Advent Devotionals - Northland Church

December 25 - 1 John 3:1

Thu, 25 Dec 2025 12:00:00 GMT

As we gather today to celebrate the birth of our Savior King, I am reminded of all the times throughout Scripture that God gave His people a promise about this very day. What a gift the birth of our Savior is to us! It is a promise fulfilled in an act of love.

As I have been studying God’s Word this past year, several verses that richly describe God’s love have stuck with me. They have also made me ask myself a key question: Does my love reflect His to all those I encounter?

In Exodus 34:6, we see God proclaim to Moses, “‘The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate, gracious God, slow to anger, ABOUNDING IN LOVE and faithfulness.’”

God uses Jeremiah to tell His chosen people, “‘I have loved you with an EVERLASTING LOVE; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you’” (Jeremiah 31:3).

John 3:16 tells us that “God SO LOVED the world He gave His only begotten son…”

Lastly, John tells us in our verse for today, “Behold what manner of love the Father has given unto us, that we should be called the children of God! Therefore, the world does not know us, because it did not know Him” (1 John 3:1).

As we walk through our days, I pray that we desire to honor this love that God so willingly gave us by loving others through His example. In times when this calling seems hard, remember that as His children, we are made in His image and “we love because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19).

December 24 - Ephesians 2:4-5

Wed, 24 Dec 2025 12:00:00 GMT

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved” (Ephesians 2:4-5).

“But God...” Those two words changed everything!

Right there in Ephesians 2, Paul drops the most powerful plot twist in human history. You were spiritually flatlined—no pulse, no hope, dead in your rebellion. And that’s when His love moved heaven and earth for you!

God didn’t wait for you to clean yourself up or prove your worth. He chose to love you anyway. Not with a cautious, “let’s wait and see” kind of love. No—with a marvelous and merciful love that pursues you into your darkest places and breathes resurrection life into your lifeless soul. This same love that makes you alive with Christ is the love that sent Christ to you in the first place. The baby in Bethlehem’s manger is God’s love taking on flesh and bone, entering your broken world to rescue you from death.

Grace unearned, undeserved, and unstoppable—that’s the beating heart of Christmas. You can’t place it in a stocking. You can’t buy it in a store. You can’t wrap it up with a bow. You can only receive it with wonder and awe, opening your empty hands to the God who gives life to the dead.

As you celebrate Christmas tomorrow, remember this: every gift under the tree is merely an echo of the ultimate Gift. God’s great love doesn’t just warm your heart; it resurrects your soul! That’s the miracle you celebrate. Those two words (“But God…”) changed everything. How will you live, knowing that you’re loved like this?

December 23 - Romans 5:6-8

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 12:00:00 GMT

“For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:6-8).

“Is it Christmas yet?! Do we still have to wait?” My home has been ringing with these phrases for weeks! The tree is up, the stockings hung, the presents not quite wrapped. Christmas is coming! But to my kids, the wait seems endless and frustrating.

If I’m honest, I also ask “yet/still” questions of a different sort. Mine are brought on by the mundane demands of daily life or by trials that overstay their welcome. (“Is it over yet? Are we still in this same place? Is my heart still struggling with this same thing?”) I get frustrated with where I am and lose sight of God’s love for me and others.

Romans 5 sets my thoughts on the right course. My greatest “yet/still” in life was completely transformed by the cross! While I was yet weak, while I was still a sinner, while I could never be a righteous person, that was the moment Christ died for me.

When I feel stuck and begin to doubt the love of my Father, this passage gives me great courage. He did not turn away from me when I was yet weak and still a sinner. Instead, He poured out forgiveness and love. It’s the same love that He pours into my heart daily through His Word, His Spirit, and His people as I walk through the “yet/still” challenges of life. My frustration is transformed into praise because of the love of Jesus!

December 22 - 1 John 4:9-10

Mon, 22 Dec 2025 12:00:00 GMT

“In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:9-10).

During holiday seasons, sometimes we can feel alone and without a loving presence in our lives. This passage should always remind us that we are never alone, and we are never without the presence of love in our lives.

John writes that in Jesus’ birth, the presence of God was manifested (revealed) among us. No longer would there be a barrier or distance between God’s presence and humanity, but God would take on flesh to intimately be present among us and show us His great love. And beyond that, He would go further still: while we were still in our sins and were not showing love to Him, the Father would send His Son to die on the cross. Jesus, who knew no sin, would willingly become a sacrifice for our sins on the cross, becoming that great gift of love and sacrifice.

What a great blessing to have a God who would sacrifice His most precious Son to reconcile us with Himself. And what a great blessing to have our great Lord, Christ, willingly lay down His life for us as our propitiation (sacrifice). Let us cherish this great gift of the love and presence of God manifested among us, for us, and give Him great praise and gratitude for this rich, kingly gift!

December 21 - Matthew 2:10

Sun, 21 Dec 2025 12:00:00 GMT

“When they saw the star, they were overjoyed” (Matthew 2:10).

When I think of something that brings me joy, it doesn’t usually include months of walking on a cross-country journey. With that being said, it is estimated that the wise men walked anywhere from 500-900 miles over the course of multiple months as they sought to meet the newborn king (Matthew 2). This trek seems even more daunting considering the weather and conditions they would have faced on a journey of that magnitude, yet the wise men weren’t fazed. They were not basing their joy on current circumstances; rather, they were basing their joy on Christ and encountering Him.

Too often in the business of life, especially during the holiday seasons, we allow our circumstances to dictate our emotions. When we fall into this trap, the season can become like a roller coaster of emotions, taking us all over the place. One minute, life is fantastic as you’re enjoying Christmas rituals like driving around and seeing Christmas lights. Then the next moment, you are in dismay as you realize that money is going to be tight and you try to figure out gifts for your kids.

The reality is that the only true joy we can find in this life is through a relationship with Jesus Christ. As we enter into the Christmas season, we should take a lesson from the wise men: let Christ be the decider of our joy, not the circumstances we are currently walking though.

December 20 - Psalm 126

Sat, 20 Dec 2025 12:00:00 GMT

In Psalm 126, the Psalmist is remembering back to a time when God delivered His people from captivity. He remembers the weeping and grief that the people of Israel (Zion) experienced. It was a time where they were not living in their homes, a time when family was separated, a time when security was gone.

And yet, in remembering, he is not reflecting on the hardship that he endured, but on the joy of the gift of deliverance that God gave to Israel. The joy that filled their hearts resulted in laughter and joyful shouting, like children on Christmas morning who get the very gift they want and let out a loud shout of joy!

At the time of this Psalm, the joyful restoration is just a memory. In verse 4, the Psalmist calls on the Lord to bring a new deliverance into their lives. While there are good memories of great rejoicing, a sad reality is also present. He feels grief, but he has great expectations of future joy.

For those who belong to the Lord, no period of grief compares to the great final deliverance that we have in Christ. For those, like the Psalmist, who belong to God, we can weep and grieve in this world, yet we have great expectation of endless joy because of Christ. Take time to recount a time that the Lord has given you great joy. This is but a glimmer of the joy that we have and will have in Christ forever!

December 19 - 1 Peter 1:8

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 12:00:00 GMT

“Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy” (1 Peter 1:8).

Joy is talked about all the time during the Christmas season, but in this verse, we see a picture of joy that is rooted in something deeper. It is a joy that is not dependent on our earthly circumstances. It is an unchanging reality. It is inexpressible and surpasses all understanding. So where does this type of joy come from?

Peter shows us that it comes from one simple thing: faith in Jesus. Even though we have not seen Jesus with our eyes, we love Him and believe in Him. Faith is choosing to believe in the unseen. Romans 5:1 reminds us, “Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” That peace blossoms into a joy rooted not in this world, but in the glory of God Himself. Through belief in the unseen Savior, our hearts are filled with an eternal joy that can coexist with trials and struggles—a joy that radiates the glory of our incredible God to the world around us.

December 18 - Philippians 4:4

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 12:00:00 GMT

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice” (Philippians 4:4).

“Rejoice” is a word we don’t often use in everyday life, yet in Philippians 4:4, Paul tells us not once but twice to rejoice. To rejoice means to display great joy and delight, but the kind of joy Paul speaks of goes much deeper than simple happiness.

As we enter the Christmas season, there are many favorite Christmas traditions that bring joy—a meal with friends or family, a treat that you only get during this season, watching Christmas movies, or a favorite holiday tradition, like looking at lights or putting up a Christmas tree. These are moments filled with happiness, but when Paul commands us to rejoice, he invites us to look not at something but at someone. He points us to the greatest joy–Christ Himself!

Paul’s words on rejoicing come just after his reminder about our citizenship in heaven and the hope we have of a returning Savior (Philippians 3:20). That is the foundation for our joy: it is not found in the passing moments of a season, but rather in the eternal person of Jesus Christ.

At Christmas, our joy looks back on a sacred holy night when God took on flesh–Emmanuel, God with Us! But as believers, we also look forward to a day when Christ will return, which gives us joy in the moment and hope for what tomorrow brings.

This Christmas, may our hearts find joy in the Christmas season and worship for the everlasting One. We know that Christ came and that He will come again!

December 17 - Habakkuk 3:18

Wed, 17 Dec 2025 12:00:00 GMT

“Yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation” (Habakkuk 3:18).

Joy—an emotion we all crave—can often feel elusive. C.S. Lewis described joy as something glimpsed in one’s peripheral vision, suggesting it cannot be grasped by effort alone.

In Habakkuk 3:18, the prophet proclaims his joy in the Lord because he knows that God is the one who saves. While this truth seems obvious to believers—God saves through the birth, death, and resurrection of His Son, Jesus—many still struggle to find joy, even in light of the Good News. Habakkuk’s story offers guidance for those seasons.

As a prophet, Habakkuk lived in a time when those seeking to honor God were persecuted by the wicked in Judah. He cried out to the Lord for help, but God’s reply was startling: He would use the wicked nation of Babylonia to punish Judah’s unfaithfulness. Habakkuk was confused. Why would God use a nation more corrupt than Judah to bring justice? God’s answer left him with a choice: trust in God’s wisdom or rely on his own understanding.

Habakkuk chose trust. In doing so, he found joy. Even while the prophet admitted his fear and dread about what lay ahead, even amid his turmoil, he rejoiced in the salvation that he knew God would bring.

During Advent, when challenges or sorrow may cloud our hearts, Habakkuk’s response reminds us that joy is not the absence of fear, but the presence of trust. As C.S. Lewis observed, we may be “surprised by joy”—finding it not by striving, but by choosing to trust God’s saving grace.

December 16 - John 15:11

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 12:00:00 GMT

In the middle of a month supposedly overflowing with celebrations and festivities, joy often seems elusive. We know Jesus brings joy, but holding onto truth, and discerning how to hold that joy, feels as slippery as ice in December.

Hours before He went to the cross, Jesus said to His disciples, “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be full.” (John 15:11) In exploring the context of this scene between Jesus and His disciples from John 13-17, we find Jesus teaching us how to have and hold His joy! The entry point to Joy is faith shaped by truth and evidence. Jesus invited His disciples to “Believe in God, believe also in Me.” (John 14:1)

Genuine faith in God brings closeness; “…whoever would draw near to God must believe…”. (Hebrews 11:6) This nearness to God results in a life that looks more like Jesus’. “Whoever believes in Me will also do the works that I do.” (John 14:12) In this space of relational nearness and growth, Jesus promises peace, “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you.” (John 14:27)

Finally, Jesus shares the joy factor by emphasizing His pathway again, “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, […] These things I have spoken to you, that My Joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” (John 15:10-11)

When we come to Jesus in faith we are pulled close to His side, taught to live a life of love, and gifted peace only Jesus can give. This, brothers and sisters, is where joy’s effervescence thrives!

December 15 - Psalm 30:5

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 12:00:00 GMT

Christmas is a great time to receive gifts and spend time with family, remembering the birth of our Lord Jesus. Christmas reminds us of the joy brought into the world for the salvation of mankind.

The carol “Joy to the World” by Isaac Watts shows how God sent Jesus to bring the joy of salvation to us (“Joy to the world, the Lord is come. Let earth receive her King! Let every heart prepare Him room, and heaven and nature sing”). God’s joy can never be shaken. This Christmas, let us be merry in God’s joy.

In Psalms 30:5, we read, “For His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor lasts a lifetime. Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” This verse shows that though we fall short of God’s righteousness, God loves us so that He forgives us and restores us back to Himself.

Let’s us draw closer to God in faith, keeping away sin, for Romans 8:38-39 says, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Share God’s joy this Christmas with family, friends, and neighbors. Whatever request you have asked Jesus, He will answer according to His will.

Merry Christmas!

December 14 - John 16:33

Sun, 14 Dec 2025 12:00:00 GMT

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33)

These words would be some of the last that Jesus would say to His disciples before going to the cross. The words that were meant to comfort and reassure His disciples still carry that same power in our lives today.

The Christmas season is often a happy time, filled with traditions and memories with family. For some, however, it can be a painful season. Maybe life is hard right now. Maybe this is the first Christmas with a loved one not there, or the season is a reminder of broken relationships. In these difficult moments, we are reminded that we can find peace in Christ. While we celebrate His birth, we fix our eyes on His return. The manger holds both comfort for today’s struggles and hope for the ultimate victory we find in Christ. When Jesus said, “‘I have overcome the world,’” He used past tense, which points to the battle having already been won.

No matter what you may be facing today, know that it’s in God’s hands. Lay your burdens, your sorrows, and your fears at the foot of the cross. Rest in these truths and find the peace that can only be found in Christ—a peace that surpasses all understanding.

December 13 - Psalm 29:11

Sat, 13 Dec 2025 12:00:00 GMT

“May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace!” (Psalm 29:11)

Have you ever experienced a moment of complete awe and wonder?

Years ago, Blake and I visited Niagara Falls. If you’ve visited, you know that the falls are awe-inspiring. There’s a constant roar from the vast volume of water rushing over the edge, and clouds of mist hang in the air. The falls are breathtakingly beautiful, but the mighty power of the water rushing by also makes the visitor feel small by comparison. If we feel this sense of awe and wonder in front of just a sliver of God’s creation, how much more should we feel before the Creator Himself?

Psalm 29 is a hymn to the glory and greatness of God. Heavenly beings are called on to testify to God’s glory and strength. His majestic voice is so powerful that it strips forests bare and is compared to rushing waters and roaring thunder. In the final verses, the Psalmist describes God as a mighty king—the King---sitting on His throne (“the Lord is enthroned as King forever”). Such a portrait should inspire us to awe, reverence, love, and a deep sense of humility before His majesty and glory as King and Creator.

And yet, we also know that He loves us and desires our good. What a king we serve and celebrate this Christmas! It is this king who gives His people strength and peace (v. 11). It is this king who provides a way for His people through His Son, Jesus Christ.

December 12 - Ephesians 2:14

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 12:00:00 GMT

“For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility” (Ephesians 2:14).

We see in the second chapter of Ephesians that there were two distinct groups making up the Ephesian church. Both groups were believers, but one was of Jewish background and the other Gentile. One group thought they were more entitled to be followers of Jesus than the other.

When we were in Biharamulo, Tanzania, we were forming churches where different groups had been forcibly moved from their traditional lands to common villages. Each group thought they were the blessed of God. As they became followers of Jesus, this division was a problem, and we needed our Lord’s insight to find an answer.

As we prayed and asked friends about this issue, we found that each people group had a totem sign—a symbol that represented their group identity. The Lord helped me to apply the concept of totem to our churches. I first acknowledged that we came from different people groups with different traditional totem signs. But when we become a follower of Jesus, He becomes our totem and the blood He shed on the cross is applied to our hearts, making us adopted children of God.

Over the 10 years that we were in Biharamulo, God increased the number of churches from 3 to 45! These churches are made up of different groups, but they all have the common totem of Jesus Christ superseding their traditional ones. We all come from different backgrounds, like the believers of Biharamulo. We need to recognize Jesus is our common denominator and that He binds us together as God’s adopted children.

December 11 - Colossians 3:15

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 12:00:00 GMT

In August of 2024, MLB catcher Danny Jenson was traded in the middle of a rain delay from the Blue Jays to the Red Sox, their opponents in that same game. In the space of a few minutes, he took off his blue jersey, switched teams, put on a new red jersey, and continued to play the game – just for the other team.

In Colossians 3, Paul encourages the believers in Colossae (and us, by extension) to take off their old team jerseys – those worldly “clothes” which are full of immorality, anger, lies, and much more. He says to instead put on the jersey of the other team: the “clothes” that come from Christ that brings us comfort and peace. Specifically, Colossians 3:15 says, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.”

A few verses earlier, he refers to taking off the old clothes and putting on the new, not just by living in harmony with all followers of Jesus (no matter where they come from), but also by being active members of the community in encouraging and admonishing one another, forgiving one another, reading Scripture together, and doing everything for the glory of God.This is the peace that Paul is referring to: the peace that comes from being on the Lord’s team and being with the people on His team.

Peace comes from being an active part of Team Jesus.

December 10 - Romans 5:1

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 12:00:00 GMT

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace
with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1).

Our modern society is filled with distractions. Whether it’s what we see on the news, experience in the office, or observe in our community, there’s a plethora of things that can take our minds away from God and cause unrest in our hearts. That’s even more true around Christmas.

Between planning for family get-togethers, shopping for gifts, and sending out Christmas cards, busyness and anxiety can very quickly cause us to lose sight of the true meaning of this season. In times like this, we must lean into a God who gives us peace in the midst of noise and conflict.

In Romans chapter five, Paul encourages the Roman Christians, telling them that they have peace with God because they have been justified. Paul reminds them that because they are right with God, they can have peace with God. This kind of peace speaks to our relationship with the Lord, in that we no longer suffer from the wrath we deserve because of sin.

What’s more, this peace is a comfort for us when we go through difficult times. Paul reminds us that no matter how discomforting the world may be or how trying living as a Christian might get, God promises to give us peace through Jesus. No longer are we stuck in our sin. No longer are we separated from God. Now in Christ, we have peace.

Have you been made right with God? Are you experiencing the peace that comes from a true relationship with him?

December 9 - Philippians 4:6-7

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 12:00:00 GMT

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).

We all have experienced fear, felt confused, had to face life’s trials and disappointments, and peace is nowhere to be found. The good news for Christians is that God has the power to control those emotions and circumstances.

Peace is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:20). It’s a valuable tool in our Christian tool belt—one we have with us all the time. Unfortunately, when trouble comes, we can lose focus and let fears, anxieties, and troubles get into our hearts and minds, crowding out our peace. In those moments, pray with a thankful heart. Exercise your faith in God and trust that He has a great plan for you. You might not understand it, but in faith, believe it is true.

Remember, Jesus is with you all the time. Choose to make room for peace to flourish in your soul. Then you will experience calmness in the midst of chaos and frustration. When you trust that God is in full control, that inner peace through the power of the Holy Spirit will overtake your heart and mind. It is truly supernatural. It’s fully spiritual!

So, as you move forward in life, trust and believe that God’s desire for you is to feel an ever-present peace. It’s a peace that gives you a confident feeling of purpose every day and in every area of your life.

December 8 - John 14:27

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 12:00:00 GMT

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world
gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither
let them be afraid” (John 14:27).

When Jesus spoke these words to His disciples, He was preparing them for a future where things would be uncertain and difficult. He was giving them a gift unlike any the world could give them: the gift of peace. Not the peace the world gives, which is temporary, but His own peace that can’t be lost or taken away—a peace that is complete and eternal.

The Hebrew word for “peace” in the Bible, shalom, means more than just feeling calm or quiet. It means wholeness or being complete. The shalom Jesus gives is completeness in every aspect of your life: emotional, spiritual, intellectual, and physical.

That’s what Christmas is really about. When God sent His Son into the world, He was giving us shalom. Through Jesus, our broken relationship with God was restored. Christ came to bring peace to our hearts, peace in our homes, and peace between heaven and earth.

The world’s peace is temporary, but the peace that Jesus gives remains, even when life feels messy or hard. This peace comes from knowing that God is in control so we don’t need to have troubled hearts or be afraid because He, Emmanuel, is with us.

This Advent, as we wait for Christmas Day, let’s remember that peace isn’t something we have to earn or create. It’s a gift, one that is freely given by the One who came to make us whole. Let’s pray that this gift will be received by all.

December 7 - Romans 5:13

Sun, 07 Dec 2025 12:00:00 GMT

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope” (Romans 15:13).

This is Paul’s prayer for the church at Rome as he concludes his equipping letter to them. He reminds them, and us, of several key points.God alone is the source of our hope. His mercies are new every morning. Trusting Him—the changeless one—and His unfailing love and great faithfulness will fill us with His joy and peace. Overflowing, confident hope, by the power of the Holy Spirit, will be ours, even in the midst of sorrow, grief, loss, and uncertainty.

This reminds me to stop and ask where my focus is—on the
circumstances and people around me or on the God of hope? Cling to the hope God has for you. He is who He says He is and always keeps His promises. Cast every care on Him and remember that He cares for you. Invite others to pray with you and for you. Pray His Word for yourself
and others.

Christ has come!

December 6 - Titus 2:13

Sat, 06 Dec 2025 12:00:00 GMT

We often use the word “hope” to describe something that we are wishing for. You might not have to think that far back to remember pulling a present with your name on it from under the tree, hoping to find a specific gift under the wrapping paper. But the kind of hope that the Bible describes is more than wish or a want. It’s a promise.

Throughout Scripture, God’s promises form the foundation for our hope, from His promise to bless the nations through Abraham, to the promise of a coming savior, to the promise that Jesus gave before His crucifixion that He will return for us.

It’s this final promise that the apostle Paul points us to in Titus 2:13: “Waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.” In this passage, Paul is calling us to be self-controlled and to live with godly purpose as we wait for Christ’s return.

To live this way means more than simply enduring. It means that we should live every day in
anticipation of His coming, allowing that hope to shape the way we love and serve others. It also gives us confidence to rely on God in every circumstance. So when we walk through seasons of life that feel dark and hopeless, we can rest, knowing that our future is anchored in the steadfast promise of our blessed hope.

December 5 - Colossians 1:27

Fri, 05 Dec 2025 12:00:00 GMT

“To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

Have you ever taken the time to examine the night sky in all its starry glory? Living in Kansas City, you likely struggle to see much of anything in the sky. Most of the beauty of the starry host is hidden. The bright glow of city lights or the clouds are enough to hide the stars from our vision.

Even with a clear night sky away from the city lights, our eyes are only able to see the closest and brightest stars. We need the aid of telescopes to reveal God’s handiwork in the heavens. Just as the stars are obscured from our sight, God’s plan for salvation through His Son was once hidden from view.

Paul told the Colossians that at one time, God’s full redemptive plan was a mystery hidden (1:25-26). The Old Testament foreshadowed the coming of Christ and the inclusion of the Gentiles into His kingdom. But now, the mystery of the gospel has been revealed to all people. In Colossians 1:17, Paul describes this revealed mystery as “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” This phrase speaks to two truths.

First, Christ indwells us. We have His presence with us and are fully included in His kingdom. Second, it speaks to our hope for an eternal future with Christ. God has revealed to us the current presence of Jesus and the future hope of resurrection with Jesus. In this Advent season take a moment to praise Him for the splendor of His redemptive plan, fulfilled in Christ.

December 4 - 1 Peter 1:3

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 12:00:07 GMT

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3).

Advent is a season when we look back with gratitude at Christ’s first coming while also looking forward with hope to His return. In this verse, Peter reminds believers that our hope is not wishful thinking or a fleeting feeling. It’s a living hope that is rooted in the reality of Jesus’ resurrection.

Because Christ rose from the dead, our hope is alive, active, and unbreakable. No matter how uncertain life feels, this hope cannot be taken away. Peter’s audience faced persecution, fear, and loss, yet he pointed them to a truth that transcends circumstance: God, in His mercy, has given us new life.

This “new birth” means that through Christ, we are made new. We are forgiven, restored, and secure in a future that death itself cannot destroy. As we move through Advent, let this living hope steady your heart. The same God who fulfilled His promise in Bethlehem will one day fulfill His promise to make all things new.

Thanks to the Lord for giving us new life and a living hope in Jesus! May He help us rest in His mercy and look forward with joy to all that He has promised.

December 3 - Lamentations 3:21-23

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 12:00:00 GMT

Sometimes we enter the Advent season not with joy and peace, but with despair and grief. When Jeremiah wrote the book of Lamentations, he was witnessing the destruction of the city and the people that he loved. In Lamentations 3:1-18, he gives vivid details of the pain and turmoil that he personally has experienced. And it feels like God has turned against him. Have you ever felt like this?

And yet despite his circumstances, Jeremiah found hope in the character of God. He knew that God was in control and would be faithful to His word. Jeremiah pressed into God in the midst of his despair. In verses 19-20, he says “I remember my affliction and it’s bitter beyond words. I remember it well and my soul is downcast within me.”

But then he reminds himself of the truth: “But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (vv. 21-23).

It is so important to press into God’s Word and God’s family during times of deep grief and suffering, not pull away. We need brothers and sisters to come alongside us, grieve with us, and then remind us of the truth of who God is: He is sovereign, He is merciful, and He is faithful. Therefore we have hope.

December 2 - Romans 5:3-5

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 12:00:00 GMT

Life is full of many different experiences. Certain moments elicit pure, unburdened joy. Conversely, there are moments that rock us to our very core. For some, it could be a bad grade or work issues. For others, it could be an unexpected death or an illness. Whatever our circumstances, we may be struggling to find hope during the Advent season.

In the book of Romans, Paul was addressing the church in Rome via letter. Christians were facing trials as they strove to live out their faith in a pagan society that did not share their beliefs. In response, Paul shared the following words in Romans 5:3-5: “Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”

Paul highlights the importance of suffering here. It is not meaningless. The believers in Rome were being reminded that their persecution was not in vain. Instead, they were being strengthened through it and developing godly traits, such as endurance, character, and hope. Most of us are not fighting the same battles as those faced by the church in Rome. God gives us different challenges meant to build endurance, character, and hope. Regardless of our circumstances, though, we can know that God is with us as we march towards a future filled with hope in Him.

December 1 - Psalm 130:5

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 12:00:00 GMT

What are you hoping for this Christmas? Do you remember looking at dozens of photos of things that you hoped you might receive under the Christmas tree or in your stocking as a child?

In Psalm 130:5, it says, “I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope.” The hope here is found in the LORD. It is not a wish for something you can hold in your hands or see in a photograph. It is something that no money can buy. It is also not a wish, but a certainty –a guarantee. It is priceless! What kind of gift could this be? Where can it be found?

We all need HOPE. Real hope is not found in gifts under a Christmas tree or in a stocking hanging from your mantel. It is found in the LORD, and we find the LORD by reading the Word of God!

So this Christmas, if you want a gift that is priceless and beyond comparison with any other gift you could ever receive, look no further than the Bible. God’s Word is filled with many gifts,

Advent Devotionals

Wed, 26 Nov 2025 19:43:14 GMT

Come back every day to hear from each devotion author through the Advent season.