reservoirs, we must begin to see ourselves as overflowing rivers of God’s love, blessing all we touch as we run downstream. This is how the world knows we are disciples of Christ. Not merely by our words, our position on social issues, or our allegiances, but by our love. Think about this: when the world looks at the church, is it love that they see? Is love the first thing that comes to mind? We have an especially powerful opportunity during the Advent season to proclaim to the world that we are disciples of Jesus by showing real, sacrificial love for one another. Love that is not fragile or fleeting, but that endures during the difficult seasons of our church relationships. The world craves this love, and doesn’t even know it. Let us shine as lights of love that we may draw the world to the Lord Jesus!
Respond: Think about your relationships in the church: how well are you loving your spiritual brothers and sisters, fathers and mothers, sons and daughters? Ask the Lord to fill you with His love that it may overflow into your relationships around you, knowing that this is how the world will know you are a follower of Jesus. Thank Him that He loved us so well that we might know how to love others.
12/20/2024
Read: Deuteronomy 23:5 - “Nevertheless the Lord your God would not listen to Balaam, but the Lord your God turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the Lord your God loves you.”
Reflect: Balaam was a prophet of the Lord hired by a foreign ruler to curse the children of Israel. But when he inquired to the Lord what he should do, not only did God stop him from cursing Israel, He used Balaam to bless them instead! Because of the Lord’s great love for us, so many of our curses have been turned into blessings. The curse of a lost job turns into a greater opportunity and the Lord’s leading. The curse of a broken down car turns into a divinely appointed conversation with a mechanic who needed to hear the gospel. The curse of the Son of God being hanged on a tree was turned into the blessing of redemption! As Joseph experienced in Genesis 50, what man intends for evil, God can use for good. His love for us is so great that He will work all things together for those who love Him and are called by Him. When faced with what seems to be a curse, remember that God can use it for a blessing. We must trust His love and sovereignty over our lives.
Respond: Think back on your life: what are some curses God turned into blessings? Praise Him for these! If there are situations that seem like a curse today, tell God you trust His love. Ask Him to help you endure this season that you might see the blessing ahead.
12/19/2024
Read: 1 John 4:9-10 - "In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins."
Reflect: The idea of love in our culture has been twisted and greatly diminished. Our world would say that love is a feeling of deep affection for another person, or an exciting attraction, or even when you think “I can’t live without them.” But the reality of love -- as God would define it -- is much different. Love is sacrifice. The Lord showed us His love in the sending of His only Son, to be persecuted and crucified that we might live through Him. He sent Jesus to be a sacrifice, that we might be freed from our sin and have a renewed relationship with Him. Our world finds the idea of sacrificial love suffocating, foolish, limiting. That you can’t possibly be happy by giving up your desires. But God is so much wiser than Man. He knows and proclaims the truth: it is only through sacrifice that we can access a much deeper and satisfying love than we imagine. Real love is not about how much I receive, but how much I give. And God gave more than anyone has ever given in love. And to go further, He loved us before we ever loved Him, while we were still His enemies. There is no truer love than the love God has for each one of us.
Respond: Ask the Lord to help you redefine love on His terms. Remember how much He gave for you, and that this is a demonstration of His awesome love! Thank Him for loving you even before You loved Him.
12/18/2024
Read: Leviticus 26:6 - “I will give peace in the land, and you shall lie down, and none will make you afraid; I will rid the land of evil beasts, and the sword will not go through your land.”
Reflect: Much of the peace of Advent is about the peace God has already delivered to us through His Son Jesus. But there is an element of peace that exists in the “not yet”, a peace that we are still waiting for. Though we are thankful for the peace with God and in our hearts that Jesus has delivered to us, as we look around at our world, we see many “evil beasts”. We see the sword, pestilence, famine, and all manner of evils running through our land. When will we have peace around us, not just in us? At the second Advent, Jesus will come to claim His rightful place as ruler of the universe, and as He reigns, He will bring about true, ultimate peace in our land. There will no longer be anything that makes us afraid and we will be able to fully rest in His peace. King Jesus will not allow evil to continue for much longer. He will rid our world of all evil and violence and death. And this promise of a future peace gives us peace even today, because we know who victory belongs to, and that we will stand with Him in His triumph. Above all, it is paramount we remember that peace does not ultimately depend on us. It is brought in by the Lord’s work, and only His work. May Your peace come quickly, Lord Jesus!
Respond: As you meditate upon the future peace Jesus will bring, ask Him to strengthen you with His peace today. Thank Him that He has not and will not leave us alone to face the world, and that He will come again for us. Imagine what that Day will be like, with the Lord Jesus on the throne of the world.
12/17/2024
Read: Hebrews 12:14 - “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.”
Reflect: We’ve studied briefly in these devotionals on the different kinds of peace that are delivered to us. But this can give the impression that peace is something you only sit back and receive. Yes, God has given us peace with Himself through Jesus, and peace of heart that we have access to, but peace with the people around us is more complicated. Peace must be pursued, not merely received. Not everyone has received the peace of Jesus. To pursue peace with others takes work, sacrifice, humility, love, and boldness. And the goal is not only peace with those we care for, but peace with all. Including your “enemies”, the ones who seem to make peace unattainable. But God demonstrated His love in that He made peace with us who, at the time, were still His enemies. If the Lord Jesus lived this way, how can we, His servants, expect any difference for ourselves? And lest we fall into despair when peace cannot be achieved with another person, bring to mind Romans 12:18: “as much as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” If you have done all you can to make peace, and it still avails nothing, give the situation to the Lord and rest in His sovereignty. We cannot allow our pursuit of peace to rob us of our peace in the process.
Respond: Think on the relationships in your life: are there any in which peace has been broken? Have you done all you can to pursue peace with those people? Pray the Lord would enable you to pursue peace with them. And then with discernment and faith, seek them out. Remember and thank the Lord that He pursued peace with you, even when you were far from Him.
12/16/2024
Read: Isaiah 53:5 - “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.”
Reflect: During the Advent season, we (rightly) fix our gaze upon the baby Lord Jesus, celebrating His miraculous birth. But we must never forget, especially during this time, that this baby grew into a Man. And in order to accomplish and deliver peace to us, that Man was wounded and bruised for our sin. The word “chastise” today is usually interpreted as a rebuke or correction. But the real meaning behind this word speaks of a severe punishment. Severe punishment was upon Jesus for the sake of our peace, resulting in our healing. The reason for His birth into this world was to save sinners -- for each one of us. Recall what Simeon said to Mary: “a sword will pierce your soul also”. We of course need to celebrate, and rejoice, and sing praises for the birth of our Savior! For being our hope and light. But it’s important for us to allow the sword of what He will one day accomplish to pierce our own souls as well. A somber remembrance of the work of Jesus, mixed with the glorious joy of His first appearing. This tension is at the core of the Christian experience. Thanks be to God for the birth and sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ!
Respond: Take a moment to thank the Lord Jesus for bringing us peace through His suffering. If there is any sin that remains in your heart, confess and repent, knowing that He died for your freedom. Praise God for healing your soul with His stripes!
12/15/2024
Read: Romans 5:1 - “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Reflect: Even more important than the inner peace that is brought by the Lord Jesus, is the peace He has brokered between us and God Almighty. Before the Advent of Jesus, there had been a chasm and an enmity between us and the Lord, as a result of our rebellion against Him. And without any way for us to mend the relationship outside of perfectly keeping the Law, it seemed like peace would be lost forever. But thanks be to God for the Lord Jesus Christ, who by His death and resurrection bridged the gap and ended the contention between man and God! And accessing this peace is so very simple: we place our faith in the work of Jesus and allow Him to justify us before the Lord. It does not depend on any work from us or any character we strive to attain; it simply all rests on the shoulders of Jesus. Even if I never had peace with another single soul in this world for the rest of my days, I can rest assured, because peace with God is mine forever!
Respond: Simply take some time to thank the Lord Jesus for bringing peace between you and the Lord. Even if peace is elusive to you in this time, remember that your peace with God is eternal, and no one can ever take that peace away.
12/14/2024
Read: Isaiah 52:7 - “How beautiful upon the mountain are the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace, who brings glad tidings of good things, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’”
Reflect: Peace is not only something to be attained, it is also something to be proclaimed. We have been given such a beautiful mission and ministry from our Lord, to proclaim His peace to anyone who will hear it. We are essentially continuing the mission of those angels who appeared to the shepherds on the night of Jesus’ birth: proclaiming good tidings, the gospel of Jesus. And here Isaiah is equating the proclamation of peace with two things: proclaiming salvation to the lost and proclaiming God’s victory to the saved. As we bring the gospel (good news) to the lost, we are proclaiming the way for them to have peace with God. Through the life and death of Jesus, they are covered in His righteousness, and spared the wrath of God. And when we tell His people “your God reigns”, we proclaim the ultimate peace that is now and not yet. Victory has been won over death and sin through Jesus, and one day every knee will bow, and we will have lasting peace. It is a good and right thing for us to rest in the peace the Lord has brought us through Advent. But we must never forget the call to proclaim the peace our God has brought to the whole world if they would only receive the Savior who achieved it!
Respond: Go to the Lord in prayer and ask Him: how can I not only live in peace, but bring Your peace to the world around me today? Ask Him for the boldness to be a bringer of good tidings to all those around you who live in darkness. And thank Him that He is God who reigns eternally!
12/13/2024
Read: John 14:27 - “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
Reflect: All of us want to live our lives in peace. Few people enjoy conflict or trouble. In peaceful times, we tend to make our plans thinking the peace will never end. But life doesn’t quite work that way. One diagnosis, one scandal, one conflict, one expensive accident, are all it takes to shatter this fragile peace. And the world offers many remedies to this. The peace of distraction, the peace of lies, the peace of ignorance... So when Jesus says He gives us His peace, and not as the world gives, He’s not saying He will stop all of the peace-ending events of our lives. With His peace, you can have an untroubled heart even in the midst of a troubled life. And unlike the peace of the world, which is usually just avoidance, His peace stares directly at the source of our pain or conflict, and rises above it by proclaiming the truth: Jesus came to this world to save sinners, paid the price for us all, and has brought us into the family of God eternally. His peace is based on Himself and what He has done. And this is not a peace that will fade; it will always be freely accessible to the children of God.
Respond: Give thanks to Jesus for leaving His peace with us, and giving us a peace much greater than the false peace of the world. Think of the things in your life that have or are currently disrupting your peace. Then bring those things to the Lord and ask for the peace of Jesus to rise above them.
12/12/2024
Read: Jeremiah 15:16 - “Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; for I am called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts.”
Reflect: This passage may sound strange to us at first. Jeremiah found God’s word and he ate it? But this imagery is actually used a few times throughout the Bible. Moses said we live not on bread alone, but on God’s word. Ezekiel told the people to eat the words he gave them. John in the Revelation vision ate the scroll given to him by the angel. And it helps us correctly think about our relationship with God’s word. Scripture is meant to be consumed by us, and after it is consumed, it must be digested. As we slowly meditate on the word of God, it works in us to transform our hearts and minds. Read what Jeremiah says next. “And your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart.” As we consume the word of God, it becomes an inner source of joy for us! When we truly digest (meditate) upon His word, we can recall all the promises and faithfulness of God at a moment’s notice, bringing us joy even in the darkest places. This joy is able to then fill our minds, replacing worthless thoughts that only seek to draw us away from our Lord. We must satisfy our hunger for God’s truth and let the joy of His word overflow from us!
Respond: Examine your heart: would you say God’s word is a source of joy for you? Especially during this season? Thank God for His word to us and ask Him to help you find joy in it!
12/11/2024
Read: Hebrews 12:2 - “...looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Reflect: We all desire to have joy. And the motive most of the time, if we’re honest, is that we want to feel good. Joy is a feeling of deep happiness and contentment; who wouldn’t want that 24/7? But have you ever considered joy as a means of endurance? Hebrews says it was “for the joy set before Him” that Jesus endured the physical, mental, and spiritual agony of the cross. He knew He was called to this, He knew there was no other way. But it was as He looked forward to the immense joy of saving His Father’s children, of a final victory over sin and death and Satan, of millions if not billions of lives sanctified for His Father’s glory, that Jesus drew strength for enduring the cross. And if we, His people, look ahead to what waits for us, what do we see? We see an eternity without pain, suffering, or death; we see a close, intimate, face-to-face relationship with God Almighty; we see so many loved ones waiting for us. For me, this future brings great joy. And that joy can do for us what it did for the Lord Jesus -- give us endurance to face the hardships of life.
Respond: As you quiet yourself before the Lord, what are the things you look forward to that bring you joy? Thank God that He has set this future before you. Pray He would give you the endurance to bear the hardships of life (or mention a specific hardship if there is one) through the joy set before you. Praise Him for being the source of your joy!
12/10/2024
Read: Psalm 30:5 - “For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.”
Reflect: Sometimes it feels like seasons of weeping will last forever. We wonder if we will ever get over the hurdle in front of us, if we’ll ever feel normal again, if things will ever improve... But what’s great about this passage is the firmness of the Lord’s words when He says “but joy comes in the morning.” Eventually, joy will arrive once again. And what is the source of this joy? The Lord’s favor which lasts forever. His discipline is only for a moment, a thin vapor of smoke when compared with the full substance of His joy that has come and is coming. As Paul said in 2 Corinthians 4, “this light momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison”. This truth can and should be the source of our joy today! Whatever you face, know that it is so very small compared to the glory that’s coming, and rejoice.
Respond: Have you ever felt like you were in a season of suffering or sorrow that would never end? How did that affect your joy in the Lord? First, thank Him that He has brought you through those past hardships. And if you’re in that place now, ask Him to restore the joy of salvation to you. Thank Him for His eternal favor upon you. Remember that with every day you have a new reason for joy in the Lord.
12/09/2024
Read: Matthew 13:44 - “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”
Reflect: What is the most joy you have ever experienced? Imagine something filling you with so much joy, you give up everything you have just to get it. Jesus says this is what the kingdom of heaven is like. Something so precious, so wonderful, and so desirable that we should be willing to give up anything just to get it. The man was literally “overjoyed”. His joy compelled him to sell his possessions and buy that field. Our joy for the good news of Jesus should compel us to give up our old idols, our old ways, our old desires, and replace them with the new way of God’s kingdom. And the reverse is also true. If the man did not sell ALL that he has, he may not have had enough to buy that field. If we are not willing to give up ALL the old things, we may not have the capacity to receive the new things the Lord wants to give us. But if we truly understand just how much good God has in store for us when we follow Him, the resulting joy would forbid us from not giving up everything.
Respond: Are there any old ways of the flesh you’re holding on to that might be hindering your walk in the new way of the Kingdom of Heaven? Pray that the Lord would fill you with such joy in this Advent season that you would be compelled to give it all up for the sake of Jesus! And remember to give Him thanks that this treasure is even able to be found by us at all.
12/08/2024
Read: Isaiah 56:7 - “Even them I will bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on My altar; for My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.”
Reflect: We have good reason to be joyful during the Advent season considering all that it represents. And we usually express this joy outwardly, in our worship, our conversations, our fellowship. But when was the last time you were joyful in the house of prayer? Much of our prayer is spent petitioning the Lord for our needs, expressing our pain or sorrow, and this is healthy! God desires for us to lay all that’s in our hearts before Him; to make known all our requests. But as we come into the Lord’s presence, there is so much to be joyful over. The fact that can even boldly enter God’s presence through the person of Jesus is cause for rejoicing. If you look at the Psalms, David cried out to God and lamented his hardships, but he spent just as much, if not more, time joyfully praising the Lord for His goodness and faithfulness. We are meant to be a joyful people, especially in our prayers.
Respond: Go to the Lord now with a joyful heart, praising Him for how good He has been to you. Consider and name every blessing you can think of that He has given you. Seek to have joy, even as you pray for His help in difficult matters.
12/07/2024
Read: 1 Peter 1:8-9 - “Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith -- the salvation of your souls.”
Reflect: If there is any joy that cannot be expressed in words, it must be the joy that comes from the salvation of our souls through the person of Jesus Christ. And what must seem so odd to the outside world, is how the believer can possess such joy as they love and follow a Person they do not see. But here is the truth. One day, we will see. And on that day of the revelation of Jesus Christ, we will receive the cause of our inexpressible joy, the end of our faith: the salvation of our souls. And this joy is not like the temporary happiness of this world. Joy is deep-seated in the heart, it is lasting, and it cannot be taken from us (John 16:22). This joy is also “full of glory”. Our joy in the coming salvation brings glory to God -- it is sweet and pleasing to Him. And even though it is inexpressible, we are compelled to try through the praise and adoration of our Redeemer.
Respond: When did you last try to express your inexpressible joy at salvation to the Lord? Spend time with Him now, praising Him for the grace that comes through faith, and for His promise to return to us. Tell Him you will continue to believe in Him, though you cannot see Him. Ask Him to increase your faith today, trust He will do it, and let that be the source of your joy.
12/06/2024
Read: Psalm 130:7 - “O Israel, hope in the Lord; for with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is abundant redemption.”
Reflect: It can be easy to look back on our lives and feel overwhelmed with just how much sin there is. Even if you have been following Jesus for a long time, you may feel surprised at how much you are still beset by sin. And we wonder: will God ever tire of forgiveness? Will He ever become weary of how quick His people are to wander? Can he really pardon such a dark record? Lest we give in to despair, we must remember these words: “with Him is abundant redemption.” I love that phrase with all my heart! His anger and wrath is so slow to come, so reluctant even. But His redemption is swift and overflowing and powerful -- He has an abundance of it to pour out on mankind if only we would receive it. John Trapp says “He will multiply pardons as we multiply sins”. We cannot out-sin God’s redemption -- there is simply too much of it! It overflows into our lives, and will continue to do so until there is not even a speck of sin remaining in us. In our final reflection on hope, remember to hope in the Lord Himself. Because with Him there is mercy and abundant redemption.
Respond: Have you ever felt like you might out-sin God’s mercy? Ask Him to fill your heart and mind with His promise of abundant redemption. Meditate on the hope of His return where He will make all things new. Praise Him for being faithful to fulfill all our hopes in Him!
12/05/2024
Read: Hebrews 10:23 - “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”
Reflect: Our predecessors in church history thought very highly of the power of a confession. When we think of a confession today, we think of confessing sin. But this was something more. A confession was a declaration of your faith and belief, and there have been many strong confessions in history that have influenced our churches today. And yet for the most part, we no longer give much thought to adhering to a confession. The author of Hebrews here is imploring us to hold fast -- hold on with all your strength -- to the confession of our hope in the Lord Jesus, the Faithful One. We must openly confess together for the world to hear, that we have put all our hope and trust in what Jesus has done, and what He will do. And no matter how the world reacts, or how the enemy responds, or how much our flesh wrestles against us, we must hold on to that confession without wavering. Because when we confess Jesus, He will confess us! He will be faithful to accomplish our salvation.
Respond: Go to the Lord in prayer and openly confess your hope in His salvation -- Jesus. Then examine your heart: how firm of a grip do you have on your confession? Is there anything in your life that has caused you to waver? Give those things to the Lord in prayer. And thank Him for His faithfulness today and forever!
12/04/2024
Read: Galatians 5:5 - For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
Reflect: We’ve spoken at length about the foundation of our hope in the Lord. But what is it that we are hoping for? Through the Holy Spirit, we are eagerly waiting and hoping for the righteousness that can only come through Jesus. And because of Jesus, we are already righteous in the eyes of the Lord. Which means here, Paul is speaking of the full culmination of our practical righteousness. Not only a righteous standing, but a righteous being. The day is coming when all our deeds and thoughts will be righteous at every moment because the Holy Spirit has finished His work of sanctification and we are free from the body of death. And this hope comes not by our own works or character, but by faith in the person of Jesus Christ. What a glorious hope for righteousness!
Respond: As you spend time with the Lord, ask that His Holy Spirit continues the work of righteousness in you. Meditate on what it looks like to “eagerly wait” for the hope of righteousness. Confess your struggles and shortcomings, acknowledge “there are none righteous” apart from His grace, and thank Him for the gift of righteousness through Jesus.
12/03/2024
Read: Lamentations 3:21-24 - “This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I hope in Him!’”
Reflect: I think we underestimate just how important hope is. When faced with the hard and dark trials of life, our hope in the Lord is what can carry us through. Jeremiah was devastated by the desolation wrought upon his people and just how bad things had gotten. Throughout Lamentations, he laments at the destroyed state of his nation, knowing full well it’s the result of their sin. But these verses mark a turning point. He has not lost all hope. Not because of some flimsy idea of “it’s all going to be okay”, but because of the Lord’s great mercy and faithfulness. Even when we stumble in sin, His mercy and compassion is “new every morning”. What an awesome foundation for our hope! Our portion -- meaning our provision and inheritance -- is God Himself. He is the eternal Light at the end of the dark tunnel, waiting for those who choose to hope in Him.
Respond: If you have been walking through a hard time recently, remind yourself of God’s daily mercy. Call upon His promise to you; ask for His compassion to wash over you. And do not lose hope; trust that He will do what He has promised! If times are good right now, praise God for the past times He has led you through. And ask Him to remind you of this Scripture when trials inevitably come your way again.
12/02/2024
Read: Romans 5:5 - “Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”
Reflect: If you think back to all the times you have been disappointed, you would probably lose count. Our lives are filled with unmet expectations, plans that went sideways, and hopes that have failed. How great news is it then, that our hope in God will not disappoint! You can place all your hope upon Him and know that His plan will not fail and in the end, you will not be disappointed. And how can we know this is true? Because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. God’s unfathomable, unconditional, gracious love is the guarantee behind your hope in Him. This is the proof that God will complete the work He began. Hold on to your hope in Him, knowing you will not be disappointed.
Respond: Examine your heart and think: is there some disappointment from your life that is weighing on your soul? Is there a plan or person that failed you, and the resulting disappointment is a thorn in your heart? Ask God to fill your heart with hope once again. Rest in the knowledge that at the end of all things, you will not be disappointed by our Lord. His plan and His person will not and cannot fail.