We are so excited for what God is going to do in our area as many local churches are joining together to fast and pray in Palm Beach County from January 6th-26th. All are welcome to participate and seek God intentionally in fasting and prayer along with us. Whether you choose to fast certain meals, a few days, or fast from particular foods or activities, we want you to be involved!
For more information about this fast go to www.united21dayfast.com
“‘Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel’ (which means, God with us).” -Matthew 1:23
God With Us. Our Savior, Creator, Redeemer, and King. Son of God, and Son of Man. Light of the World and Prince of Peace. Messiah, Mighty God, and Ancient of Days. Author and Finisher of our Faith. The Lamb of God. The Holy One of Israel.
Jesus.
This was the day God’s plan for His Son was finally unfolding. The beginning of a plan set in motion before the foundations of the earth. And His plan for Jesus was also His plan for us: and that is His plan of redemption. God’s plans are always about restoration and hope. His plans are good and purposeful. And though God’s plans are different than our own, His plans are perfect.
The thread that is woven throughout the Christmas story is the same thread that we see woven in and out of our own lives.
The thread of His ways being good.
His wisdom and love permeate and hold together the parts of our story that seem not to make sense. There was so much about the birth of Jesus that only in hindsight are we able to look back and see how God was working. But it was all with a purpose. It was all for His glory.
Christmas is a starting point for us to dwell and rest in God’s providence—not only throughout history, but in our own lives, too. His plans are always good. His plan for Christmas, and His plan for you and for me. Be filled with the joy of His coming! Rejoice that He is God With Us. He is with us.
At Christmas and always.
If you are enjoying this Advent Devotional, you can pick up a copy of the book at our Sunday Services during the month of December or purchase your own keepsake copy of this published book by clicking below. We would also love to have you join us for our Christmas series at Redemption Church on Sunday mornings at 10am! For more information, click the links below.
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” -John 1:14
Jesus came in human flesh and dwelt among His creation and the people He made. Jesus didn’t just come to live for a short time; He DWELT among us, John tells us. Jesus came as a newborn baby, fully vulnerable and helpless, demonstrating that He would live the life of a human being to the fullest extent—dwelling on earth.
The life Jesus lived on earth revealed the glory of God for us to see up close. The very nature of God was now visible to those who would see it. Once Jesus came, we could now not only know by God by faith alone, but by sight.
The writer of Hebrews put it this way:
“Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power…” -Hebrews 1:1-3
Jesus is the radiance of the Glory of God. The holiness and glory that belong to God are found in the person of Jesus. And the nature of God is spoken in every word and seen in every step of our Savior. Like a stamp that leaves a direct print of itself on whatever it is pressed upon, Jesus is the exact imprint of our Heavenly Father for us to see and hear. The closer we draw to Jesus, the greater the impression He leaves upon our heart.
These verses in Hebrews tell us that God has spoken to His people throughout history in many ways—just as we learned earlier in the month, He speaks to us all in ways that we can know and understand Him. And at Christmas, we are able to rejoice that at last God would speak to us in a new way unlike ever before: He would speak to us Himself, dwelling among us.
Today as we remember the night Jesus was about to enter the world, give thanks that He loves us so very much that He chose to come and dwell with us. And He dwells within us today as we put our faith in Him. Leaving his imprint on our hearts as we draw close to Him. Oh, come, let us adore Him, for He alone is worthy.
If you are enjoying this Advent Devotional, you can pick up a copy of the book at our Sunday Services during the month of December or purchase your own keepsake copy of this published book by clicking below. We would also love to have you join us for our Christmas series at Redemption Church on Sunday mornings at 10am! For more information, click the links below.
“This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him.” -1 John 4:9 (NIV)
The newborn baby boy, lying in the manger surrounded by his mother, Mary, and Joseph was a symbol of the love God has for all of mankind. The heart of God was laid out for us to see when Jesus was born 2000 years ago in Bethlehem. Christmas is a celebration of a baby’s birth, yes, but it is most importantly a celebration of the great love God demonstrated in sending His only Son into our world.
Before sin entered the world, Adam and Eve walked with God in the garden. God created us to be with Him. His plan for humankind was pure and perfect relationship—just as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit exist in community and love for one another, God created people to know and love Him in this same way. When Jesus came to the earth, it was with this in mind: that He would show us the full measure of His love and redeem us from our sin.
The birth of Jesus Christ was the beginning of the fulfillment of God’s promise.
God’s promises are true and faithful. And Jesus Himself was the fulfillment of God’s first promise to Adam and Eve, that He would send a Savior, God’s own Son to restore what was lost and make new what was broken. 1 Corinthians 1:20 says this:
“For all the promises of God find their Yes in him (that is, Christ). That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.”
God loves us so very much, that He sent Jesus into the world. He was faithful to His promise. And it is because of the work that Jesus did by becoming a man, dying on the cross, and being raised back to life—that we are able to say “Amen!” We are now free to receive the free gift of God, which is eternal life, by believing in the name of Jesus. What greater gift could there be?
Today, meditate on the immeasurable greatness of the love God has for you. It is there, in the Christmas story, in creation around us, on the cross, and in the empty tomb. Jesus is alive, and we have forever to rejoice and celebrate the love of our Savior whose own life itself was poured out for us, so that we too might live through Him.
If you are enjoying this Advent Devotional, you can pick up a copy of the book at our Sunday Services during the month of December or purchase your own keepsake copy of this published book by clicking below. We would also love to have you join us for our Christmas series at Redemption Church on Sunday mornings at 10am! For more information, click the links below.
Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, ‘Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.’ And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt.” -Matthew 2:13-14
It was some time after Jesus had been born—just after the wisemen departed—that Joseph was given this dream warning him to take Mary and Jesus to Egypt. King Herod had received word of the newly born King of the Jews, the Messiah, and he was fully set on destroying Him. It was at this crucial time that God spoke to Joseph in a dream for a second time.
Before Jesus was born, Joseph had heard from God in a dream, instructing him to take Mary as his wife. That dream had come at a time of sorrow and distress for Joseph. He had been suffering the confusion and disappointment of a broken relationship with his new bride. It was in that moment that God spoke to Joseph, bringing words of comfort, reassurance, and direction. And Joseph had listened.
This dream was different. Joseph and Mary were unaware of the wicked plans laid out for their new son. When Joseph was given this dream warning him to take his family and escape by night to a foreign country, it would have been alarming and unexpected. But God knew that Joseph was obedient, and he had already tested Joseph through the first dream He had given him long before.
When God speaks to us, do we listen?
Even in the small things, the Holy Spirit is continually speaking to our hearts—convicting, correcting, directing, and encouraging us in our journey of faith. When we hear His voice in our heart, it is crucial that we develop a pattern of obedience. Because when we listen to His voice in the small things, we create a life that is built on faith and obedience.
Faith and obedience are qualities that grow within us the more we practice and apply them. Just as Joseph listened and obeyed God by taking Mary as his wife, he also listened when God told him to do something far more urgent, even if it didn’t make sense to him at the time. Let’s trust the Holy Spirit when He speaks to our hearts and respond in faith and obedience in the simple things. And may God give us the faith that we need to follow Him wherever He leads us.
If you are enjoying this Advent Devotional, you can pick up a copy of the book at our Sunday Services during the month of December or purchase your own keepsake copy of this published book by clicking below. We would also love to have you join us for our Christmas series at Redemption Church on Sunday mornings at 10am! For more information, click the links below.
“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” -Luke 2:11-12
How strange for the shepherds to hear the glorious announcement from the angels singing “Glory to God” and “Peace on earth” and then to be told where to go to find this newborn King: in a manger. Could that be right? All the glory of heaven fills the sky to announce the arrival of the long awaited Messiah, and they were told to go to Bethlehem and look among the animals because that’s where He would be.
In a feeding trough.
We are so familiar with the story, the nativity, the little sheep and little manger. The wonder and reality of the Jesus we worship as Savior and Lord being laid in feeding manger cannot be fully understood by us as it was by those present. For Mary to lay her newborn baby in an animals place. For the shepherds to be searching among the donkeys and sheep looking for their Messiah. And to find Him there! Just as the angel had said.
Jesus came into the world so that the world would know Him and believe that He was the Son of God. He came to die on a cross for the sins of all people so that whoever would believe in Him would have eternal life (John 3:16). At the time of His birth, however, it was only those who were willing to humbly sit in the lowliest place that were able to receive Him as He came into the world. It was the faith-filled shepherds who came and found Him there in the manger. It was humble Mary and Joseph who first held Him, alone and without crowds of people waiting to catch a glimpse of the newborn King. They had Him all to themselves—what an unbelievable scene that must have been.
There is real beauty in the humble beginnings of our Savior’s life on earth.
The great humility and faith of a few men and women was rewarded by a chance to participate in one of the greatest events in the history of the world! It was not because they were especially righteous or important, but God allowed those who were willing to sit in an animal pen to worship the newborn Messiah.
Let’s ask God for this faith and humility. To go anywhere as long as it leads us to Jesus. We need the same belief in our hearts as the shepherds had that caused them to hurry themselves to Bethlehem because they wanted to see Jesus for themselves! And as we seek this kind of humble faith, we will find ourselves seeing more of Jesus. And that is what we all truly seek.
If you are enjoying this Advent Devotional, you can pick up a copy of the book at our Sunday Services during the month of December or purchase your own keepsake copy of this published book by clicking below. We would also love to have you join us for our Christmas series at Redemption Church on Sunday mornings at 10am! For more information, click the links below.
“And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.” -Luke 2:7
There was no place for them in the inn. The Biblical account of the birth of Jesus does not include a heartless innkeeper turning Mary and Joseph away in their time of need, although there may have been—neither does the Bible describe them going from house to house seeking a place to stay. It is simply put in this passage that there was no place for them.
No one was preparing for the arrival of the infant Messiah. No one was getting a place ready for Mary and Joseph to come and stay once they arrived in Bethlehem. It may not be so much that they were turned away as there was no one expecting them.
The Bible has a well-known passage in Revelation where Jesus Himself speaks of seeking a place to stay. He says,
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. -Revelation 3:20
God designed our hearts to be a home for our Savior. That God Himself wants to make His home within us is one of the greatest miracles and mysteries of all time. As children of God, we become what the Bible describes as “a temple of the Holy Spirit.” What a beautiful description of what happens when God comes to live in our hearts.
How are we readying our hearts for our Savior?
Are we a welcome place for Him to come and take residence—allowing Him access to our thoughts, our fears, and our desires? While Christ dwells in the heart of the Christian, it is necessary that we consider the home we are making within our hearts. Jesus said this in the book of John:
“If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” -John 14:23
What a beautiful mystery that Jesus promises to make His home in our hearts when we live in faith and obedience to Him. Prepare your heart for His coming, and enjoy the gift of His presence today.
If you are enjoying this Advent Devotional, you can pick up a copy of the book at our Sunday Services during the month of December or purchase your own keepsake copy of this published book by clicking below. We would also love to have you join us for our Christmas series at Redemption Church on Sunday mornings at 10am! For more information, click the links below.
“And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.” -Luke 2:3-6
Jesus was born away from home. The census that went out from Caesar Augustus required Joseph to return to Bethlehem, the city of David, where his family had come from. The tax census at that time would not have required that Mary go with him, but Joseph and Mary chose to go to Bethlehem together. And this was how Jesus ended up being born away from his home of Nazareth.
The journey to Bethlehem from Nazareth would have been a costly and difficult one, especially considering Mary’s condition. The scriptures don’t tell us exactly how far into her pregnancy Mary was when they made the trip to Bethlehem, just that it was while they were there that the time came for Jesus to be born. The eighty-mile trip took them away from family and friends to a place where Mary would ultimately deliver the Son of God. Did Mary and Joseph know that she would give birth away from home? Maybe.
We do know that God knew.
God gave prophecies that Jesus would be born in this way, in this exact place. While Mary and Joseph may have felt anxious or upset to have this inconvenient trip at such a crucial time, God was not caught off guard at all.
Nothing in our life is a surprise to God.
God sees the end from the beginning! He knew there would be a census and that Joseph and Mary would choose to make the trip to Bethlehem together. He knew that the timing would be just right for her to begin labor and ultimately give birth away from home, whether they had planned this or not. God is never surprised by our circumstances.
Whatever unexpected situations may present themselves to us, may we always turn to God for wisdom and strength. He is not surprised by our choices or the circumstances we encounter. He is all-knowing and works all these things out for the good of those who love Him and for His glory. How wonderful that God knew Jesus would be born in Bethlehem! He was able to tell His people ahead of time just so they would see and know that He was, in fact, the Son of God. Be encouraged today, believing that God has a plan. What may seem to be an inconvenience or interruption may actually work to bring greater glory and good than what we could have ever planned on our own.
If you are enjoying this Advent Devotional, you can pick up a copy of the book at our Sunday Services during the month of December or purchase your own keepsake copy of this published book by clicking below. We would also love to have you join us for our Christmas series at Redemption Church on Sunday mornings at 10am! For more information, click the links below.
“Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.” -Matthew 1:18
Betrothal, for Mary and Joseph, took on a whole new meaning after the angel came with news of the coming Messiah. The hardships they endured during this season of betrothal tested both their commitment to God and to one another under the most unimaginable of circumstances. To be betrothed at the time of Jesus’s birth meant more than a simple engagement.
Mary and Joseph were betrothed which meant Joseph was referred to as Mary’s husband already, though they had not yet lived with one another or begun their married life together. It was in this season that Mary became pregnant with Jesus. Her pregnancy called into question not only her integrity, but that of Joseph as well. Joseph, being a just and loving husband, was ready to leave the life he had planned with Mary and to end their betrothal in a quiet divorce, as would have been the Jewish custom. This was before God intervened and gave Joseph the confidence and faith he needed to remain betrothed to Mary and take her as his wife.
Mary and Joseph’s commitment and great faith in God in this season are remarkable. What would have been a period of great excitement and anticipation of their upcoming wedding had become a season of testing and trust in God. Yet, we see both Mary and Joseph walk together, with faith and commitment. They did not give up. They did not run away. And God was faithful to them, even though their journey of obedience was not an easy one.
When our lives take us down paths of difficulty, remember that we are not alone.
Since the creation of the world, God has remained faithful to His people. He gives us faith when our own disbelief seems overwhelming. And He offers us His strength when the road ahead seems too much for us. Remember, Joseph and Mary’s betrothal still brought them to the marriage they had been hoping for! While the journey may not be what we’ve planned, the final resting point is always the faithfulness of God
If you are enjoying this Advent Devotional, you can pick up a copy of the book at our Sunday Services during the month of December or purchase your own keepsake copy of this published book by clicking below. We would also love to have you join us for our Christmas series at Redemption Church on Sunday mornings at 10am! For more information, click the links below.
And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” -Luke 1:30-34
Mary was not prepared for what God had planned for her. Not only in the sense of being chosen to carry the Messiah, but she was unprepared for pregnancy of any kind at this point in her life. Mary was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph. This was not in her plans.
God’s ways are not our ways. We see this explicitly throughout the Bible. God even tells us this Himself in Isaiah 55:8-9:
“‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’”
Were God’s plans for Mary’s life better than the plans she had made for herself? At the time, she must have had many thoughts and emotions about the direction her life was now taking. When our lives take a direction we didn’t choose for ourselves, we must remember that we are children of a Father who loves us. Not only are His thoughts not the same as our own, they are higher. They are perfect.
Certainly there are things that do not go as we’d hoped they might in our lives. When calamity strikes or we experience loss and heartache, His Spirit brings comfort in the midst of our suffering. This is a result of experiencing a broken and fallen world. However, there are times when God chooses to intervene in the path we may have set out for ourselves.
It is in these moments that we must decide to trust Him.
Mary’s response to God’s new plan for her life was not without questions. Mary admitted feeling unworthy of God’s calling in her life. She openly asked the angel how this could even be possible! But ultimately, Mary chose to surrender her life to God, trusting that His way was good because He is good.
When God changes the plans you had set out for yourself, remember Mary. Remember the heart of God that is for you and not against you. Remember that even when we may feel unprepared or ill-equipped for the path God has set before us, He promises that He has given us everything we need for the life He has called us to.
If you are enjoying this Advent Devotional, you can pick up a copy of the book at our Sunday Services during the month of December or purchase your own keepsake copy of this published book by clicking below. We would also love to have you join us for our Christmas series at Redemption Church on Sunday mornings at 10am! For more information, click the links below.
