Daily Devotional

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. – John 3:17 (NIV)

Don’t you love this verse? It’s so encouraging, and it’s really what Christmas is about. Humankind didn’t need another reminder of how far they were away from God. The law let us know that. By reading it, we realized how hopeless we were at our own righteousness.

That’s why Jesus came. He came not to condemn us, but to save us. He came to set us free and to restore us to a relationship with the Father.

So today, don’t feel condemned if you don’t always measure up. No one does. We can’t. But Jesus did what we were unable to do. He paid the price for our sin and saved us.

This Christmas, don’t get too busy that you forget how much God loves us and gave everything He had so that we could be saved!

Can you imagine being one of the Shepherds? What would you have done if all of the sudden, angels appeared to you?

The shepherds in today’s verse weren’t expecting their night to get interrupted. They were just doing their jobs. And then, here comes a heavenly host of angels. That might have been a little terrifying. That isn’t something that normally happens. Many of the shepherds were probably scared out of their minds.

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. – Luke 2:10-11 (NIV)

After seeing the angels, the shepherds went to find the Messiah. They didn’t delay, but went and found the baby the angels had spoken about.

How about you? Are you like the Shepherds and run to find Jesus when you need help?

The shepherds did just that, they went searching and found Him, and when they did, they found the answer to everything they could ever need. In the same way, if you’re facing something big that seems overwhelming, have you spent some time seeking your savior?

Have you looked for Him and seen if He could be the answer to the things you face? Because Jesus came into the world to save and help us all. From the smallest thing to the biggest, Jesus wants to help you. So don’t be afraid to look for His help. He’s willing and able to help you today.

It would have been hard to be Joseph. He had to believe by faith that Mary was having a baby by the Holy Spirit. He then had to travel with Mary to Bethlehem to register.

During the journey, Mary was getting ready to have the baby, and they couldn’t find a room to stay in. So the savior of the world was born in an unlikely place.

5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. – Luke 2:5-7

All of the Christmas story couldn’t have been easy for Mary and Joseph. I’m sure Mary wondered why the son of God was being born in a stable, rather than a nice place. I’m sure Joseph might have had misgivings about Mary and this new baby.

The Christmas story was less than ideal, but it was also amazing. Because often, God takes the unlikely things and turns them into things He can use. Jesus came into the world at exactly the right time. And He’s still using unlikely people and things to show the love of Jesus today.

You might not feel like you’re the best or the smartest, but God can use you this Christmas season to share His love with someone. So open your heart. Be willing to be used by God and see what God can do through you!

I can’t even imagine being Mary, can you? Here you are, ready to get married, and probably deep in wedding preparation. And then an angel shows up, and what he tells you is about to change everything.

The angel tells her the news that she was going to give birth to a son and call him Jesus. There’s no way can she have a child. And she asks the angel just that, how can this happen? And the angel explains it to her.

Can you imagine? How crazy that would be? How impossible it would sound? And yet, we see in today’s Bible verse Mary’s response.

For no word from God will ever fail.” “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. – Luke 1:37-38 (NLT)

Mary believed in God, even when it was impossible.

What do you do when things seem impossible in your life? Do you tend to give up? Google solutions to the problem? What would happen if, like Mary, we just believed God? Would things change if we decided to believe the promises in God’s word over the problems that we face?

Today challenge yourself to look to God’s word for your answers. Yes, Google has some good solutions, but God’s word is truth. It will help you come to the right conclusion every time. Be like Mary and trust God’s word!

As we enter into the Christmas season, it’s easy to make it all about us. Your mom and grandma have probably both asked you for your Christmas lists. And you’ve been thinking it through and trying to decide what exactly it is that you want for Christmas.

Getting gifts is certainly a fun part of the Christmas season. However, it can be really easy to forget what Christmas is really all about. It’s not about the ugly sweater contests, the fun games at your youth group, or getting a few weeks off of school. Christmas is about Jesus.

It’s about how humanity needed a savior. That savior was Jesus. Through Jesus, we can now experience peace with God.

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. – Isaiah 9:6 (NLT)

So regardless of what you get this Christmas, make sure you take some time to think about the greatest gift you’ve gotten, which is Jesus. Realize that He truly is what Christmas is all about. Take time to think about Him

17 All my bones are on display;

    people stare and gloat over me.

18 They divide my clothes among them

    and cast lots for my garment. – Psalm 22:17-18 (NIV)

We see in this Psalm a description of what will happen to Jesus. Jesus will die. His clothes will be divided and lots cast for them.

This is indeed what happened at Jesus’ crucifixion. People did stare at Him. People did mock Him.

Many had hoped in Him but didn’t see the full picture. Jesus wasn’t coming to destroy Roman oppression. He was coming to destroy the works of sin and the devil.

As He gave up His life, He was not losing a battle but rather beginning one. He was going to destroy death and sin. And He did it because we couldn’t. He was the one that could. As God Himself He was able to help redeem us back to Him.

So as you go out today realize that Jesus died for you. He wanted to redeem you and loves you in a very deep and real way.

David was looking into the future and speaking of the Messiah’s resurrection. He was saying that God would not leave him among the dead or allow his body to rot in the grave. – Acts 2:31

In today’s verse, we see that David had faith in a messiah. Out of his relationship with God, he saw things in the spirit realm in the future. David saw that one day God himself would come to save the world of their sin.

That one day one was coming that would die in our place. But He wouldn’t stay dead. His body would not rot, but it would be raised to life.

What humanity couldn’t do, the coming messiah would do. humanity can’t fix sin, death, sickness, defeat, thorns, disease, and all that came with the curse of Adam. They were entirely incapable of doing anything to rescue themselves.

David saw that one day the Messiah would come. The Messiah would be the one to fix all the mess humanity had caused. He would be the one to free us from the awful things the curse brought.

Life isn’t always easy. Challenges come each day. And at times those challenges might seem like more than you can face on your own.

There’s good news. You don’t have to face them alone. Like David, you can rely on the Lord. You might be facing a giant that seems just too big. And it might be true that the giant is too big for you and for what you can do in your strength, but there’s hope. You’re not fighting alone. You’ve got God on your side and He goes to battle for you.

This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. ⁴⁷ All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.” – 1 Samuel 17:46-47 (NIV)

All throughout the Bible, we see God fighting for people. Time and time again, humanity comes up short. But thank God, He didn’t leave us alone. Throughout time, God has been coming to our rescue. Even when we don’t deserve it, He comes and helps us in our weaknesses.

So if the thing that you face today is bigger than yourself, that’s ok. Often your problems will be bigger than what you can handle. But they’re not bigger than your God. God has come to the rescue of His people time and time again. And He wants to help you too.

Don’t give up. Don’t let yourself be discouraged. God is fighting on your side. From creation to Jesus, that’s the love story shown throughout the Bible. God keeps fighting for humanity. That’s the good news about Christmas!