PATHWAY’S 2024 ADVENT DEVOTIONAL 

Welcome to Advent at Pathway! This is where you’ll find daily devotions throughout the month of December. Each devotion has been written by a member or staff of Pathway, and they focuson four major themes:

• A Weary World... Awaits

• A Weary World... Receives

• A Weary World... Responds

• A Weary World... Adores

Each theme corresponds to our sermon topic for that week.

We hope that you will enjoy this gift from our staff to you, in whatever format you prefer. You can enjoy the devotions electronically, on either our app or website, or we also have a printed booklet available onsite at either our Chippewa or Moon locations.

We pray that these devotions will be a great blessing to you and yours throughout this year’s Advent season!

A Weary World… Awaits

December 1

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” — Isaiah 7:14

On August 25, a South Carolina woman gave birth to Valentina, her fourth child, all girls. That’s unusual, but what really makes it noteworthy is that all four share the same birthday! Each girl was born exactly three years apart. Needless to say, as Valentina’s birth drew near, there was great anticipation regarding what day she would actually arrive.

The advent season also is all about the great anticipation of a birth. Throughout December, we celebrate prophets and angels, shepherds and kings, but our minds are decidedly drawn to the manger where the Christ-child will lay.

We are not alone. Long before we began celebrating Jesus’ coming to be God with us, there were others who were watching and awaiting His arrival. They were living in a weary world that was filled with war and oppression and they were desperate for hope. And into their need, the prophet Isaiah predicted a rescue saying, “… the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

This was a welcome promise, but unlike you and me who can celebrate His arrival as an historical fact, they had to wait. In fact, from the time Isaiah spoke of Jesus’ future arrival, it would be 700 years before it would happen. That’s a lot of waiting and, at times, the people became impatient. But at just the right moment, Jesus came and brought with Him the thrill of hope for the future.

There are times we still grow impatient as we wait, even wonderingif God is going to fulfill His promises to us. But He always does. — Jeff McNicol

Lord, thank You for being faithful to Your promise. Give me patience as I wait for You. Amen.

December 2

“Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations,I will be exalted in the earth.” — Psalm 46:10

If I had a nickel for every time my anxiety got the best of me, well, I won’t admit how wealthy I would be, but there would be signs. You see, I have a bad habit of attempting to handle my fear and worry in my own strength. I allow my mind to wander in the land of “what if,” and beforeI know it I have made matters worse — much worse.

Psalm 46:10 has often been quoted in a soothing tone, like a sweet invitation to brew a hot cup of coffee, curl up with a soft blanket, and quietly sit still in the Lord’s presence. While there is truth that quiet stillness before the Lord sustains us, the context of Psalm 46 describes natural disasters, warfare, and battle. Hardly a cozy, aesthetically pleasing spot. Other translations of today’s scripture say “stop fighting” (CSB) and “cease striving” (NASB). The verse is a rebuke to relinquish control of the battle we are facing, empty ourselves before God, and remain still in His presence.

The second part of the scripture is a command to know God. This psalm celebrates God’s unmatched power and strength, and when we surrender our battles to the Lord, we see that He is all-knowing, all-powerful, ever-present, holy, just, sovereign, faithful and trustworthy. God’s power is strong. His love is deep. He is so very good. He promises to never let us go, and provides comfort in the midst of chaos. He is most exalted when we are still in the midst of our battles. And, one day the battles of this life will cease and every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord.

You may be like me and have to confront your anxiety until the day you enter glory, but in those moments when we try to take that fight — whatever it may be — into our own hands, we must remember to be still, stop resisting, cease striving, and know that He is God.— Stephanie Woods

Lord, when the Earth gives way and the world around us is chaotic, help us to be still and surrender our striving to You. Grant us peace and remind us of Your character. Amen.

December 3

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners…” — Isaiah 61:1

I was raised in a nominally Christian family. Jesus was an infrequent topic of conversation in our home, and far from the center of our lives. I awaited Christmas each year only for the material things I was hoping for, completely unaware of the spiritual gifts God wanted for me to receive.

After many years as an unbeliever, I found myself in a very dark place. Captive to a worldly lifestyle, I was spiritually impoverished and utterly depressed. I reached out to God in my desperation, and He responded with swift, miraculous grace. The Holy Spirit entered my life and I was radically transformed (John 3:1-8). My empty & aimless heart was filled with an overwhelming sense of purpose & potential.

For many hundreds of years prior to the birth of Christ, the ancient world waited with weary anticipation for the prophesied coming of the Messiah. As Jesus was beginning His earthly ministry, He read this prophetic passage in Isaiah 61, and then proclaimed that “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21). The waiting was finally over; at long last our Savior had arrived.

So many in our world today continue to live in darkness and despair, having never heard or received the Good News of our Messiah. Would you consider sharing that News with someone this Advent?— Steve Pink

That is our prayer, Lord: that we would have the opportunityto share the love and the light of your Gospel in an attractive and compelling way this Christmas season. Amen.

DECEMBER 4

“Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait forthe Lord!” — Psalm 27:14

David knew about waiting. Anointed king of Israel as a teen, Daviddid not rule until he was 30. He was forced to flee into the wildernessto escape the murderous Saul. Yet when we read Psalm 27, we discover David is confident the Lord would deliver him from his enemy.

What was David’s secret for waiting? First, David remembered God’s past deliverance. When facing Goliath, David said, “The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.”

Second, when confronting danger, David sought the Lord. Nine separate times in the books of Samuel we read David inquired of theLord and asked for His counsel.

Third, David trusted the Lord’s timing. Despite two opportunities tokill Saul, David refused, saying, “May the Lord judge between me and you, may the Lord avenge me against you, but my hand shall not be against you.”

Last, David looked for God’s blessing in his present circumstances, believing he would see God’s goodness. When we face giants, when our enemies are in pursuit, when we are tempted to take matters into our own hands, and when circumstances appear hopeless, we can choose to wait like David.

Remember God’s past faithfulness. Pray for His guidance. Trust God’s perfect timing. Look for His blessings in the present. As we wait with confident and expectant hope, our prayer is to come quickly, Lord Jesus, come! — Stefanie Hill

Father, may our confidence in You grow as we follow David’s example to remember, pray, trust, and look. Amen.

December 5

“… but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” — Isaiah 40:31

Is it too strong a statement to say that we are a weary world because we don’t wait? We are always rushing, last-minute, late, overwhelmed, tired. Our schedules are full but our souls … well, that may tell a different story. We don’t like to wait or have our schedule hindered by an unexpected slow-down. Construction zone when you’re in a hurry from one thing to the next? It is a sanctifying (infuriating?) experience.

But, I think all of us are willing to wait for something. Some camp out for days to purchase the new Apple product release, or to eat at a brand new Chick-Fil-A opening up. Some wait for the midnight release of an album or a new game.

What are you willing to wait for?

Isaiah wrote about those who wait. Not just for anything, but those who wait for the Lord. We are willing to do this kind of waiting because it is filled with hope, expectation, and anticipation. Isaiah wrote in the context of our Creator — the Everlasting God, Yahweh — being one who does not grow tired or weary, and gives strength to the ones who grow weary.

Even if we are feeling tapped out or overwhelmed, we wait with hope in the Lord. As we wait, it is Yahweh, our Sovereign Lord, who brings strength and satisfaction in our weary waiting. We wait with hope and in this hope our mind and emotions are engaged in the waiting. We feel the waiting, knowing that something is coming and that thing has been worth the wait. — Ben Marshall

Yahweh, Lord, we worship your Holy Name in our waiting. We know that with You, waiting is never wasted, but it is a time of filling and strengthening. Strengthen us today, Lord Jesus, as we live for You and wait with anticipation for that wonderful day when You return. Amen.

December 6

“When he (Zechariah) came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.” — Luke 1:22

Zechariah had been waiting a long time. He prayed for a child. He waited for the promised Messiah to come. Yet when all his prayers are answered, he doubts instead of believes. He had been waiting. But apparently, he was waiting with no faith. His lack of faith earned him months of silence. 

It’s hard to be in a place of waiting. We’ve all been there. Praying and praying. Waiting. Our faith put to the test. Like Zechariah, perhaps we stop expecting that God will answer. It’s always hard to wait, but sometimes we at least know the timeline. I knew how long I had to wait when I was pregnant. I knew how long my husband was scheduled to be gone when he deployed. 

Those weren’t easy months, but I could at least count down. 

It’s harder to wait with faith when things go on indefinitely. When will God bring salvation to those we love? When will he turn grief into joy? When will he change the diagnosis? Most important: When will you return Lord, and set all that we yearn for right? 

Like Zechariah, we pray and wait, not knowing the timeline. Let us wait with faith, hope and expectation. We serve the same God who worked a miracle in John the Baptist’s birth, who came to Earth and who promised He will return. We wait together for answers to our prayers and the second coming of our Lord. Will you wait with faith? — Laryssa Nilsen

Lord, help us to have faith. Help us to pray expectantly, knowing that You hear, and You will answer. Amen.

December 7

“I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope.” — Psalm 130:5

Instant gratification. It’s the world we live in today.

Our coffee grows cold, so we place it inside a microwave and within seconds, it’s piping hot again. We hop on a plane and within a few hours, we’re sunning ourselves in an exotic locale. We make an online purchase and within a day, it’s on our doorstep.

But God? He is not bound by seconds, hours or days. He’s our eternal Heavenly Father. And He moves in His way. On a schedule that’s perfect for our needs. So when we cry, “Where are you, Lord?” He’s already acting. When we ask, “When will you answer my prayer?” His response is already forthcoming. And when we whisper, “Lord, how much longer?” He knows exactly.

Why do we believe this is true? Because He tells us in His word.

• “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.” (Isaiah 41:10)

• “My power is made perfect in your weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

• “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28-29)

It’s ironic, but this world of instant gratification is filled with lots of waiting, too. The little things like red lights, long lines at the deli, and hours of elevator music before customer service picks up. Or the more important: The job offer, the medical lab results, and the call from our wayward child.

But what if we were to change our heart posture as we wait? Instead of waiting FOR God to act, maybe we could wait WITH Him while He’s acting. And His word is the most powerful place to do that. So today,I encourage you to …

• Study it

• Meditate on it

• Memorize it

• And live it out

You’ll soon realize it’s the place where God not only promises you’ll find hope, but where He delivers on that promise. Always. — Tim Kolodziej

Father, may we experience Your presence with us and Your power within us. Today, and every day. Amen.

December 8

“For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress, I shall not be shaken.” — Psalm 62:5-6

We live in a noisy world. There is always someone or something clamoring for our attention. I have five kids, and from the moment they wake up until they are all finally asleep, it seems as though the day is filled with talking, laughing, yelling, fighting, playing, and running. And then there is the television, the radio, and the ever-present cell phone begging to be picked up and played with. Silence is something I don’t experience often. But even when the background noise grows dim, the sound of my own mind can keep me busy and distracted.

I remember early in our marriage when our outcome far surpassed our income. My mind would run in a never-ending cycle of doubt, fear, and worry. The only way I could pull away from the sound of my own thoughts was to read Scripture out loud and to mediate on it, over and over again. Slowly, but surely, anxiety would give way to peace. When the fears would start to bubble back up, I would return to Scripture, waiting on the Lord to renew my soul.  

When life is loud and chaotic, and fear threatens to take control, tell your soul to wait for God alone. Quiet those other sounds. Quiet the lies, the fears, and the what if’s, and focus on the truth of who God is. We live in a weary world, but Jesus is our rock. He is our salvation. He is a hope worth waiting for. — Abby Gouldsbarry

Our Heavenly Father, remind me that it is always too soon to give up, because You can do all things. Amen.

A Weary World… Receives

December 9

“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

I still cringe when I think about my selfishness. I was 16 and going into my senior year of high school when my dad announced he was being relocated to Moon Township. I spent weeks whining, telling my parents I refused to go. So the evening before the move, I snuck out to a friend’s house to drink beer. My parents had no idea where I was. Finally, after many frantic hours of searching, my dad found me asleep in the back seat of his Buick. I don’t recall how I got there. 

I can’t believe I did that to my parents. Still, all these years later I’m in awe of how they reacted to my rebellion. They showered me with love. When they found me they shed tears, overcome with joy and thankfulness that I was OK. Yes, I was (justly) punished for what I did, but it was over. They forgave me completely. 

The example of my parents’ act of love is but a shadow of God’s perfect love toward us. In our weary, sin-sick world we are all like rebellious teenagers. We need rescue from ourselves. The baby Jesus is that rescue. Jesus initiates. In His grace and mercy, He seeks us out and we receive His salvation — eternal life in Him — and His forgiveness, all as a gift. He solves our problem at His expense. — Gary Jeffries

Lord God, thank You for the unsurpassable love You showed by sending Your Son, Jesus, into this weary world. Help us love each other as You love us. Amen. 

December 10

“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 4:10

My husband and I recently visited Gettysburg Battlefield for a few days. Since returning home, I’ve been pondering the stories we heard of the many soldiers on both sides. They were battle-worn, bone weary, discouraged by the blight on their beloved country, fighting a battle for causes they held dear. Letters read to us poignantly expressed how these soldiers yearned for home to embrace their loved ones and find peace. 

Over 160 years later, we too can relate to those emotions. We dwell in a weary world —one fraught with dissension, godlessness, anger, hatred, and mistrust. We strive to fight the good fight, to put on the whole armor of God, to take up our cross daily. 

We are encouraged during the advent season when we meditate on the reality that God chose to enter this weary world and offer us a “home.” It’s a home where we can find forgiveness for our sins, the love of the Heavenly Father, and a peace that passes all understanding. 

May we as believers living in a weary world reach out and receive the astonishing gift in the hands of our Lord Jesus Christ. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)  — Wilma Westbrook

Father, help us to lift our gaze from this weary world we inhabit and receive the gift of Your forgiveness, love, and peace. Help us find our “home” in You. Amen.

December 11

“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.” — Matthew 7:7

God knows our needs. He understands our frustrations. He empathizes with our heartache.

And in this verse, Jesus is saying our Heavenly Father doesn’t just hear our cries for help — He desires to act on them. In fact, Jesus uses the same phrase three times to emphasize that point:

KEEP on … and you WILL.

KEEP on … and you WILL.

KEEP on … and you WILL.

Keep on what? Keep on asking, seeking, and knocking. Consider how each of those verbs grows in significance. Asking? That’s pretty general. You only need to be interested to do that. Seeking? That goes a little deeper. It means you’re curious and you begin looking a little harder. But knocking? Now that’s commitment. You’re heading right to the source to plead your case. And you won’t stop pounding until that door is open.

At Christmas, it’s common for kids to give their parents a list of presents they desire. And even though we’re flawed human beings,we love to provide those good things. But our Heavenly Father wants something more than a list from His adopted children. He wants our hearts. He wants our minds. He wants us to delight in Him and trustthat He’s already given us the greatest Gift of all.

A King worth serving. An example worth following. A Savior worth trusting.

KEEP on doing those things, friends. And you WILL receive all you could ever need. 

And even more than you could ever imagine. — Tim Kolodziej

Father, as we ask, seek, and knock, we trust that You will respond with love, mercy and kindness. As only You can. Amen.

December 12

“And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” — 2 Corinthians 9:8 

I get migraines that can range from a couple of hours to several days. And when they happen one thing is certain: I’m not doing much of anything until the worst passes. I will find myself sitting in a dark room waiting for my medicine to work. Sometimes it works fast. Sometimes it doesn’t. 

During these times I’ve been the recipient of many kindnesses from my family. I can remember my kids making dinner because I was too dizzy to stand (although worrying about them in the kitchen may have made the headache worse!), and the countless cups of tea my husband has brought to me while he takes care of chores I can’t tackle. 

In the beginning, it was difficult to accept the help. Not because I didn’t appreciate it, but because I hated to be a bother. I would feel frustrated and sad that I needed my family’s assistance. But after a while, I let go of my pride and began to see the blessing of having a family that loves and cares for me. 

Sometimes it can be difficult to receive. Not because we don’t want help, but because it can come in a form we aren’t expecting. Yes, I would much prefer the headaches to just go away rather than have my family wait on me. But focusing on the blessing of receiving their love has been so sweet. It has taught me to appreciate them and to be more tenderhearted to those who may be in need. What I originally saw as a burden has become a blessing.

God wants to bless you abundantly. I hope you can lean into the blessings he is trying to pour out in your life today. — Colleen Curti

Lord of Heaven, we submit ourselves to You today. Help us to receive the blessings You provide and begin living in the abundance You promise. Amen.

December 13

“But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law …” — Galatians 4:4

What made the time of Jesus’ birth the “fullness of” or “set” time? What made it so impeccably right, proper, and appropriate? You will hear of how the social situation of that day created ideal circumstances for the good news of the arrival of the Messiah to be spread. In the centuries preceding Christ, Alexander the Great had conquered the entire known world and had dictated that his entire worldly kingdom speak and understand Greek — the language used by the New Testament writers. The Romans had recently come to power andhad built a network of roads that allowed that message to be morereadily transported.

But the conditions that so optimally set the stage for Jesus’ arrival were not as much regarding the world that received Him, but the Father who sent Him. It was God’s perfect time, not ours. The world’s societal preparedness was part of a divine determination. God prepared languages and highways, but more important, He optimized the weary readiness of people for His message.

Hebrews opens with these words. “In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son.” The most recent of God’s prophets to speak had been Malachi — and it had been 400 years since he closed his prophecy with a promise to send one to prepare the way for God’s coming. Four hundred years since God’s people had heard from Him! The world’s circumstances were as optimal as they could be. God also had optimized the thirst of people’s hearts to hear from Him. They were weary of the silence. Hebrews 1 reminds us of the “years of silence,” but more notably highlights the magnificence of the manner in which that silence was graciously broken with the arrival of the Son. — Kevin Dumpe

Father God, as we prepare our very souls to joyfully celebrate the gift of Jesus, we sometimes find ourselves weary in awaiting His return. We join the psalmist in declaring, “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.” Amen.Come, Lord Jesus.

December 14

“Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death — even death on a cross!” — Philippians 2:6-8 

This season we’re all preparing gifts to give and receive. We like those to be equal exchanges. If you give me a gift, I hope I got you one, too! My over-achieving self strongly dislikes when someone gives me a gift and I don’t have an equal gift to give back.

But in Philippians — and throughout Scripture — we see that when it comes to our salvation, we are receivers only. We give nothing. Christ did it all! He (God himself!) took on the nature of a servant, obeyed his Father all the way to death on the cross. Now, we can receive the best gift of all — our salvation in Christ.

My husband and I have many friends who practice Islam, and I watch them work to earn their good standing before Allah. They fast and pray and tally up good deeds. It breaks my heart to see their efforts, knowing their work accomplishes nothing. We tell them often of the good news of Jesus.

And what is that good news? It’s Philippians 2:6-8. God humbled himself to take on human likeness and die on the cross for us. Nothing we give back could possibly equal what we are given. We simply receive with gratefulness and spread the good news so others can receive salvation, too. — Laryssa Nilsen

Thank You, Lord, for the best gift — my salvation. Give me courageto tell someone else about that gift today. Amen.

December 15

“He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all — how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” — Romans 8:32

For parents, what’s more gut-wrenching than watching your son strike out to end a Little League game? Or a majorette daughter dropping her baton during the halftime show? Difficult in the moment, of course, but these are hardly calamitous events. Much graver life experiences befall all of us. And why not? We live in a sinful, weary world that spares no one hardship and pain.  

Yet, our instinct is to protect our children, to shield them from harm. We certainly would never willingly give our child up to be sacrificed. Crazy!  

That’s what makes Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son, Isaac, so remarkable. But God stayed Abraham’s hand and substituted a ram. Yet God did not stay His own hand. Amazingly, the Father gave up His only Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to die for us. And it wasn’t crazy at all. The Father knew — as did the Son — that there was no other way to save sinful mankind. Only the loving sacrifice of the unblemished Lamb of God would suffice as a substitute for us.  

And if God did not hesitate to give Jesus up for us, then how will He not also give us what is needed to bring to fulfillment the gift of His resurrected Son? We need only to receive the unmerited gift of God the Father to have eternal life in God the Son. What a Christmas present! — Gary Jeffries

Dear God, we thank You and praise You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ, that we might have eternal life in Him. Amen. 

A Weary World… Responds

December 16

“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people.” — Luke 1:68

I’m an aspiring morning person. On the rare occasion that I convince myself to wriggle out of my warm bed before the sun begins to rise, I truly find it to be the most calming and beautiful time of day. However, because I am not yet the early bird I would like to be, I live vicariously through a photographer on Instagram who fills his grid with stunning photos of sunrises from mountaintops with impressive elevations. The pictures show how the sky goes from nearly black to an array of colors—each one announcing the light to come.

Zechariah’s praise in today’s scripture did the same for the people of Israel. The announcement of his son John’s birth was like the subtle change in the colors of the sky as the sun rises at dawn. His son would prepare the hearts of all people for the light of the world that was soon coming. 

The word “visited” here isn’t how we may think of catching up with a friend over a cup of coffee. This use of the word means “to meet the needs.” Zechariah gives admiration to the Lord for meeting the need of salvation and redemption for all. After being mute for months, Zechariah’s first words offered praise to God and a reminder of His covenant promises. He is so filled with the hope of salvation that as soon as he regains his voice, he can’t help but overflow in proclamation of God’s faithfulness.

Pride and sin have left us mute but thanks be to God that He sent His Son to make a way. Now, we too can praise and rejoice! God deserves all the praise, friends. Take time today to offer praise to God for the sunrise and sunset, meeting our needs, and for remaining faithful to His promises. Praise Him for who He is! — Stephanie Woods

Father, thank You for providing salvation to Your people. Thank You for the beauty we find in Your creation, like the colors of the sky at sunrise. God, open our mute hearts so we can praise and rejoice in You and in Your loving faithfulness. Remind us of Your character and let us praise You throughout each moment of our day. Amen.

December 17

“Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other.” — 1 John 4:11

Maybe you remember this commercial, too. It’s the one where hundreds of attractive young people from every nation and background stood on a hillside and harmonized about bringing love into the world. And how would they do this?

They would buy us a Coke.

Now, before we get too cynical, their hearts were in the right place. Words like “Vietnam,” “Manson,” and “political unrest” filled the newscasts nightly. We needed something to bring us together back then. We still do today. So, of course, we do what we’ve always done. We support a political figure. We cheer for our favorite football team. And we visit the largest section in the bookstore — self-help. Yet deep down we know those aren’t the answers. 

John, however, points us in the right direction with the verse above. But he’s not talking about apple trees and honey bees and snow white turtle doves. John is referring to the deep, deep love of Christ. 

The same love that arrived on Earth as an innocent infant, delivered by a virgin teen mom. The same love that healed the sick, befriended the outcast, and washed the feet of His betrayer. And it’s the same love that died on a cross — a death WE deserved — so we might live forever as God’s adopted children.

And here, John is urging us to share that same love we receive from Christ. Maybe we won’t be asked to die for someone today, but surely we can pray for them, visit them when they’re sick, feed them when they’re hungry, and inspire them to live up to who they were created to be. And, yes, if you see a brother or sister who is thirsty, by all means buy them a Coke. Just be sure to do it with love, of course.

Looking back, maybe that’s what the folks on the hillside had in mind when they sang so beautifully: “It’s the real thing. What the world wants today.”

Right on, man. And amen. — Tim Kolodziej

Father, may we carry the deep, deep love of Christ everywhere we go today. Amen.

December 18

“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased.’” — Luke 2:13-14 

I’ve had the same email account since I was in high school. But in the past few years the amount of junk mail became more and more unmanageable. I was receiving hundreds of spam emails daily and struggling to sift out the important messages. I would have to filter through the messages each day to find the ones needing my attention and response. But after I was done sifting, I would no longer have the time or the desire to reply.

This fall I finally bit the bullet and created a new account so I can more efficiently respond to important messages.

Much like my old email account, we have many things pulling our focus away from the good news that God sent His son to be Immanuel, God with us.

In our culture, the good news of the gospel is readily available. It comes to us in physical print, through apps, social media reels, memes, and even T-shirts. But the amount of junk coming at us often hinders us from responding to this good news. In our weariness we might be inclined to pass over the life-changing truth of Jesus, and instead seek refuge in self-indulgence, self-help, and other worldly distractions.

We can let the burdens of our days pile up like an old email account, or we can respond to this good news: We have a Savior who not only offers an eternal future, but one who is with us in our present afflictions as well. — Abby Gouldsbarry

Lord God, You deserve all the glory and praise, for You alone are God. Through Your Son, You have brought salvation and made a way for us to approach Your throne room in confidence. Help me to respond to this good news by praising and proclaiming Your name! Amen.

December 19

“When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’” — Luke 2:15

Years before I became a believer and began a life in ministry, I was deeply involved in the arts and academic communities. I was rarely exposed to Christians in those environments, but the few we interacted with were often regarded with pity, distrust, or even outright disdain.

In Jesus’ day, shepherds were social outcasts, near the lowest level of the Israeli cultural and religious hierarchy. Widely considered untrustworthy, they weren't even allowed to serve as witnesses in court. And because of the nature of their work, the rabbis would ban them from worshiping at the temple due to their persistent ceremonial uncleanliness.

But shepherds weren’t always regarded with this kind of contempt. Abraham, Moses, and David — three of the greatest patriarchs in biblical history — were all shepherds. And Jesus Himself would be described as the “Good Shepherd” (John 10), the “Great Shepherd” (Hebrews 13), and the “Chief Shepherd” (1 Peter 5).

Despite harsh rejection by so many in their community, these shepherds were nonetheless selected to be among the first to receive the announcement of Christ’s birth. And their response was beautifully faithful and swift. May we demonstrate a similar enthusiastic faithfulness as we lead the way in shepherding others into the presence of Christ this Advent season. — Steve Pink

My prayer is that we would experience miracles in our lives this holiday season. I don’t necessarily expect angelic visitations, though I would surely welcome them. But please reveal yourself to us in a powerful way this Advent, Lord. And please give us the opportunity to faithfully respond by inviting others into your powerful presence. Amen.

December 20

“The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.” — Luke 2:20

I was treated to something unexpected recently. I got called away from my desk for a while and when I returned, there was a beautiful flower arrangement and a card that read, “To the World’s Best Boss, Happy Boss Day!” I had no idea it was national Boss Day, so the gift was a complete surprise. I quickly found everyone and thanked them for their generosity and thoughtfulness. It was an unexpected blessing that made an ordinary day something special. It’s a memory I’ll appreciate for many years to come.

The shepherds also were treated to an unexpected gift. What was supposed to be a normal night of caring for their flocks became something extraordinary. God’s heavenly host appeared to them and declared that a Savior has been born. The messengers of the Almighty chose to give their most precious news to these ordinary men. The shepherds wasted no time and raced to see the baby for themselves. After enjoying this precious gift, they showed their gratitude by “glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen.”

The natural response when we are given a present is to be grateful, to give thanks for the effort made and the thought offered on our behalf. God has given something precious to all of us in the form of His Son, Jesus. This holiday season, let’s take time to reflect and thank Him for this indescribable gift. — Colleen Curti

Most Holy Lord, how can we thank You enough for the gift you have given us in Your Son? We join the shepherds in glorifying and praising You for all that we’ve seen of Your goodness. May we live in this attitude of gratitude and thanksgiving always. Amen.

December 21

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” — Ephesians 2:10

God is creative. When we look around at His creation, we see just a glimpse into the depth of His creativity. Sunrise to sunset, beach to mountain, flower to tree, moon to stars, sloths to capybaras — God’s creativity is all around us. 

God’s creativity is visible in you, too. Did you know that you are His workmanship? In Greek, it is the word poiēma, which means that God crafted each of us with skill and intentionality — on purpose for His purpose. That purpose is as unique as each individual. This is where we are able to stop looking at what someone else has or does and joyously release that thief called comparison. We are not called to be someone else, to copy what someone else is doing or how they are living.

No, we are created to follow the intentional design of our Creator, and this design includes spiritual gifts. God has written into our very hearts a purpose that will fully utilize the gifts He has given for our good and His glory. 

As one Bible commentator wrote: “We were made to function best and to be happiest when we live according to the way in which God originally created us to live. Such a lifestyle implies above all a complete dependence upon God.”

How are you living? As God’s creativity is revealed in your life, skills, and spiritual gifts, are you responding by using those things for His Kingdom and glory in a way that reveals dependence upon Him? — Ben Marshall

Heavenly Father, thank You for the way You have created me. I don’t always take time to thank You for my strengths and my weaknesses, but thank You for how You have created and designed me. Holy Spirit, guide my steps as I walk in God’s design today.

December 22

“And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” — Hebrews 11:6

Raising children certainly has its moments! Some of my most endearing ones involve the times we played together in swimming pools. What a delight to see Justin and Bethany dashing to the pool’s edge and without hesitating, lunge into the waiting arms of their dad. They didn’t doubt for a moment that he would catch them. They knew their father was totally trustworthy.

“The biblical definition of faith reaches beyond mere belief — the simple acknowledgement that God exists — into the realm of trust,” according to the website GotQuestions.org. “Genuine faith involves abandoning all human reliance on self-efforts and placing total dependence upon God’s character, His actions, and His promises as revealed in His Word. “

What realistic response should this weary world have to the comingof our Redeemer King? Faith. “I have said these things to you, that inme you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

As we ponder the magnificent arrival of our Messiah, remember he entered this weary world filled with tribulation and trouble to bring us peace. May we respond to Him in faith, being totally dependent upon Him, abandoning ourselves to the only One we can totally trust. — Wilma Westbrook

Our Heavenly Father, when we feel the weariness of this world and its many troubles, help us to refocus our thoughts on You. May we be like little children, and in utter abandon, put our trust and hope in You. Amen.

A Weary World… Adores

December 23

“Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.” — Psalm 95:6

A lot of you know the heart-melting song by Mercy Me, “I Can Only Imagine.” These are the familiar words of the chorus:

“Surrounded by Your glory

What will my heart feel?

Will I dance for You, Jesus

Or in awe of You, be still?

Will I stand in Your presence

Or to my knees, will I fall?

Will I sing hallelujah?

Will I be able to speak at all?

I can only imagine.”

I tear up every time I even think of that chorus because it speaks of the wonderful, beautiful tension I feel in my relationship with Jesus.

You would think it wouldn’t be hard to imagine our response to a personal encounter with our Lord. We see so many examples in Scripture of how godly people were absolutely overcome in these circumstances. Shepherds and wise men and disciples bowed. Prophets were “undone.” What makes our most appropriate response so questionable is that the King before whom we feel compelled to bow is also the one who invites us to relate to him as “Abba” — Daddy. 

I have a 2-year-old grandson who adores me. He shows me that by giggling with joy when he sees me and launching himself into my lapand giving me a hug. If he’s really tired, he sometimes falls asleep there. There is no more tender moment than knowing that child trusts me enough to fall asleep in my arms. I want to do that with Jesus, but I’m not sure that will be appropriate. He calls me “son.” I call him “Lord.”It confuses me. I don’t know how I will respond when I see Him in Glory. On that day, He will guide me to a proper response. I can only imagine. — Kevin Dumpe

Abba Father, a newborn baby in a crib, even if that crib is a cow trough in a stable, is adorable. But in this Christmas season, lead us to adore You as we esteem and worship You as Lord of all, who humbled himself to become a man in such less-than-adorable conditions. Amen.

December 24

“Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” — Matthew 2:2

It’s Christmas Eve! For most of you, that means your gifts are purchased, wrapped and under the tree. For the rest, Dollar Tree is open today until 8pm. 

Gift giving is a central part of the holiday for most people, with 38 percent saying they’ll spend over $1,000 on gifts. On the other end of the spectrum, 7 percent of people say they’ll spend nothing on gifts. These are my friends. Just kidding. 

Giving gifts is central to the Christmas story as well. Best known are the magi, who come from afar bringing their gold, frankincense and myrrh as a gift to honor Jesus’ arrival into our world. 

These gifts were costly, meaningful, and a fitting expression of the wonder they experienced in the presence of the Christ-child. Yet, they weren’t the most consequential gifts they brought. Matthew highlights their gift of greatest import when he records their words in Matthew 2, “we … have come to worship him.” 

Like the magi, there is no greater gift we have to offer Jesus on Christmas Eve than our adoration. When we come to worship and adore Him, it demonstrates our lives are rightly ordered, for true worship only flows from a genuinely humble heart to a genuinely worthy Lord. So, on this sacred day, carve out time to calm your mind and settle your heart and adore. — Jeff McNicol

Lord, thank You for revealing Yourself as You entered the world in a manger. Refine my heart that my adoration would be genuine and complete. Amen. 

December 25

“And Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.’“ — Luke 1:46-48

We hear the song, “Mary, Did You Know ...” and wonder, what did Mary know? 

When Gabriel appeared with the surprising proposal, Mary did not know what would happen if she agreed. Once her pregnancy became public knowledge, its miraculous nature would not erase the shame of perceived immorality. She faced exclusion from her community, divorce, or stoning. Even if Joseph married her, the doubts as to the identity of Jesus’ father would remain. 

She did not yet know a mother’s delight in holding her child, comforting his cries, or singing him a lullaby. Nor did she know a sword would later pierce her soul. Mary considered the angel’s words and replied, “I am the servant of the Lord: let it be to me according to your word.” In an act of selfless adoration of God, she sacrificed her life’s ambition for the mission God offered with a simple, “yes.” Mary knew the great honor God bestowed on her. 

Despite her humble status, she would mother the long-awaited Messiah, the Savior of the World. In prayer, Mary magnified the Lord not by making him bigger but by calling to mind His attributes and all He had done, thereby seeing Him accurately. When we magnify God, our hearts respond with adoration. 

As we prepare to celebrate the birth of Mary’s baby boy, we want to see God rightly, to say yes to His plan despite the cost, and to adore Him with our lives. — Stefanie Hill

Lord, our souls magnify You. We are Your servants: let it be to us according to Your word.