25 Day Advent Devotional — SAMUELDEUTH.COM
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6 NIV
The journey to the manger wasn’t just crafted for history books or bedtime stories; it is the greatest story ever told, one that changes everything for us today—and if we let it, for eternity. This Christmas, we're looking at what it truly means to follow Jesus; many get caught up in the lights, gifts, trees, hams, eggnog, and family gatherings, but what is it really all about? You'll find all Christmas celebrations have value, meaning, and purpose, especially as you begin to connect your celebrations to what Jesus did for us when He came as a baby in the manger.
Christmas is a unique and special time because the whole world stops to celebrate. While many focus more on Santa than Jesus, it’s quite clear that celebrating and honoring Jesus, the King born in a manger, is the central focus across the earth. This manger moment was so powerful that it literally split time in half! B.C. and A.D. Time and history are marked forever because of Jesus. If we truly accept this gift given and surrender our lives to Him, you’ll find your life eternally marked in the same way.
Is Jesus Lord?
The question we all face is, “Who is Jesus?” How you receive Him changes everything. Will we receive this story as truth, will we make room, or will we find ourselves like the innkeeper on that fateful night who made no room for Jesus? You can argue, in kindness to the innkeeper, that he had no idea who this young expecting couple was or how important their child was, but you and I don't have that excuse, you and I know fully well that this child that came in humility, was and is The King of Kings and Lord of Lords, He is the Savior of the World!
Just like the call went out from Joseph to the city to make room for them to have their child, God continues that call to all of us; how will we respond to the desire and request for us to make room this Advent season? I know that any apprehension may come from not fully realizing what His coming meant and its impact on our lives and our future. Have you heard the term "Good News" or "The Gospel"? It’s the story of Jesus, the Christmas story, and it's good news! I'm sure we all like the sound of good news, but why do we need it so bad? Why did Jesus come to Earth?
The Good News
I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me, because you have no room for my word.
John 8:37 NIV
The manager was needed because of the failure in the Garden of Eden. What was the failure? It's similar to the innkeeper making no room for baby Jesus. If you didn’t know, Jesus is also referred to as the Word of God. Throughout The Bible, God calls His people to make room for His Word. In the Garden, God has given Adam and Eve His Word. But then satan came along and challenged and questioned God's Word and led Adam and Eve to throw away God's Word for their own desires and preferences. They pushed out the Word of God, and it ultimately destroyed them.
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23 NIV
The Bible says that the sin in the Garden separated us from God. This wasn't God's desire; He created us for closeness with Him. His design and plan is to walk with us daily. When Adam and Eve directly disobeyed God, it caused a spiritual death and separation from God. The beautiful thing about the Bible, and specifically the Good News of The Gospel, is that God didn't want to keep you at a distance; He wanted to bring you close. Christmas is all about this good news.
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.
Ephesians 2:4-5 NIV
Even though we are dead in our sins, we can be made alive in Christ, because Jesus came to earth, we can now live eternally with Him. The good news is that we no longer have to be separated from God, but through the Blood of Jesus, we've been brought close. The Gospel is good news because without Jesus, we would be dead in our sin and we’d be suffering and separated from God eternally.
Let’s read through the announcement of Jesus’ entrance to earth! A powerful, beautiful, humble, and profound entrance of the baby born for the cross and the crown.
Luke 2:1-20 Amplified Bible
2 Now in those days a decree went out from [the emperor] [a]Caesar Augustus, that all the inhabited world (the Roman Empire) should be [b]registered [in a census]. 2 This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And everyone went to register for the census, each to his own city. 4 So Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, 5 in order to register with Mary, who was [c]betrothed to him, and was with child. 6 While they were there [in Bethlehem], the time came for her to give birth, 7 and she gave birth to her Son, her firstborn; and she wrapped Him in [[d]swaddling] cloths and laid Him in a [e]manger, because there was no [private] room for them in the inn. 8 In the same region there were shepherds staying out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord flashed and shone around them, and they were terribly frightened. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people. 11 For this day in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord (the Messiah). 12 And this will be a sign for you [by which you will recognize Him]: you will find a Baby wrapped in [swaddling] cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 Then suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host (angelic army) praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest [heaven], And on earth peace among men with whom He is well-pleased.” 15 When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying one to another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem, and see this [wonderful] thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 So they went in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the Baby as He lay in the manger. 17 And when they had seen this, they made known what had been told them about this Child, 18 and all who heard it were astounded and wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured all these things, giving careful thought to them and pondering them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as it had been told them.
As you review this passage about the entrance of King Jesus, you will find a key scripture that says it all. It's verse 10 as the Angel says, I bring, "Good News, that brings great joy, which will be for all people. In this book, we'll unpack this good news, and how it can and will change your life. To clarify, when I say, "change your life.", I'm not talking about the modern idea of self-help, we're talking about a radical shift from death to life and from lost to found. If you’ve seen Christmas as just a fun holiday, then I'm excited to encourage you that it's so much more. And if you see Jesus for who He is, I'm excited to unveil more fully the gift Jesus gave us that first Christmas.
Jesus came to bring: Good News, Great Joy, for all people!
