Advent 2025: Blessed are You who Believe

The two women embraced, mindful of the little ones that lay nestled inside their bodies. The younger woman, barely a teenager, was awed by the visible signs that were not yet present in her own, but the promise of God was growing within her.
“Mary! Dear Mary!” Elizabeth exclaimed, holding her tightly in her aged arms. Then, as if from deep within her spirit, she began to speak. “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy” (Luke 1:42-44).
How was it possible for a baby in the womb to understand what was happening? Because both pre-born infants recognized one another – that is, they recognized the presence of God in one another. The angel had said, “He [Elizabeth’s baby] will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born” (Lk 1:15). And of course, Mary’s baby was conceived by the Spirit. When the Spirit in Elizabeth’s baby met the Spirit in Mary’s baby a holy connection was made. There was great Joy for the only two beings on earth with the indwelling Holy Spirit. That is why believers can meet for the first time and have an instant connection. The Spirit makes us one.
But back to Mary and Elizabeth. As the two embraced and Elizabeth spoke to the younger woman, all the doubts that Mary had experienced about the angel’s message and her own condition surely faded away. It was true! It was all true! Elizabeth was pregnant. That meant she really was pregnant too – with the Messiah!
Then, as if reading the thoughts the younger woman had carried with her along the journey, Elizabeth took Mary’s hands in her own and said, “Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished” (v. 45).
What has God promised to you? Trust Him to make it happen. Beloved, believing is the sweetest blessing of all.

Advent 2025: Prince of Peace

“And He will be called . . . Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6)
In the Western Christian tradition, words and phrases in the Scriptures, such as “Prince of Peace,” don’t ring with the same significance to us as they did to the descendants of the Hebrews. Taken separately, these two words simply mean Prince as a ruler or leader of a nation, and Peace – Shalom – or in the ancient Hebrew – salom – means safety, prosperity, wellbeing, wholeness, and contentment. But when a Jew said these words together, they spoke volumes more. They spoke of the hope of the promised Messiah.
After generations that cycled in and out of devotion to the Lord, God took the nation of Israel away from the Jewish people in 607 B.C. and exiled them in Babylon for seventy years. When they returned to Jerusalem, their homeland was under foreign rule; they were subjects of the Persians, Greeks, and, at the time of Jesus’ birth, the Romans. They would continue under foreign rule until May 14, 1948, when they were once again recognized as an independent state.
The Jewish people longed for a descendant of the line of King David – the Prince of Peace – who would free them from oppression and re-establish their nation. He would reign on “the throne of His father David, and . . . over the house of Jacob forever; His kingdom will never end” (Luke 1:32-33). At the time of Jesus’ birth, they expected a warrior-king who would defeat their enemy and restore the kingdom.
They were right about the Messiah’s mission – yet they were also off-base. He did come to defeat their enemy. But their enemy was not Rome – the real enemy that had enslaved them was the curse of death and sin – the same enemy that has oppressed every human being since Adam and Eve. The same enemy that has enslaved you and me. The Prince of Peace – the Messiah – came to break the power of that curse. His mission was much bigger than freeing a nation; He came to free all of humanity.
You may not trace a Jewish heritage, but you can proclaim Jesus Christ as your Prince of Peace, the One who set aside His crown in heaven to wear a crown of thorns on earth that you might be free and at peace with God. The mission of Messiah was to rescue you and restore you to the family of His Father. At the cross of Calvary, Jesus accomplished that mission. Now you, Beloved, can be a child of Peace.

Advent 2025: Yes, You Can Believe

“At that time, Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leapt in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit” Luke 1:39-41.
“Did that really happen? It must have been a dream. I have been so anxious over all the preparations Joseph and I are making – it must have caused me to have this strange dream.” Mary was on her way to see Elizabeth. The angel had also said something remarkable about her relative – that she was going to have a child too! In fact, he said she was in her sixth month. Elizabeth – of all people. She and Zechariah were too old to have a baby. Yes, all of it – the angel, his message, Elizabeth with child, ME with child – must have just been a dream.
But what if it wasn’t?
Could she really be with child – with THE child – the Messiah? Why would he have chosen her? She was nothing special. Wouldn’t God have chosen the wife of the high priest for such an honour? Or someone in a high position in the temple, someone more mature, more wealthy, more righteous? No. She shook her head as if to shake loose the crazy idea. This was just not possible.
She squinted down the path to the familiar house and spied her relative in the doorway with her back turned toward the road. “Elizabeth!” Mary called out and gasped as the older woman turned to face her. The smile on her face was warm and welcoming, but the bulge under her dress was a shock to Mary’s heart. It was true! Elizabeth was pregnant! And if that were true, then . . .
Do you know what strikes me here? God’s kindness. The Lord knew that Mary would have conflicting emotions and thoughts. He sent her to someone she trusted to give her the assurance and confirmation she needed to believe it was all true. Now Mary knew beyond any doubt that everything was just as the angel had said.
God still speaks through His Word and His Spirit. And He still confirms His message through godly men and women so that you and I might believe with all our hearts. Beloved, who is the Lord’s “Elizabeth” in your life? Perhaps someone needs you to be their “Elizabeth?” It is a holy thing to say, “You can believe God’s promise.”

Advent 2025: Awe, Hope, and Submission

She stood in the dim light of early morning, her hand over her belly, her heart full of awe and wonder at the life growing within her. It was all so surreal. She tried to remember every detail, but it was so wonderful and frightening all at the same time. She pulled her cloak tighter around her and noticed that she was trembling. Fear mixed with excitement ran like shockwaves through her body. She remembered the angel’s words and every inflection of his voice. “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus” (Luke 1:30). Then the angel said that this child would “be called the Son of the Most High God” (v. 35). Oh my! Did he mean that she would be the mother of the long-awaited Messiah? She was a simple peasant girl from the nothing town of Nazareth.
In the stillness of the morning, the angel’s announcement still rang in her ears. She repeated aloud the words she had said to him that day, as if reassuring herself and reaffirming her willingness, “I am the Lord’s servant, may it be to me as you have said” (v. 38).
Mary’s quiet, well-planned life was suddenly interrupted by God. Her highest aspirations were to marry Joseph and fill their home with lots of children. But now she was in a most scandalous situation, one that could possibly cost her Joseph, along with her hopes and dreams, and possibly even her life. Yet she humbly surrendered herself to the will of God and embraced an unknown future with awe and wonder and faith.
When God interrupts our lives, it rarely comes preannounced by an angel. It usually involves a heart-wrenching phone call, a doctor’s sad face, a police officer’s knock at your door, your teenage daughter’s morning sickness, or a memo that the company is downsizing. It often comes with brokenness, pain, disappointment, anxiety, and tears. We don’t often get advanced notice of life-altering occurrences as Mary did. Still, you and I can respond with the same humble submission and faith that she exhibited. Why? Because God is with us in the unexpected, just as He was with Mary. Because He still has a plan and a purpose. Because none of these life-shaking events has taken Him by surprise. And because, Beloved, there is still nothing that is impossible with God.

Christmas is Good News

Wrap your head around this if you can: Gabriel declared that the baby born in Bethlehem would be the son of a virgin (Mary) and the Son of God. Sounds pretty far out there, doesn’t it? Even Mary wondered, “How will this be . . .” (Lk 1:34). The angel’s response didn’t exactly clear things up: “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.” Okay. I’m sure you’ve heard this scripture a hundred times at least. But have you stopped to consider what it really means? The Protestant Church refers to it as “the virgin birth.” The Roman Catholic church calls it “The Immaculate Conception.” We tend to fly over it on our way to the actual birth of Jesus, but we need to give it a little more attention because it is the most important part of the story.
The Law demanded that an animal sacrifice for atonement must be spotless, without flaw, stain, or blemish. But this sacrifice would not be an animal; it was a man, a man who must be spiritually pure. And that could never happen with two human parents. Joseph was a righteous man, but he had a sin nature like every other human being. Mary was a virgin and “highly favoured” by God, but she had the same sin nature. The Scripture said that Mary was “overshadowed” by the Holy Spirit as the “male party” to conception. More importantly, He provided spiritual purity so that the child would be the only human born without a sin nature. Now I am a Bible teacher. I like to make difficult things understandable. But I cannot explain how this occurred. It was a divine action that we must accept with wonder.
Why does this matter? Because you and I are unholy people in need of a holy Saviour. Only holy blood – divine blood – could save the human race. There’s just one problem: God cannot die. That is why Jesus had to be both divine and human. It was the only way to provide the perfect blood sacrifice required to redeem us from our sin nature. That is why Jesus is the only hope you and I have.
As you take in all the fun of the Christmas season, Beloved, I encourage you to slow down through the familiar Christmas account. Take in every scene and ponder every word. This is not just a warm, fuzzy story to tell around the tree. This story is life. Eternal life. It is wonder and awe. It is Jesus – the God-man, who came to save you and me. It is very good news.

Christmas From Higher Up

I love the Christmas story in the Bible. I’ve read it so many times, it is like a wonderful, familiar family friend. I’ve written Advent devotionals for twelve years, examining the characters and events like a jeweler looking over a diamond. There’s one thing the Scriptures don’t talk about, but has always been on my mind. I’ve always wondered what heaven’s reaction to Jesus’ birth would be. What was the Father thinking? Did He look over at Jesus’ empty throne? Were the angels rejoicing? Or were they silent with wonder? The Bible doesn’t tell us specifically, but we do have a small clue.
Jesus’ disciple wrote, “Even angels long to look into these things” (1 Pet 1:12). The word Peter used for “look” means “to bend over and observe intently.” Can you picture it with me – tens of thousands of angels bending over the edge of heaven to gaze upon the Son of God in human flesh? The One who, with the Father and the Spirit, created the first human being had now become one of them. The omnipotent was now a helpless infant, subject to cold and hunger and pain. The One who provided all men with all things now needed a young woman to provide for Him. He who called the light forth now squinted His eyes at the brightness of Joseph’s lantern. He had spoken the animals into being; now they were His only companions at His birth.
No doubt the celestial beings marveled at the sight before them, but Peter’s words tell us that they were particularly in awe of the purpose of it all. They had always known that God is complete love; they had experienced that love for themselves. But grace. Grace was something foreign to them. And mercy – how could God pour out such mercy on these earthly creatures that had rejected and abandoned Him; they deserved destruction. But God offered forgiveness and even more – He was willing to accept these rebellious humans as His own beloved children. How could it be that the Sovereign Lord God Almighty sent His One and Only Son to pay the penalty for humanity’s sin? To the heavenly beings, it was extraordinary. They recognized the greatness of God’s offer – even if the recipients of it did not. Peter said the angels “eagerly desired” to know this amazing grace. But it is a gift only human beings can receive.
This Christmas Day, Beloved, as you enjoy all the celebration of the season, consider with fresh eyes the gift of God’s grace. From heaven brought down to earth, it is, in fact, the true heart of Christmas.

That Name

I remember when my sweet granddaughter was a few months old and said “Nana!” for the first time. I nearly fell off my chair. “She said my name! She said Nana!” I urged her to say it again, but she was already on another topic. To be honest, she didn’t say “Nana” with any sense of recognition – she was just baby-babbling, making sounds with no connection to anything or anyone. She wasn’t looking at me when she said it; she wasn’t calling to me – she was just making sweet sounds as all babies do. She didn’t know then that Nana was the name of her grandmother, who loved her dearly.
The angel Gabriel was the first to speak the Name that would launch God’s plan of salvation into motion: “You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call Him Jesus” (Lk 1:31). In the Greek it is iēsous (Joshua in Hebrew), and means, “Jehovah is Salvation.” His name was His mission.
We hear “Jesus” used as an exclamation of surprise, frustration, or disgust. I’ve been teaching Joy that “Jeez” is a disrespectful shortened form of the Lord’s holy Name. But none of these utterances mean what they mean to the saint who knows Jesus as their personal Savior. For those of us who have trusted in that beautiful name, “Jesus” holds the highest significance and honor because we know of whom we are speaking and what He has done for us. We know that “Jesus” is our Savior, Redeemer, Friend, King, and Lord. The name of Jesus is sacred to those who belong to Him – but to those who don’t, it means little to nothing.
One day, that will change. One day, “at the name of Jesus every knee will bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil 2:10-11). For some, that Name will be a sweet savor on their lips, for others it will be a bitter taste on their tongue. For those who love the Name – who love the bearer of that Name – it will be an expression of awe and delight. For those who had no love for Jesus in this life, it will be an exclamation of awe and terror. One way or the other, every person will acknowledge the Name of Jesus. Beloved, what does that Name mean to you?

Advent Day 3: Highly Favored

“Greetings, you who are highly favored!” (Luke 1:28).
What was it about Mary that made her “highly favored” in God’s eyes? Was it that she was a virgin? Hardly – there were many virgins in Israel. Was she somehow superior to other young women? The Scriptures don’t support that, even though the Roman Catholic Church teaches that she was. What made her, of all the young Jewish women in Israel, so special? Not a thing. In a world that esteems talent and bravado and wealth and power, that’s hard for us to understand. Here’s the point we struggle with in the 21st century – it wasn’t about Mary at all.
When we read the Bible, we tend to focus heavily on the characters in the story because we are looking for something in them with which we can identify. How many of us have said, “My favorite Bible character is Peter, because I can identify with him; we’re just alike.” I’ve said it myself about my personal biblical heroes: Ezra, Paul, Deborah, Jael, and of course, Dorcas. We look at those who were used by God and try to see ourselves somehow like them, hoping for the same holy blessings. I mean, who doesn’t want to be highly favored by the Lord?
The Greek word for favor is charis, which means “the spiritual condition of one governed by the power of divine grace.” Favor is a gift, a kindness, a blessing, and it says nothing about the recipient, and everything about the Giver. When Gabriel spoke his greeting, he wasn’t exalting Mary; he was highlighting the undeserved grace of God to her. We have a hard time wrapping our minds around that because we are a merit-based society. But there was really nothing special about Mary – God’s favor was purely His own choice. She received it in the same manner – praising Him for His grace, kindness, mercy, and power (vs. 46-55). She received it with awe.
It is the same with our salvation. Despite what the church teaches, we don’t “choose to receive Jesus” – He chooses us to receive His grace – our only part is to respond in humility, faith, and awe. Do you recognize that you were chosen by nothing more or less than His unmerited favor and grace? If we are in God’s blessed family, it is all His doing, not yours or mine. It’s not about who you are, Beloved – it’s all God’s Amazing Grace.

Advent Day 2 – Hope in God’s Sovereignty

“Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea . . . “Matthew 2:1
The Bible is filled with story after story of God’s hand in the events of human history, as well as individual lives, as He works to fulfill His purpose and plan. But almost always, the path He chooses is very different than those individuals might have envisioned. Joseph had a destiny in Egypt that would affect his family (including the brothers who sold him into slavery), the nation of Israel, and the entire world. But God took him through pits and prison on the way. David would be king of Israel – after running for his life through the wilderness. I love the story of Paul. The Lord had a purpose for him, to “carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel,” (Acts 9:15). Jesus told him, “You must testify about me in Rome, (Acts 23:11). And he did indeed make it to Rome to declare the name of Christ Jesus, but he arrived as a prisoner, by way of a storm and a shipwreck and a snake (Acts 27-28).
Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem fulfilled a prophecy made hundreds of years before: “Out of you, Bethlehem Ephrathah . . . will come one for me who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from old, from ancient times” (Micah 5:2). But when the time came for Messiah’s entry into the world, His mother lived in Nazareth, some 100 miles away. How would this be fulfilled? God worked through the highest office in the land: “In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. And everyone went to his own town to register,” (Luke 2:1, 3). While it seemed that Mary and Joseph went to Bethlehem for Caesar’s edict, they were there to fulfill the promise of God – to bring forth the promised one in the place of His prophesied birth.
Did you catch the last line: “whose origins are from of old, from ancient times”? The word “ancient” in Hebrew means eternal. It speaks of the eternal nature of God the Son and the plan that has been in place from before the creation of the world. How like the Sovereign Lord of the Universe to use a pagan ruler to accomplish His plan to save His creation.
So what does that mean for you? Simply this: a life surrendered into the hands of God may have twists and surprises, and yes, even trials and struggles, but you can be sure that He will get you where you are supposed to be. He is faithful to keep His promise and to fulfill His purpose. Beloved, “Don’t be afraid of these ‘strange things’ that are happening to you,” (1 Peter 4:12). It’s just God at work behind the scenes, preparing you for “His good, pleasing, and perfect will” (Romans 12:2).