The Word Became Flesh: Peace and Salvation Offered

Devotional

Day 1: The Word Became Flesh—God With Us

God did not stay distant; He came near. After centuries of thunder on mountains, clouds over tents, and a holy presence behind a curtain, He chose a manger and human skin. This is more than a seasonal tale; this is God moving into our world to stay. The same Presence that filled the tabernacle now sits within reach, in the person of Jesus. Let the wonder land again: the God of the Old Testament arrived in human form to make His home with us. Your life’s deepest problem meets its answer in Him. [05:23]

John 1:14
The eternal Word became truly human and lived right here among us; we saw the radiance of God’s own character—overflowing kindness and unwavering truth.

Reflection: Where in your life have you been living as if God were far away, and how will you acknowledge His nearness in one concrete moment today?

Day 2: Peace Offered, Received Through New Birth

“Peace on earth” was not a guarantee of quiet circumstances but an invitation to be reconciled to God. The ones with whom God is pleased are those who belong to Jesus, not because they’re perfect, but because they’ve trusted Him. Peace comes when you turn to Christ, confess Him openly, and believe from the heart. It is as simple and profound as saying “Jesus, You are Lord,” and trusting His resurrection to make you right with God. This is the doorway into the life your soul longs for. Enter by faith, and let His peace meet you. [20:30]

Romans 10:9-10
If you openly acknowledge that Jesus is Lord and trust deep in your heart that God raised Him from death, God rescues you; with the heart we’re made right with God, and with our words we declare our allegiance and step into salvation.

Reflection: Where do you most need Christ’s peace right now, and what would it look like for you to openly confess your trust in Jesus in that specific place this week?

Day 3: God’s Guidance Through Ordinary Events

A powerful ruler called a census, and a young couple traveled; beneath it all, God’s promise was unfolding. What looked like bureaucracy became a pathway to Bethlehem, just as God had planned. Mary held the mystery in her heart, choosing to ponder instead of panic. God still weaves His purposes through everyday decisions, delays, and detours. Trust that He is not late; He is precise. Ponder rather than rush, and look for His quiet fingerprints on your story. [17:48]

Luke 2:1-7
A decree from Caesar sent everyone to register in their ancestral towns; Joseph went from Nazareth to Bethlehem with Mary, who was expecting. While they were there, the time arrived, and she gave birth to her firstborn son, wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a feeding trough because there was no room for them elsewhere.

Reflection: What current inconvenience or delay might God be using to position you for His purpose, and how can you “ponder” it with Him instead of trying to control it?

Day 4: Suddenly—Heaven Breaks In

God loves the word “suddenly.” Out in the fields, overlooked shepherds—the caretakers of sacrificial lambs—were the first to hear of the Lamb of God. Heaven’s armies sang, fear was calmed, and the shepherds hurried to see Jesus for themselves. After seeing Him, they couldn’t help but tell everyone. When you encounter Him, witness becomes natural—overflow, not obligation. Don’t wait for perfect words; share the wonder you’ve seen. [14:20]

Luke 2:8-18
Shepherds were watching their flocks at night when an angel appeared and God’s brightness surrounded them; the messenger told them not to fear—good news had come: the Savior, the Messiah, was born in David’s town. A baby in cloths, lying in a manger, would be the sign. Suddenly the sky filled with heaven’s army praising God. The shepherds rushed to Bethlehem, found the child just as told, and then spread the news so that everyone who heard it was amazed.

Reflection: Who is one person you can tell—this week—what Jesus has done in your life, and what single sentence of hope will you share?

Day 5: No Condemnation—Life in the Spirit

Real peace grows as you live from the Spirit, not from the old nature. In Christ there is no condemnation—God’s voice convicts to restore, while the enemy accuses to paralyze. Set your mind on the things of the Spirit; cast down thoughts that oppose God’s truth and replace them with His Word. This is how you live pleasing to God: by faith that clings to Jesus and a heart led by His Spirit within you. Walk this way, and peace will meet you on the path. You are not alone; He lives in you. [34:45]

Romans 8:1,5-9
Now there is no guilty verdict for those who are united with Christ Jesus. When the mind is steered by the old nature, it drifts toward death, but when the Spirit shapes our thinking, it brings life and peace. The old nature resists God and cannot please Him, but you are not under that rule; you belong to the Spirit—if God’s Spirit lives in you.

Reflection: What is one condemning thought that keeps returning, and which specific truth from Scripture will you speak to it each time it appears this week?

Sermon Summary

I invited us to quiet our hearts because this isn’t a seasonal tale—it’s the moment God changed everything by stepping into our world. For centuries He visited in cloud and fire, filling tabernacle and mountain. Then came silence. And into that long quiet, the Word became flesh and made His home with us. John ties Jesus’ coming to the tabernacle—God’s holy presence, now in a human person. Luke grounds it in history: Augustus ordered a census, and a real couple walked real miles to Bethlehem where, so simply it could be missed, God took His first breaths in a manger.

Heaven broke the quiet to the most unlikely people: shepherds—outcasts who raised the very lambs sacrificed in the temple—became the first to see the Lamb of God. “Suddenly” is the Bible’s word for how God moves; He can turn a midnight field into a sanctuary in a moment. The angels announced “peace on earth,” not the end of war, but the offer of wholeness with God to those with whom He is pleased. Who are those people? Scripture answers: not the self-sufficient, but those who belong to Christ, indwelt by the Spirit. Flesh can never please God; the Spirit gives life and peace.

So how do we receive this peace? By receiving the Person. Confess Jesus as Lord, believe God raised Him from the dead, and you will be saved. That’s not self-improvement; it’s surrender. I shared how God met me in a shower at 17—no spotlight, just conviction and grace—and He changed my life. From there, life in the Spirit means learning the difference between condemnation and conviction. There is no condemnation for those in Christ; the enemy shames, the Spirit shows us our sin so we can confess it and walk free. We cast down thoughts that don’t align with God’s Word and return to peace.

God still uses emperors and interruptions, detours and delays, to keep His promises. Mary pondered; we should too. The baby in Bethlehem is God with us—God for us—God in us. Eternal peace or eternal destruction hinges on our response to Him. Today is the day to enter His peace.

Key Takeaways

1. God With Us, Not Just History Incarnation isn’t a metaphor; it is God’s presence made personal and near. John points from tabernacle and glory to a manger and a name—Jesus. The shock of silence shattered as God took on our frame to dwell, not visit. If He came that far, nothing in your life is beyond His reach. [05:23]
2. Peace Is Offered, Not Guaranteed “Peace on earth” isn’t the end of conflict; it’s an invitation into wholeness with God. This peace is relational, not circumstantial, and it rests on God’s pleasure, not our performance. We step into it by receiving His Son and aligning our lives with His Word. [20:30]
3. Pleasing God Requires the Spirit Flesh can never please God; the mind set on the Spirit brings life and peace. The Spirit doesn’t merely inform us; He indwells and leads us, empowering new desires and new obedience. Yielding to Him, thought by thought and step by step, is how peace is sustained. [24:29]
4. Salvation Is Wonderfully Simple, Costly Confess Jesus as Lord and believe God raised Him—God saves. It’s simple because grace is a gift; it’s costly because Lordship reorders everything we are and do. Salvation isn’t a better version of self; it’s a new life birthed by the Spirit. [26:51]
5. Trade Condemnation For Spirit-Led Conviction Condemnation shames and paralyzes; conviction calls and restores. In Christ, we confess quickly, receive mercy, and return to pleasing God without wearing chains He already broke. Learn to recognize the accusing voice and silence it with the gospel. [32:58]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[02:26] - Quiet hearts; life-changing word
[05:23] - The Word became flesh
[07:31] - Augustus’ census: history anchored
[10:30] - God in a manger
[11:29] - Shepherds and heaven’s sudden announcement
[17:48] - Mary ponders; God uses rulers
[20:30] - Peace offered, not automatic
[22:06] - Law’s limit; Spirit’s freedom
[26:51] - Confess and believe: saved
[30:18] - Saved in a shower
[32:58] - No condemnation; embrace conviction
[36:07] - Pleasing God by faith
[38:40] - Choose eternal peace in Christ
[40:15] - Closing prayer and blessing

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading
- Luke 2:1-20

Observation questions

In Luke 2, what historical markers anchor the story in real time and place (names, events, locations)?
What specific “sign” did the angel give the shepherds so they would recognize the Messiah, and why might that sign be easy to miss?
Twice the moment is described as happening “suddenly.” What happens in those sudden moments, and who experiences it first? ([11:55])
What did Mary do in response to everything that happened that night, and what might that tell us about her posture toward God? ([17:48])

Interpretation questions

“Peace on earth” is aimed at “those with whom God is pleased.” How does that qualifier shape the meaning of peace? What does it suggest about peace being offered but not automatic? ([20:30])
If the shepherds who raised temple lambs were first to see “the Lamb of God,” what does that reveal about how God writes His story and who He invites to see it up close? ([15:50])
The repeated “suddenly” hints that God can turn an ordinary field into a sanctuary in a moment. How should that shape expectations in ordinary places and hard seasons? ([12:29])
The Word “became flesh” and “made His home with us.” What does it mean that God didn’t just visit but came to dwell—like the tabernacle presence now in a person—and how does that change how one approaches Him today? ([05:23])

Application questions

Peace is offered, not guaranteed. Where do you most feel the lack of peace right now—circumstances, relationships, your inner life? What would it look like to step into relational peace with God this week rather than waiting for circumstances to change? ([20:30])
“Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” Where are you relying on self-effort instead of yielding to the Spirit—habits, decisions, thought life? What is one practical way you can set your mind on the Spirit in that exact area this week? ([24:29])
Salvation is simple—confess Jesus as Lord and believe God raised Him from the dead—but it’s also costly because Lordship reorders everything. If Jesus’ Lordship touched one area of your schedule, priorities, or wallet this month, what would change first? ([26:51])
Learn to trade condemnation for Spirit-led conviction. Where do you hear an accusing, shaming voice right now? What truth from the gospel will you speak back, and what sin, if any, do you need to confess quickly so you can walk free? ([32:58])
God uses emperors, detours, delays. Where have you seen an interruption recently that might be part of God’s guidance? How can you respond with trust and obedience in that place this week? ([18:36])
“Suddenly” moments happen. What is one ordinary space in your life—commute, kitchen, break room—where you will invite God to meet you and speak? What’s a simple practice you can do right there (short prayer, Scripture memory, worship)? ([12:29])
The shepherds shared what they had seen and heard. Who is one person you can tell this week—simply and humbly—what Jesus has done for you, even if all you share is a small “manger” moment from your story? ([15:50])

Sermon Clips

I had been twice come forth to an altar and said a prayer that man was telling me to say
And my life didnt change
I even got baptized two times
Getting saved is when you say okay God I agree with your word
Jesus is Lord
Hes our Savior
Hes my Savior
Hes my Messiah

Condemnation is that
Youre sorry
Youre no good
Youre trying to do this Christian thing and live it
No
Let conviction come upon you
Hey Todd you sinned
You need to get before God and confess it

The angels proclamation of peace on earth like I said is not a proclamation declared the end of all conflict war and strife
It was an invitation to enter the peace that made possible by Gods son who had just been born
That peace thats there

Peace is not assured to everybody but its offered
Let me say that again
Peace is not assured to everybody but its offered
When the angels said Glory to God in the highest heaven and peace on earth they were not talking about ending all conflict war and strife

Because of a baby born in a manger 2000 years ago that grew up to be a man that never ever sinned in his life
He died on a cross
Three days later He got out of there and He come up
And then 40 something days later He left
He said Ill see yall soon
That was 2000 years ago by the way

Now theres no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus
You know what condemnation means
Ill use myself
Well I might use Dale
Dale youre such a sorry low down thing
Do you know that God forgave you for that same sin 1394 times
Youre just never going to quit doing that
Thats that enemy
You know what I tell him
Well Gods fixed it
Forgive me 1395 times because Im going to confess it to him
And Im going to give it to him and get rid of it

We dont have to wait to confess our sin
We can get rid of it
And we can say God I blah blah blah blah blah
And I ask you to forgive me
I know its sin in your word
I know its sin
And I ask you to forgive me
And then immediately youll be pleasing to God again
You want that peace in your life
Im telling you its something amazing

Weve all been there
Weve all done it
We all probably still do it
But the Holy Spirit will come and convict us in righteousness
He will tell you you will never ever ever ever be good enough to be right with God on your own
And then Hell convict you of the judgment to come
The Holy Spirit will say youre going to stand before a holy God one day
And without accepting Jesus as your Savior its not going to be good for you
Without accepting Him as your Savior
So if you want to be saved its very simple

So Gods Words telling us that if were following our sinful nature and all we think about is death and how to sin and how to do that we will never ever please Him
And then Hes telling us here how to please Him if you have the Spirit of God living in you
If you are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you
So what is God saying
What is God saying in all this
How do you get controlled by the Spirit
You can please God if you have the Spirit of God living in you

But the Word of God tells us when we get saved the Holy Spirit comes in and seals that
But theres nothing nobody can do to convince me Im not saved
I knew when Jesus come in it changed my life
I immediately went to the church the next Sunday and said I want to get baptized
And it was a real baptism then
Because I wanted to tell everybody I laid my life down
And thats how you get saved
You just tell ask Jesus to come in your heart

Now if the Roman Emperor Augusta wouldnt have done what he had done Jesus would have better have been born in Nazareth
But the Bibles already said Jesus is going to be born in Bethlehem
So God will use everybody in all kinds of events in your life to bring about his purpose
To bring about his purpose he will use different kinds of people in all kinds of events
He used one of the most cruel men in the whole world Augusta to tell everybody get to your hometown and get counted

The enemy tries to fight me
He tries to make me doubt it
He tries to do whatever
But God give me that peace
Why
Because Im pleasing to him
How am I pleasing to him
According to his word and his word only

Youve got to have faith
You cannot do it without faith
Youve got to believe that Jesus is
Youve got to take all this and believe it
Because Gods word said its impossible to please him without faith
And you start asking Jesus in your life
You get saved
You start following him by faith
You get in the word
You talk to him
You know how I talk to God
The exact same way I talk to you

Luke presents this amazing fact
Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit this amazing event is understated manner
He just manufactured just in verse 7 she gave birth to her firstborn son
That was Luke telling you that Gods back on this earth
Many people say its so understated but God is back on the earth

They were okay suddenly Gods Words awesome
I preached the whole sermon on that one word right there suddenly
Things can happen in your life suddenly
For good and for bad
Dont ever ever give up on God
We were talking in marriage class Wednesday night
Never give up
That was the whole lesson
Never give up on your marriage

And what come tell you dont let anything stop you from sharing Jesus with people
We already know the end of the story
We got it all written out for us
These four shepherds didnt know nothing
They couldnt even read about it in the book because it wasnt written yet
But after seeing him they started telling everybody
And then what happened
All who heard the shepherds story was astonished
Why

But hey but anyway He did that and I lost my train
Be right with God
Be right with God
Man what person in their right mind doesnt want to be right with God
Its by believing in your heart that you are made right with God
And its by openly declaring your faith that you are saved
Being saved is simple
You call on Jesus
You say well when did I do this
When Gods dealing with you

When John wrote them words Apostle John wrote that in John it was shocking to everybody to hear
Because for 400 years it hasnt been a word and all of a sudden youre telling me that Gods on this earth as a man
Yeah he started as a baby
And these Jewish and Greek readers of John were astonished

The shepherds who looked after the temple lambs they were the one out there taking care of the temple lambs was first to see the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world
The shepherds told everyone
They were so excited
They had to go about telling everybody just about a little bitty baby laying in a manger
And I dont want to talk about the resurrected Jesus sometimes

God will save you anywhere
Hell save you right now
If theres anybody in here that Gods dealing with if you want to be saved just come on up
Or go find somebody a trusted person to pray with you
And youll be saved right now
But I was raised in church in the age of 17
I was a senior at Vidalia High School at 2038 Eleanor Street
I still drive by that house because I only live two streets over now
I still drive by the house and look and smile over there

If you study that John connected the coming of Jesus to humanity with Gods coming to living in that tent with Israel
Israel the very presence of God in a man form came
With that in mind we are going to read the Christmas story

I cant wait to visit with her in heaven because if theres one person that has never doubted Jesus is the Son of God
Her names Mary
Ive had doubts before
Even as a Christian I would doubt sometimes
But Gods Word can take care of them doubts
But if theres one person that knows because she knows what happened to it but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often
I like to King James said Mary pondered these things

Who are the ones with whom God is pleased
Well we know from the Scripture hes pleased with Jesus right
I would love to have been there when God was when Jesus was getting baptized and they heard this voice Hey thats my son
I am very pleased with him
It happened a couple more times during the New Testament
So we know God was pleased with Jesus
So who else is God pleased with
Who else is God pleased with
Because I want to be in that group and I want to be in that crowd

Shepherds social outcasts
Nobody wanted them around
They stunk
They were stinking people
They were unreliable
They were so considered in now this is a very important point
During this time in history the shepherds were actually out there taking care of the lamb that would be slain in the temple for our sins
And they would be out there taking care of them but the Roman and the Jewish people didnt like them so much
They said you cant even testify in a court of law

The shepherds did not waste not one bit of time because for 400 years nobody had heard from God
And now all of a sudden these angels in heaven
I love this over here on the thing
I just stood up there the other day and looked at it
Them angels I would love to see that scene
I asked God many times man let the heavens just be filled with angels and sing or tell me something
And they worded to these shepherds
And the shepherds were so excited and said lets get to Bethlehem
Lets go
Lets get there

This is not just a Christmas story
This is problem solved for everything in your life that you will ever face ever face
We are going to read the Christmas story but I want to dwell on this right here
That the bird became flesh
He became human
He took on a human form

When the Holy Spirits convicting you of that righteousness youve got to get the righteousness of Jesus
And when you get that in you that sin nature will leave you
That sin nature is gone because youve got the Holy Spirit living in you
Now you will still battle with thoughts man
Romans 8 talks about the mind and the battle thats there
But youve got the Holy Spirit of God living in you now
And you cast down all that junk that tries to come in your mind constantly
You cast it down and you get rid of it
And all of a sudden youre pleasing God
Because why
Youre not listening to that old fleshly sinful junk

But all of it talks about when things come against your mind
And it just gets in there
And all these thoughts and all these things
Cast them down
Get rid of them
People say how do you know what thoughts to cast down
The word of God again
Tells us cast down any imagination that comes in your mind
Any thought any imagination that comes in your mind that Pastor Danny knows is against God
Does our word say that
No
What you know is against God
You know how you start learning whats against God

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The Word Became Flesh: Peace and Salvation Offered

Devotional

Day 1: The Word Became Flesh—God With Us

Day 2: Peace Offered, Received Through New Birth

Day 3: God’s Guidance Through Ordinary Events

Day 4: Suddenly—Heaven Breaks In

Day 5: No Condemnation—Life in the Spirit

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

The Word Became Flesh: Peace and Salvation Offered

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