Advent: Carry Jesus | Seven Pancaldi-loxley

Devotional

Day 1: One foot in front of the other

Mary and Joseph’s story reminds you that real faith often looks like steady steps in ordinary places. They had a great promise, but they still had to pack bags, travel roads, and trust God with each mile. In seasons of change, the call isn’t to grand gestures but to daily, faithful movement. A long obedience in the same direction forms a life that can carry God’s purposes. Today, take the next faithful step, however small, and trust that God is in the journey. [04:11]

Luke 2:4-7 — Joseph, descended from David, travelled with Mary from Nazareth to Bethlehem to register. While they were there, Mary delivered her firstborn son, wrapped him snugly, and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no guest room available for them.

Reflection: What is one specific “next step” you can take today that would quietly align your life with the direction you believe God is leading?

Day 2: Carrying Jesus when no one notices

In a world that stops for selfies, the donkey keeps walking. It carries Jesus without applause, without a mention, without a line in the programme—and that’s the beauty. Faithful obscurity is not failure; it’s friendship with God in the quiet. Choose to “make an ass of yourself” this Christmas—in other words, be willing to carry Jesus in unnoticed, ordinary ways. The One you carry sees you, even if no one else does. [09:00]

Matthew 6:3-4 — When you do good, don’t perform it for attention. Keep it between you and the Father, who sees the hidden places and will tend to the reward in His time.

Reflection: Where could you serve this week in a way that carries Jesus to others without any need to be seen or thanked?

Day 3: Making room for royalty in rags

The inn was full, and the moment passed unnoticed. God often arrives wrapped in what we don’t expect—need, interruption, inconvenience, or a face we tend to overlook. Royalty hid in rags, and many missed Him because their schedules and expectations were already packed. This week, make space in your diary, your attention, and your home for God’s surprising arrival. Hospitality to the hidden Christ is still holy ground. [13:30]

Luke 2:7 — She gave birth to her firstborn, wrapped Him carefully, and laid Him in a manger, because there wasn’t any space for them in the usual places.

Reflection: What is one practical way you can clear room—in time, attention, or home—to welcome Christ where you least expect Him?

Day 4: Participation over perfection

The journey was long, uncomfortable, and far from perfect—and yet it was enough. God rarely asks for polish; He invites participation. Just keep practising, keep showing up, keep placing one hoof in front of the other. Over time, those small, consistent choices grow a life that can bear the weight of God’s presence. Don’t wait until everything is ideal—start where you are today. [06:25]

Hebrews 12:1-2 — Since others before us have run this race, set aside what trips you up and keep going with steady endurance. Fix your eyes on Jesus, who began your faith and will bring it to completion.

Reflection: What imperfect, simple practice (prayer, Scripture, service, rest) will you commit to daily this week to keep moving with Jesus?

Day 5: Hidden carriers, future glory

Carry Jesus now in the quiet, and trust that one day He will be revealed as King before every eye. The hidden burdens we shoulder today prepare a road for His public welcome tomorrow. Faithfulness in the shadows often becomes the avenue of His glory in the open. Walk humbly now so that others can see Him clearly later. The King you carry will one day carry you. [19:14]

Luke 19:30-38 — Jesus sent two disciples to find a young donkey that had never been ridden. They brought it to Him, and He rode into the city while crowds spread cloaks and branches, shouting blessings over the One who comes in God’s name.

Reflection: Where might your quiet faithfulness today pave the way for someone else to recognise Jesus more clearly in the future?

Sermon Summary

Merry Christmas! I love this season, even if it now involves outside lights I refuse to climb a ladder to install or remove. Every December I try to look at the nativity from a fresh angle, and this year I found myself captivated by the most overlooked figure in the scene: the donkey. Mary and Joseph are on a real journey—unlike the “journeys” we hear about on reality TV—and their path is full of change, fatigue, and uncertainty. What do they do? They put one foot in front of the other. That image has been shaping me all year: a long obedience in the same direction. Practicing the Way isn’t glamorous; it’s a daily choosing to carry Jesus when the road is dull, hard, and no one is applauding.

Here’s the thing: no one even notices the donkey. The donkey isn’t named in the Gospels, barely gets a carol mention, and yet it models the humility and perseverance we need. In a world that shouts “Look at me!” the donkey simply carries Jesus. Quiet faithfulness matters, not because it gets likes, but because it hosts the presence of God. And that’s the other thread I can’t shake: “no room at the inn.” The King arrives wrapped in rags, and people miss him because he doesn’t look like what they expected. It’s like those tourists who met the Queen, asked for a photo with the bodyguard, and didn’t recognise royalty standing right in front of them. I wonder how often I miss God because my diary is full, my attention is scattered, or he arrives in a form I didn’t plan for.

So I’m asking us to make space—real, inconvenient space—for God in disguise: the interruption, the neighbour, the need that doesn’t fit our timeline. Participation beats perfection. Practice wins over posturing. Keep going when it’s unglamorous, carry Jesus even when no one notices, and open your home and heart when the inn is full. I like to imagine that hidden faithfulness now sets the stage for public praise later—like the colt that carried Jesus into Jerusalem. I want to carry him in the quiet so others can see his majesty. This Christmas, let’s make an ass out of ourselves—in the best way—by choosing steady, humble, faithful steps that keep Jesus at the centre.

Key Takeaways

1. Choose a long obedience daily Faith rarely advances by fireworks; it matures through repetition. Build habits that carry you toward Jesus when enthusiasm runs thin. When anxiety or impulsiveness presses, take the next small faithful step. One foot in front of the other often is the path of transformation. [04:11]
2. Carry Jesus when no one notices Hidden service forms the heart more than visible achievement. The donkey doesn’t trend, but it transports the presence of God where it needs to go. Resist the subtle hunger to be seen; let love be its own reward. God notices what the crowd overlooks. [09:00]
3. Make room for royalty in rags We miss God most when he arrives in ordinary clothes. Create margin in your calendar and attention so interruptions can become encounters. Hospitality is a spiritual discipline that recognises the divine hidden in the inconvenient. Don’t let a full inn keep out a present King. [14:43]
4. Participation over perfection, step by step God isn’t waiting for flawless plans; he’s inviting faithful involvement. Start where you are, with what you have, and keep practicing. Small, consistent acts shape a soul more than sporadic heroic efforts. Better a humble stable that says yes than an immaculate inn that says no. [10:41]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:54] - Roof lights and fear of heights
[04:11] - Advent as a real journey
[06:25] - Practicing the Way and habits
[09:00] - Meet my 2025 hero: the donkey
[10:41] - Participation over perfection
[13:30] - No room at the inn
[14:43] - Royalty in rags: missing God
[16:18] - Making space when others won’t
[19:14] - Carry Jesus now, glory later

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading
- Luke 2:4-7

Observation questions

From Luke 2:4-7, trace the journey: where do Joseph and Mary travel from and to, why are they going, and what details are given about Mary’s condition and the place the baby is laid?
Which figure in the nativity scene was pointed out as the most overlooked, and what simple task does that figure model? [09:00]
What contrast was made between TV-show “journeys” and the real journey Mary and Joseph took? [04:11]
What everyday detail caused people to miss the King’s arrival, and how was that illustrated with the “royalty in rags” story? [14:43]

Interpretation questions

“One foot in front of the other” was highlighted as a way of following God. What might that teach about how spiritual growth actually happens over time? [06:25]
The unnoticed donkey quietly carrying Jesus challenges the need to be seen. What does this image suggest about the kind of service God values? [09:00]
“No room at the inn” exposes a deeper issue than just a full house. What might this reveal about human expectations and busyness when God arrives in ordinary or inconvenient ways? [13:30]
“Participation over perfection” was emphasised. Why might imperfect but faithful involvement be more transformative than waiting until conditions are ideal? [10:41]

Application questions

Where has your enthusiasm run thin lately—in work, family, serving, or prayer? What is one small, faithful step you can take this week to keep going, even if it doesn’t feel glamorous? [06:25]
Name one place you quietly serve where hardly anyone notices. How could you reframe that hidden space as “carrying Jesus,” letting love be its own reward? [09:00]
Look at your diary for the next 10 days. Where can you create real, inconvenient margin to welcome “royalty in rags”—a neighbour, a need, or an interruption that doesn’t fit your plan? [16:18]
Think of a recent interruption that annoyed you. If you had treated it as a possible God-appointment, what might you have done differently? What would that look like next time? [14:43]
Perfectionism often stalls obedience. Where are you hesitating because things aren’t tidy, ready, or impressive? What is one “stable” you could offer Jesus this week—small, scruffy, but available? [10:41]
Choose one simple practice to anchor your days this season (for example: morning Scripture with a short prayer, a daily 10-minute walk with God, a weekly open-table meal, or a device-free hour in the evening). What will you do, when will you do it, and who will you tell for gentle accountability? [06:25]
Imagine a future moment when Jesus is clearly seen by others. What hidden, faithful choices now—habits, hospitality, unseen service—could prepare the way for that day? Be specific about one you’ll start this week. [19:14]

Sermon Clips

``I find God easy to see in nature I find God easy to experience in the beautiful music that weve experienced this morning or last night I find it easy to find But when God turns up in our lives as an unmarried pregnant girl do I see God in that How often do I say theres no room here They missed it Too full Maybe Im too full Maybe Im too comfortable Maybe my diarys too full [00:15:29] (33 seconds) #SeeGodInTheUnexpected

I love it The Queen was right there and they missed her The Queen was right there and they missed her because they didnt recognise the royalty in the rags Now Im obviously pushing this point Im sure the Queen wasnt wearing rags probably had the expensive gilet thing on but my point is this How often the innkeepers didnt see it They didnt see it They didnt host the King of Kings because they couldnt recognise the royalty in the rags They couldnt see the divine hidden in the dirt They couldnt see God because God didnt look like they were expecting And they said we havent got room I find God easy to see in a beautiful sunrise [00:14:47] (42 seconds) #RoyaltyInRags

Maybe my attention is too full Maybe I cannot notice God when he turns up in a form Im not expecting And I say sorry theres no theres no room Theres no room In keepers theres no room I mean of course it was busy It was Christmas but theres no room That was a royal family joke by the way that no one got but thats okay Can we make space Can we choose to make space [00:16:02] (29 seconds) #MakeSpaceForGod

I was reading this passage and for me its become a bit of a mantra this year because Im going to take you back to January I dont know if any of you remember that But in January we did a whole series called Practicing the Way We did a whole series called Practicing the Way and it really impacted me And this has become a bit of a mantra for my year in 2025 Because what we looked at right at the start of the year was a series of habits that we can build into our lives in order to live more beautifully A series of things that we can do And theres a little phrase that they mentioned in Practicing the Way Its originally by Nisha and it was adopted by Peterson [00:05:15] (32 seconds) #PracticingTheWay

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Advent: Carry Jesus | Seven Pancaldi-loxley | December 15th 2025