Embracing the Hope of Christmas: A Divine Promise

Devotional

Day 1: The Promise Fulfilled

The story of Christmas is not just a tale of a miraculous birth but a profound fulfillment of a promise that had been awaited for generations. People longed for a Messiah, a savior who would bring hope and salvation to all humanity. This promise was not just for a select few but for everyone, transcending cultural and social boundaries. The arrival of Jesus as a vulnerable baby in a humble setting challenges us to look beyond our immediate desires and consider the grander purpose for which we were created. It invites us to reflect on the deeper meaning of our existence and the hope that this promise brings. [47:26]

Isaiah 9:6-7 (ESV): "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this."

Reflection: What is one promise from God that you are holding onto today? How does the fulfillment of the promise of the Messiah encourage you to trust in God's faithfulness?

Day 2: God's Kingdom Upside Down

The arrival of Jesus as a vulnerable baby instead of a warrior king teaches us that God's kingdom often defies our expectations. It is a kingdom characterized by humility and peace rather than power and conquest. This unexpected fulfillment of prophecy reminds us that God's ways are not our ways, and His plans often unfold in ways we cannot predict. As we reflect on this, we are invited to embrace the values of God's kingdom, which prioritize love, service, and humility over worldly power and success. [50:45]

1 Corinthians 1:27-29 (ESV): "But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you find yourself seeking power or control? How can you embrace the humility and peace of God's kingdom in those areas today?

Day 3: Light in the Darkness

The light of Jesus shines in the darkness, offering hope that fear, despair, and brokenness do not have the final say. This is the essence of Christmas—a reminder that the darkness will never overcome the light. In a world filled with uncertainty and pain, the presence of Jesus brings assurance and peace. His light guides us through our struggles and illuminates the path to hope and healing. As we celebrate Christmas, we are reminded that we are not alone in our darkness; the light of Christ is with us, offering comfort and strength. [51:49]

John 1:4-5 (ESV): "In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."

Reflection: What is one area of darkness or uncertainty in your life right now? How can you invite the light of Jesus into that area today?

Day 4: Responding to the Message

The shepherds' response to the angel's message encourages us to act on the hope we receive. They did not return to their routines but embraced the kingdom Jesus came to reveal. This response challenges us to not just hear the message of hope but to live it out in our daily lives. We are called to be active participants in God's kingdom, sharing the good news and embodying the values of love, peace, and service. As we reflect on the shepherds' example, we are invited to consider how we can respond to the message of Christmas in our own lives. [52:45]

James 1:22-25 (ESV): "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing."

Reflection: How can you actively respond to the message of hope and salvation in your daily life? What is one specific action you can take today to embody the values of God's kingdom?

Day 5: Bringing Hope with Us

Christmas is an opportunity to share the good news that the wait is over, that the Messiah has come, and continues to come into our lives. We are called to be bearers of this hope, longing for God to do something greater through us. As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, we are reminded that His presence is not confined to a single moment in history but is a continual reality in our lives. We are invited to carry this hope with us, sharing it with others and allowing it to transform our hearts and actions. [56:35]

2 Corinthians 4:6-7 (ESV): "For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us."

Reflection: Who in your life needs to hear the message of hope and salvation this Christmas? How can you share the light of Christ with them in a meaningful way today?

Sermon Summary

In this time of celebration, we gather to reflect on the wonder of Christmas, a story that transcends fairy tales and stands as a pivotal event in human history. Amidst the hustle and bustle of the season, it's easy to lose sight of the heart of this story—a story of waiting, longing, and the fulfillment of a promise. For generations, people awaited a Messiah, a rescuer who would bring hope and salvation not just for a select few, but for the entire world. This is the essence of Christmas: the arrival of a hero in the form of a vulnerable baby, a reminder that God's kingdom often defies our expectations.

As we navigate the season, we often find ourselves waiting for our wants—new toys, treasures, and thrills. Yet, the true meaning of Christmas invites us to consider what we are truly waiting for. Is it grand enough to capture the imagination of a being created by the Creator of the universe? The people of old clung to prophecies, enduring oppression and silence, yet holding onto the promise that God would not abandon them. This promise was fulfilled in a way no one expected, with humility and peace instead of power and conquest.

The shepherds, the first to hear the news, remind us that God's message is for everyone, regardless of status. In a world obsessed with power, the Creator stepped down to offer something greater than power—life and light that shines in the darkness. This is the hope we need, a hope that assures us that darkness, fear, and despair do not have the final say. Jesus, the light of the world, shines through our pain and uncertainty.

As we celebrate, we are called to respond, to not just return to the routine of our culture but to embrace the kingdom Jesus came to reveal. Whether it's faith affirmed, rediscovered, or discovered for the first time, Christmas is a reminder that the wait is over. The Messiah has come, and He continues to come into our hearts and lives. Let us be bearers of this hope, longing for God to do something greater through us, knowing that God is with us, even in the mess.

Key Takeaways

1. Christmas is a reminder of the fulfillment of a long-awaited promise, a story of hope and salvation for all humanity. It challenges us to look beyond our immediate wants and consider the grander purpose we were created for. [47:26]
2. The arrival of Jesus as a vulnerable baby instead of a warrior king teaches us that God's kingdom often defies our expectations, bringing humility and peace instead of power and conquest. [50:45]
3. The light of Jesus shines in the darkness, offering hope that fear, despair, and brokenness do not have the final say. This is the essence of Christmas, a reminder that the darkness will never overcome the light. [51:49]
4. The shepherds' response to the angel's message encourages us to act on the hope we receive, to not just return to our routines but to embrace the kingdom Jesus came to reveal. [52:45]
5. Christmas is an opportunity to share the good news that the wait is over, that the Messiah has come, and continues to come into our lives. We are called to be bearers of this hope, longing for God to do something greater through us. [56:35]
** [56:35]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[47:26] - The Heart of Christmas
[48:11] - Waiting for the Messiah
[49:46] - Fulfillment of the Promise
[50:45] - God's Kingdom Upside Down
[51:49] - Light in the Darkness
[52:45] - Responding to the Message
[54:56] - Sharing the Good News
[56:35] - Bringing Hope with Us
[57:00] - Closing Prayer

Sermon Clips

"Is it grand enough to capture the imagination of a created being by the creator of the universe who loves you so desperately that he wants you to have the thing you were actually made to experience? I hope you get that thing that you're waiting for, the thing that's on your Christmas list, but I hope you realize you were made for so much more, that oftentimes what we want has been shrunk down." [00:48:11] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"Yet, they held onto a promise that God would not leave them. God would not abandon them. God would not forget about them. He would bring the rescuer that would accomplish what all of their best efforts never could. And this rescuer was not just for them, but this rescuer who came 2,000 years ago was for all of us." [00:48:50] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"The shepherds, the lowest of society, were the first to hear the news, a reminder that God's kingdom turns our expectations upside down. In our moment, in our culture, in our world, we are consumed with getting and keeping power. But the creator of the universe stepped down from heaven to grant us something even greater than the greatest power you could imagine." [00:50:45] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"The apostle John, one of Jesus' closest disciples, captures this mystery beautifully when he says, In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. This is the essence of Christmas, that the darkness will never win." [00:51:13] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"And some of you, that's the hope you need to hear. And believe tonight, not just the darkness in the world, but the darkness in our lives. Fear, despair, brokenness, uncertainty, it does not have the final say. Jesus, the light of the world, shines through the pain in the world." [00:51:49] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"The shepherds remind us that the Messiah meets us where we are, in the ordinary, in the everyday, in the regular patterns of our lives, in our fears, in our insecurities, and yes, in our waiting. God sees you. He has come near to you through Jesus." [00:52:52] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"They said, let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened. They responded. They did something with it, and tonight, as we sing these carols and we reflect on the Christmas story, let us also respond. Let us respond in the days and weeks to come, not just go back to the cruise control of the culture that we find ourselves in." [00:54:39] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"But we owe the people in our lives the good news that the wait is over. The Messiah has come. As a matter of fact, the Messiah has come. He's still coming into our hearts, our homes, our world, our lives." [00:56:26] (15 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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