When one of the pastors from my church asked me to write a short series of devotionals for the weeks leading up to Christmas, I jumped at the chance. What a wonderful opportunity to focus on hope, joy, peace and love as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ.
Below is the first devotional I’ve written and it’s designed to be read with the whole family. I hope you enjoy it.
Long, long ago in a far away land, the people of Israel waited and hoped for a special King, the King of Kings. It was prophesied that this King would be and do great things. He would be like a light in the darkness. But before that could happen, He had to enter this world just like you and me, as a baby. Read what was written about Him in Isaiah 6:9:
“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.”
The people of Israel continued to wait and hope for this baby to arrive and many, many years later, in Luke 1:31-33, we read that it was time for the King to be born. The Angel, Gabriel, was speaking with a young woman named, Mary, and this is what he said to her:
“You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and He will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
Nine months later, the baby Jesus was born. The King the people of Israel hoped for was finally here!
As the years passed and Jesus grew up into a man, He gave not only the Israelites, but everyone around the world, including you and me, for generations to come, the greatest gift: hope.
You see, when Jesus died on the cross and rose again on the third day, He paid for our sin, all the mistakes we would ever make, and gave us hope of eternal life with Him in heaven.
Hebrews 6:19 tells us that, “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure…”
Putting our hope in Jesus accomplishes for us what an anchor does for a ship. It makes it secure when strong winds blow, and waves come crashing down. So long as the anchor holds, and the ship is pointed in the right direction, it is safe. The same is true for us when hard things happen to us and around us. We are secure with our hope in Jesus.
Do you have people in your life who need hope? How about making a Hope Jar? On small pieces of paper, write down the names of people you know who need hope. Fold up the pieces of paper and put them in a jar. Each night at dinner or before bed, pull out a name from the jar and pray for that person.
Another idea is to look at needs of those in your community and brainstorm as a family how you might be able to meet those needs and give some hope. Maybe it’s providing a meal, giving them a ride, spending time with them or simply offering them encouragement.
Let us be radiant this week and this Christmas season, by bringing hope to those who need it most.
Wishing you a hope-filled Christmas and year to come.
Go Be Radiant 