Week One

Introduction: Advent means “coming.”

It is that special time of the year when we remember Christ’s first coming into the world and look forward to the time when He will come again. It is a time to prepare our hearts for the coming of the Lord.

Advent begins the fourth Sunday before Christmas. Special activities can help us to focus our thoughts on the true meaning of Christmas. The nightly lighting of the Advent candles has become a very special time for our family.

Advent candles vary in color and name in different traditions. In our home we use a circle of four purple candles (symbolizing royalty) in an evergreen wreath. In the center is the white Christ candle, which is taller than the others. Each night of the first week, one purple candle is lit at the beginning of our devotional time. Two are lit each night the second week, and so on. On Christmas Eve the white Christ candle is also lit.

I wrote these devotions for my family but share them with you in the hope that they will help to make this a Christ-centered Christmas in your heart and home.  

Week One: The Promise Fulfilled

Sunday (November 28, 2021)

It’s here–that wonderful time of the year called Christmas! Today we light the first candle of Advent, the Candle of Promise. As we prepare our hearts for Christmas, let us remember that it is because of God’s promises that we truly celebrate. God promised to send a Savior, and He did. God promises to be with us today, and He is. God promises to be with us in the future, and He will be.

As you light the Candle of Promise this Advent, remember that God always keeps His Word. His promises are sure. He can be trusted.

God is not man, that he should lie,
        or a son of man, that he should change his mind.
Has he said, and will he not do it?
        Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it? Numbers 23:19   

The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever. Isaiah 40:8

Prayer    Thank You, dear Lord, for always keeping Your Word. Thank You for sending Your Son. Please keep our hearts and minds fixed on You this Advent season.

Monday

Are there people or situations which you’ve been praying about for a long time? Do you yearn to see God working?

As you hear the Christmas story this Advent, notice how many times the Gospels say,
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet. Matthew 1:22

The entire Old Testament is woven with the promise of redemption, the promise of the Messiah–the One Who would come and make all things right.

In Jesus every promise was fulfilled–every shadow made reality.

God had preserved a righteous seed of Abraham, a son of David, through centuries of time until every detail was in place.

Through many dark years Israel must have felt abandoned by God, and yet, all the while He was there, working behind the scenes until . . . when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son . . . (Galatians 4:4, KJV).

So it is with us. Remember this Advent that God is working– even when you may not feel it. In the fullness of time, it will come together, for God makes everything beautiful in its time (Ecclesiastes 3:11).

Prayer    We are so grateful, dear Lord, that You love us and never forget us, but are always working on our behalf. Give us the patience and faith to wait on You–trusting You to fulfill every promise.

Tuesday

Do you have fears about the future?

The book of Joshua opens with the Israelites perched on the banks of the Jordan River preparing to enter the Promised Land. They must have been more than a little afraid; after all, this land had been described as being inhabited by giants living in large and heavily fortified cities (Numbers 13:27-33). As they wait to cross the Jordan, God comes to Joshua with reassurance of His presence and of ultimate victory:

Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them… Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:6, 9

God was true to His Word. In spite of overwhelming odds, Israel was victorious.

Near the end of his life, after God had given Israel rest from her enemies, Joshua called the people together and reminded them of the goodness of the Lord.

“And now I am about to go the way of all the earth, and you know in your hearts and souls, all of you, that not one word has failed of all the good things that the LORD your God promised concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one of them has failed. Joshua 23:14

God also says to us, “Don’t worry. Don’t be afraid. The future may look full of giants, but I will be with you. I will take care of you. I promise.”

Prayer     Thank You, Lord, that we need not fear the future for You will always be with us.

Wednesday

Is it possible to be free from fear?

Over and over, as Joshua was preparing to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land, God told him not to be afraid, but to be strong and courageous.

This is a continual theme of Scripture. Countless times the Bible tells us not to fret, not to fear, not to worry.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6

We also hear these words many times as we read the Christmas story. Mary, Joseph, Zechariah, and the shepherds were all told not to be afraid.

 …an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”  Matthew 1:20, 21

When Jesus was born, an angel of the Lord appeared to shepherds who were caring for their flocks. Naturally, they were terrified.

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”  Luke 2:10, 11

God has promised His presence and power to those who love Him. When we trust this promise we can have freedom from our fears. That is, indeed, good news of great joy!

Prayer     Thank You, Lord, for the peace which You offer through Christ Jesus.

Thursday

When the children of Israel were at rest in the Promised Land, Joshua reminded them that their victory had come from God.

For the LORD has driven out before you great and strong nations. And as for you, no man has been able to stand before you to this day. One man of you puts to flight a thousand, since it is the LORD your God who fights for you, just as he promised you   Joshua 23:9,10

Many times people make promises which they do not keep. Sometimes they are truly sincere but lack the ability to keep their word. Sometimes they change their mind or find the cost is more than they are willing to pay.

Our God has the power to keep His Word. He is God Almighty. He is the God above all gods. If He is for us who can be against us (Rom. 8:31)? Our God also has all the resources of heaven and earth at His disposal. He is able to do what He says He will.

The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein.  Psalm 24:1

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:19

God promised to send a Savior and He kept His Word at the cost of His only Son.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”     John 3:16

Prayer     Thank You, God, for the wonderful gift of salvation which You purchased for us with Your own precious Son.

Friday

What is the best gift you could receive this Christmas? What is the best promise anyone could make you?

When the angel of the Lord first appeared to Joseph, he was told not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife:
.…that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.  Matthew 1:20, 21             

Jesus is a very special name. It is the name above all names. It is the name to which, one day, every knee will bow (Phil. 2:9,10).

Jesus is the New Testament Greek form of the Old Testament Hebrew name Joshua which means The LORD Saves. The very name of Jesus carries with it God’s promise of salvation!

The Bible says we are all sinners who deserve God’s wrath (Romans 3:23; 6:23). Yet, in His mercy, God has promised all those who believe in Him the privilege of being His children.

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. John 1:12

When we repent and believe, we become beloved children of the King of Kings–forgiven, freed from guilt, possessors of a new life in a new family, and recipients of a new inheritance, eternal life. (1 Peter 1:3,4).

Could there be a greater gift than God’s promise of salvation to all who put their trust in Christ Jesus?

Prayer     Thank You, Jesus, for the great gift of salvation which You offer freely to anyone who will accept it.

Saturday

One of the most repeated promises of Scripture is God’s promise always to be with us. Jesus was the ultimate fulfillment of that promise when He came and lived among us.   

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).  Matthew 1:22, 23 [Isaiah 7:14]

 In the Old and New Testaments, alike, God promised never to leave us–never to desert us. (Deuteronomy. 31:6; Hebrews 13:5)

Jesus’ last words to His disciples reassured them that even though He was leaving them in the flesh He would still be with them always, to the very end of the age. (Matthew 28:20)

We have God’s promise that He will always be with us. He has been with us in the past. He is with us today. He will be with us all the days of our life, and He will be with us for all eternity.

Ezekiel gives us a detailed description of the New Jerusalem and closes with these words, And the name of the city from that time on shall be, The LORD Is There.  (Ezekiel 48:35)

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”  Revelation 21:3, 4

Prayer     Dear Lord, please help us to live daily in the peace of Your presence.