December 7

Today's Verse:

Nonetheless, those who were in distress won’t be exhausted. At an earlier time, God cursed the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but later he glorified the way of the sea, the far side of the Jordan, and the Galilee of the nations. The people walking in darkness have seen a great light. On those living in a pitch-dark land, light has dawned. - Isaiah 9:1-2

Today's Devotion:

This year has been blanketed by darkness. We are living through a global pandemic, we're disunified and distressed as a country; anxiety and depression are spiking, and this doesn’t even touch on what's happening in your personal life.

We often think of Christmas as a season of joy and happiness. We anticipate gifts, good food, and time with family. And sometimes we get so caught up in the coziness that we forget the Christmas story actually started in darkness.

Jesus was born into a dark season of Israel's history, when God's people were oppressed by foreign powers, and extorted by unjust tax collectors; an evil king called the shots. Upon hearing the news of Jesus' birth, this evil king would order the mass murder of Hebrew boys under the age of two, an edict that would force Mary, Joseph, and their baby to seek refuge in Egypt.

Jesus' story starts in darkness, but that's not where it ends. Over the next three weeks, we'll guide you through Scripture, anticipating Jesus' birth. And while the journey begins in darkness, we know that there is no darkness dark enough to keep the light of Jesus from prevailing. "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it." (John 1:5).

This is the hope and power of the Advent season: we willingly stare down the darkness and boldly declare that it will not win.

Wherever you are this Advent season, watch for the light.

December 8

Today's Verse:

Many nations will go and say, “Come, let’s go up to the Lord’s mountain, to the house of Jacob’s God so that he may teach us his ways and we may walk in God’s paths.” Instruction will come from Zion; the Lord’s word from Jerusalem. God will judge between the nations, and settle disputes of mighty nations. Then they will beat their swords into iron plows and their spears into pruning tools. Nation will not take up sword against nation; they will no longer learn how to make war. Come, house of Jacob, let’s walk by the Lord’s light. - Isaiah 2:3-5

Today's Devotion:

The Prophet Isaiah spoke these words into darkness. Israel had rejected God, rebelled against his Way, and did what seemed good in their own eyes. As a result, the world grew dark. God's people were going through the motions; they were practicing religious rituals, but they were unconcerned with "doing right, seeking justice, and defending the oppressed." (Isaiah 1) This prophecy stands in stark contrast to Israel's present reality.

Isaiah anticipates that instead of conflict, greed and war, there will be unity and peace.

Warring nations will come together and lay their weapons down to worship. They will turn to the Lord to settle their disputes, and they'll beat their weapons into gardening tools. Instead of bringing death, these will be instruments of life, cultivation and flourishing.

When Isaiah says, "Come, house of Jacob," he's calling on the children of Israel, Jacob's descendants, and anyone who would become part of Jesus's family. That's you and me.

We're being invited to walk by the Lord's light, to let his lantern of truth guide our way to peace.

December 9

Today's Verse:

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in the territory of Judea during the rule of King Herod, magi came from the east to Jerusalem. They asked, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We’ve seen his star in the east, and we’ve come to honor him.” When King Herod heard this, he was troubled, and everyone in Jerusalem was troubled with him. He gathered all the chief priests and the legal experts and asked them where the Christ was to be born. They said, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for this is what the prophet wrote: You, Bethlehem, land of Judah, by no means are you least among the rulers of Judah, because from you will come one who governs, who will shepherd my people Israel.” Then Herod secretly called for the magi and found out from them the time when the star had first appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search carefully for the child. When you’ve found him, report to me so that I too may go and honor him.” When they heard the king, they went; and look, the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stood over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy. - Matt 2:1-10

Today's Devotion:

It was light in the darkness that drew the first worshippers to the manger throne of Baby Jesus. Magi from the East spotted the star and traveled to Jerusalem to find and honor the newborn King. The thing about stars is you only see them when it's dark.

For these wisemen to ask a sitting King, "Where is the newborn king of the Jews?" they either had to be clueless, reckless, or emboldened by a conviction they were following the light to the one true king. Seriously, how did they imagine Herod, King of Judea, would respond to news of a competing crown?

The Magi went to Bethlehem, traveling by night to pursue the light. "When they saw the star, they were filled with joy." The Greek actually means, "they rejoiced with exceeding great joy!" These guys are overflowing with gifts and praise and gratitude upon meeting Jesus. They followed the light, in faith that it would lead them to something or someone worthy of worship.

December 10

Today's Verse:

They entered the house and saw the child with Mary his mother. Falling to their knees, they honored him. Then they opened their treasure chests and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Because they were warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they went back to their own country by another route. - Matthew 2:11-12 CEB

Today's Devotion:

The wise men enter, see the child, and they fall to their knees in reverence. They unpack their gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. These are symbols of royalty. There's no question in their minds: they are sitting at the feet of the newborn king.

When Herod realizes the wise men are not returning to Jerusalem, he's thrown into a jealous rage and orders the slaughter of the Hebrew babies.

Herod knew what we often forget: There can be only one King on the throne of your life.

What we are witnessing in this passage is the contrast of two kingdoms: the Kingdom of Herod and the Kingdom of Heaven.

In the Kingdom of Herod, enemies are to be eliminated.
In the Kingdom of Heaven, enemies are to be loved, forgiven, died for.

In the Kingdom of Herod, power is to be hoarded.
In the Kingdom of Heaven, power is to be poured out for the powerless.

In the Kingdom of Herod, Jesus is an annoyance and a threat.
But in the Kingdom of Heaven, Jesus is the one who the prophets spoke of: the light shining in darkness.

He is the wonderful counselor, the Mighty God the everlasting Father the Prince of Peace.

Whose Kingdom are you living in today?

December 14

Today's Verse:

Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz: “Ask a sign from the Lord your God. Make it as deep as the grave or as high as heaven.” 12 But Ahaz said, “I won’t ask; I won’t test the Lord.” Then Isaiah said, “Listen, house of David! Isn’t it enough for you to be tiresome for people that you are also tiresome before my God? Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign. The young woman is pregnant and is about to give birth to a son, and she will name him Immanuel. – Isaiah 7:10-14

Today's Devotion:

Judah is under siege. The armies of Aram and Ephraim have rallied with weapons pointed straight at King Ahaz and his people. As Eugene Peterson writes in the Message, "Ahaz and his people were badly shaken. They shook like trees in the wind."

Speaking for the Lord, Isaiah assures the King that Judah will not be destroyed! He basically says to him, "Calm down. Don't be afraid. Ask God for a sign to put your fears at ease. Ask for anything!"

Ahaz refuses, saying that he won't make demands of God. Isaiah rebuffs him, calling him a hypocrite; his refusal was grounded in false humility that the Lord finds exhausting.

Because He's gracious, God gives Ahaz a sign anyway: The virgin will be with child, and she will call his name Immanuel, which means God with us.

Pretend you're Ahaz for a moment, leading an entire nation under threat of attack from not one, but two of your enemies.

What would it do for you to receive this sign, that God is with you?

What does this Old Testament passage have to do with Jesus though? Was Isaiah predicting the birth of Jesus, 700 years later? Or was he referring to something immediate, in his time? Check out this article from the Gospel Coalition which succinctly explains what this prophecy is all about.

The writer of Matthew alludes to Isaiah 7:14 when he says:

She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. 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 1:21-23)

So through Jesus, the words Isaiah spoke to Ahaz are spoken over us: that God is with us.

December 15

Today's Verse:

A shoot will grow up from the stump of Jesse; a branch will sprout from his roots. The Lord’s spirit will rest upon him, a spirit of wisdom and understanding, a spirit of planning and strength, a spirit of knowledge and fear of the Lord – Isaiah 11:1-2

Today's Devotion:

To really appreciate this imagery, you've got to know what's happening in Isaiah 10:

Assyria is the haughty empire that dominates the Earth, Judah included.

God is going to destroy Assyria and its king because of "the willful pride of his heart and the haughty look in his eyes." (Isaiah 10:12)

He uses the language of ax, saw, rod and club to describe their destruction. Assyria is like a forest of trees that God will fell.

So what does it mean that "a shoot will grow from the stump of Jesse?"

First, it means that the future of Israel will look like it's been obliterated.

The Messiah was prophesied to come from the line of King David. David's father was Jesse. To say "the stump of Jesse" is to imply the people of God have been chopped down with the rest of the forest.

But do not lose hope! Even the stump can bear fruit. Just when it seems like God's promise is done for and the darkness has won, the story doesn't end here.

God will grow new life out of the stump. The line of David will still bear fruit: wisdom and understanding, planning and strength, and knowledge and fear of the Lord.

He will delight in the fear of the Lord. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; but with righteousness, he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked. Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist. -Isaiah 11:3-5

Does this sound familiar?

He's ultimately pointing to Jesus. The light is coming, and the darkness will not overtake it.

December 16

Today's Verse:

When Elizabeth was six months pregnant, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a city in Galilee, to a virgin who was engaged to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David’s house. The virgin’s name was Mary. When the angel came to her, he said, “Rejoice, favored one! The Lord is with you!” She was confused by these words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. The angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Mary. God is honoring you. Look! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great and he will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of David his father. He will rule over Jacob’s house forever, and there will be no end to his kingdom.” Then Mary said to the angel, “How will this happen since I haven’t had sexual relations with a man?” The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come over you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the one who is to be born will be holy. He will be called God’s Son. Look, even in her old age, your relative Elizabeth has conceived a son. This woman who was labeled ‘unable to conceive’ is now six months pregnant. Nothing is impossible for God.” Then Mary said, “I am the Lord’s servant. Let it be with me just as you have said.” Then the angel left her. – Luke 1:26-38

Today's Devotion:

This is weird.

Maybe you've heard this so many times it doesn't phase you; but really, it's weird. A virgin will have a child?And the child is God's son?

Even Mary thought it was weird: “How will this happen since I haven’t had sexual relations with a man?”

Recognizing it's weird makes what follows even more powerful:

Nothing is impossible for God. (v. 37)

Nothing. Not even this.

“I am the Lord’s servant. Let it be with me just as you have said.” (v. 38)

Mary's trust and obedience is astounding. She says, "Okay, God. I'm yours. Do it your way."

And with this humble confession, Mary becomes one of the most important women in history.

December 17

Today's Verse:

In those days Caesar Augustus declared that everyone throughout the empire should be enrolled in the tax lists. This first enrollment occurred when Quirinius governed Syria. Everyone went to their own cities to be enrolled. Since Joseph belonged to David’s house and family line, he went up from the city of Nazareth in Galilee to David’s city, called Bethlehem, in Judea. He went to be enrolled together with Mary, who was promised to him in marriage and who was pregnant. While they were there, the time came for Mary to have her baby. She gave birth to her firstborn child, a son, wrapped him snugly, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the guestroom. –Luke 2:1-7

Today's Devotion:

The prophecies are starting to align: a virgin with child, a shoot from the stump of Jesse (Joseph descended from the line of David). The long-awaited Messiah is being born, but not at all how you'd expect.

The King comes among animals and straw, not midwives and receiving blankets. He's born into a questionable marriage arrangement. Nothing about this arrangement screams, "Royalty!"

But God has a way of elevating the low and humbling the proud. Mary, Joseph, and their new baby, Jesus, certainly rank low right now.

It's traditional on Christmas Eve to end worship by singing "Silent Night" in the warm glow of candlelight. But the irony is, there's nothing silent about labor and delivery or farm animals.

What if the silence that descends when we encounter Jesus is less about the world growing quiet and more about our souls growing quiet within us?

"All is calm, all is bright," not because violence has ceased or vaccines have been distributed, but because in Jesus, we receive the promise that God is with us.

December 21

Today's Verse:

A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” – Isaiah 40:3-5

Today's Devotion:

Can you feel the anticipation in the air? Something is coming. Someone is coming.

The long-awaited Messiah of the Israelites, the light in the darkness, is coming to save God's people, including you. But centuries before Jesus arrived, Isaiah prophesied about what that moment would be like.

Isaiah spoke about God's people who were living in the wilderness, away from the Promised Land in Babylon. Do you ever feel like you're there with them? In the dryness of the desert, with no water and the sun relentlessly bearing down on you?

Imagine what it would be like to hear a voice calling out to you in that place, proclaiming that the one you've been waiting for is coming, the one who can bring you living water to drink.

It's time to prepare the way.

Isaiah says that when the Savior comes, valleys will be raised up, mountains will be made low, and the glory of the Lord will be revealed. Jesus often spoke about the proud being brought low and the humble raised up (Matthew 23:12). Does the thought bring you comfort or anxiety? We often think of Jesus coming to bring down systems of oppression, and evil kings who abuse their power. And this is true. But what about you? What are the hard places of your heart that need softening, the places where your pride often wins out over a spirit of humility?

Isaiah speaks of rough ground becoming level. Now, this is a promise we can hold on to after the kind of year we've had. Can you picture the rough edges of your circumstances being smoothed away?

But, Isaiah says, all of this is to reveal the glory of the Lord. The prophet is speaking of a path being cut through the wilderness. Where there are obstacles, the road is being made smooth. Where there are hills and valleys, the ground is being made flat, so that the Savior can come at last! And all the people will see it together.

If you're going to experience Christmas in a new and more meaningful way this year, how might you need to prepare? How can you clear the way of obstacles, letting go of the busyness and all the distractions that turn your eyes from the one thing that matters most.

The Savior is coming. Don't miss it.

December 22

Today's Verse:

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, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. – Isaiah 61:1-2

Today's Devotion:

The poor.

The brokenhearted.

The captives.

The prisoners.

Those who mourn.

These are the people Jesus is coming for, for whom the Savior brings good news. Statistically speaking, a vast majority of those reading this devotional are not poor by the world's standards. But this year and your past may have left you brokenhearted. And in one way or another, we are all captives. We are prisoners to a world where sin and darkness run rampant, a world that preaches love of self over love of others. We are slaves to the voices that tell us we are not enough or that God couldn't possibly love us.

But the one is coming who proclaims good news. Jesus comes proclaiming freedom from all the things of this world that hold us captive. We serve a God who comes to heal the brokenhearted and comfort those who mourn. This would have been a radical idea to the ancient Israelites. Kings and rulers don't concern themselves with the poor or downtrodden. They didn't care about the oppressed or the weak. But Jesus' is an upside-down kingdom, where the last shall be made first and the first made last.

A light shines in the darkness, and the darkness will not overcome it.

Friends, there can be no doubt. The good news of Jesus is for each of us this Christmas. We rejoice because our Savior is coming to set all wrongs right and chase away the darkness.

But that is not all. Before he left, Jesus challenged his disciples not just to enjoy their place in God's Kingdom, but to go and spread the good news! In essence, Jesus passes the torch to his followers to carry forward his mission of proclaiming freedom, healing, and transformation for any who calls on his name.

This Christmas, you are called not just to soak in the light, but to spread the light. Who are the poor and brokenhearted around you who need to hear about the light of Christ? Who are the captives who need release, the prisoners seeking freedom, and those who mourn who need comforting? You too can be part of chasing away the darkness this Christmas. As you wait for the light to dawn, consider how you might also be the lightfor those around you.

December 23

Today's Verse:

Jesus went to Nazareth, where he had been raised. On the Sabbath he went to the synagogue as he normally did and stood up to read. The synagogue assistant gave him the scroll from the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me. He has sent me to preach good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, to liberate the oppressed, and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. He rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the synagogue assistant, and sat down. Every eye in the synagogue was fixed on him. He began to explain to them, “Today, this scripture has been fulfilled just as you heard it.” – Luke 3:1-20

Today's Devotion:

Three decades after Jesus was born, he read from the scroll of Isaiah in the midst of the synagogue. The light had dawned underneath the star the wise men followed to get to Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus. But then, three decades passed before Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River and began his ministry. And then comes this moment in the synagogue where Jesus chooses to read from a specific scroll he knew would have a dramatic effect on the listeners.

Jesus reads the passage from Isaiah 61:1-2, carefully rolls up the scroll, hands it back to the attendant, and then sits down. Can you feel the tension in this moment? The scripture says every single eye is fastened on Jesus, waiting to see what he will say or do next. They knew what this passage in Isaiah was about. They knew it was a prophecy of the Messiah to come.

And then Jesus speaks.

"Today, this scripture has been fulfilled just as you heard it."

Jesus claims that the time of the Messiah has arrived, the one who would bring good news to the poor and prisoner alike has come. Proclaiming the year of the Lord's favor was a reference to the year of Jubilee, where all those living in bondage in Israel were to be set free. How appropriate is this pronouncement from Jesus? Jesus didn't come just to set the slaves of Israel free, but all those who were living in a form of bondage, including you and I.

The light has come to chase away the darkness.

Jesus continues speaking in the synagogue as the people marvel at his words and wonder how a guy from Nazareth could say such things. Jesus reminds them that prophets are not often welcomed in their own town. Then he speaks of Elijah and Elisha, suggesting that God sent these prophets to the Gentiles because of the sad state Israel was in at the time. In effect, Jesus compares the wicked generation of Elijah and Elisha's day to the one Jesus was in, reminding them that these prophets were sent to the Gentiles. It's this declaration that enraged those around Jesus, so much so that they chased him out of town. They wanted to throw him off a cliff!

Today, as we reflect on this strange and powerful passage in Luke, we're reminded that even as the light came into the world, the world didn't recognize it. We celebrate the birth of Jesus each Christmas, and we rejoice that the light has come and all wrongs will eventually be made right because our Savior is alive!

But we are also soberly reminded of the ways the world continues to reject the light. And the ways we too shy away from the light in our lives. Because when you've been living in darkness, the light hurts at first. Even those who knew Jesus didn't truly know who Jesus was. Today, will you spend some time in prayer asking God to reveal His son to you in a new way? As we prepare for the Messiah, the Savior who is to come, may we look upon him with a fresh perspective, with eyes that are adjusted to the light and able to see clearly.

December 24

Today's Verse:

Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.” From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” – Matthew 4:12-17

Today's Devotion:

In the midst of the darkness, light dawns.

Jesus was born into a season of darkness, but in the middle of the darkness, the prophets proclaimed that Jesus would bring the light and hope of the world. Decades later, one of Jesus' best friends, John the Baptist, is put in prison. You see, just because Jesus has arrived doesn't mean the darkness is completely gone.

This shouldn't be a surprise to us after a year like 2020. We've seen plenty of evidence of the darkness this year, but we've also seen a great light! The pandemic has turned a spotlight on the nurses and hospital workers who sacrifice each day to help their patients, no matter who they are or where they are from. Racial tension is high, but we've seen more and more people stepping up to have the uncomfortable conversations needed to bring healing and reconciliation.

We live in the now and not yet. Jesus has come, but his kingdom is not yet fully established, which means that there is still darkness in the world.

But that doesn't mean we are without hope. Even as Jesus faces the darkness of his dear friend in prison, the author of Matthew reminds us of Isaiah's prophecy. "The people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them, a light has dawned."

John is dwelling in the shadow of death in prison, but yet even for him there is light.

No matter what circumstances you are facing today, no matter how dark it seems, or how troubling the road ahead looks, Christmas is a time to rejoice. Just as those first witnesses rejoiced at the birth of Jesus in the midst of the darkness, so too can we.

Behold, the light has come. Jesus has come. Darkness does not have the last word.

This Christmas, may you put your hope in the light Jesus brings. Cast your fears and anxiety on him, and rejoice that light has the power to chase away the darkness.