Author: Nathaniel Colt

Read: 2 Samuel 12:13; John 3:23-38

Have you ever had to admit to doing something awful? That unpleasant feeling you get before you confess something is actually a gift from God—He helps us recognize our sins through the work of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit convicts us of sin and nudges us toward confession, repentance and better behavior.

And sometimes the Holy Spirit works in a sort of partnership with a person. This is what happened during King David’s reign. Nathan, a prophet of Israel, bravely challenged the king for abusing his authority.

As King David heard Nathan’s rebuke, David recognized the sin of what he’d done. And he repented. When David confessed, though he still had to suffer the consequences, God’s grace was present.

Over time, the Lord guided and mended David’s heart, helping him to better serve God. David and his wife Bathsheba eventually had a son named Nathan—the same name as the prophet who called out David’s sin and helped bring him to repentance.

This boy, Nathan, may have been a continual reminder to David of God’s grace and faithfulness. God wants us to remember that, too, because He included Nathan in Jesus’ family line. We can see God’s grace everywhere—even in a name buried in a rarely-read list of other names—including the clearest sign of God’s grace: Jesus. He became human to show us how to live and to save us from our sin.

Read: Joshua 2:3-14; 2 Corinthians 5:17–19

“What do you do?” That is one of the first questions a lot of people ask when they first meet someone. We often make quick judgments of others based on how they look, where they live or what kind of job they have.

Many probably judged Rahab. She lived a life of poor decisions, probably some from others that affected her and some of her own. The results of these decisions and actions caused people to not respect her. But unknown to them, perhaps she wanted something more.

When Israelite spies arrived to scout out Jericho, Rahab offered to protect them. She had heard stories of the God of Israel, the loving Lord of all creation who would forgive her and love her. So Rahab protected the Israelites from Canaanite soldiers, giving major assistance to the spies’ mission. Because of her help, Israel gained significant intelligence for their battle against Jericho. As a result, she was welcomed into the nation of Israel.

Her actions showed evidence of her newfound faith in the God of Israel.

This woman, who lived the type of life that caused her to be an outcast, found acceptance with God’s people. And God’s love for her was so great that He included her in the lineage of Christ. As we prepare for Jesus’ birth, we can remember that Jesus didn’t come only for “good” people; He came for everyone—including those who have made really bad decisions and have messed up. Rahab’s story reminds us that God can redeem anyone and that He uses the most unlikely of us in His plans.

Read: Ruth 1:16-17

Have you ever wanted to completely quit on something?

It might have been tempting for Ruth, a Moabite, to move away from her Israelite mother-in-law, Naomi. After tragedy struck and Ruth lost her husband, she had an opportunity to start over, to return to her hometown and try to rebuild her life. Naomi even said it might be best if Ruth really did leave because she was in a tough place herself. Naomi’s own husband had recently died, and she had no way to provide for her daughter-in-law.

Wouldn’t most people prefer a familiar life over a new country and culture? But Ruth was committed to her mother-in-law and her well-being, so she decided to remain loyal to Naomi and embrace Naomi’s people and God. They returned together to Bethlehem, the eventual birthplace of Jesus. Many women in Bethlehem said Ruth treated Naomi better than seven sons!

Because of her faithfulness and hard work, Ruth met and married a kind Israelite named Boaz. And so Ruth was welcomed into the nation of Israel. But her loyalty was rewarded in an even greater way—she is part of Jesus’ ancestry! Ruth’s story again demonstrates God’s interest in pursuing and redeeming outsiders. God used her life to bring about the eventual birth of Jesus—the ultimate Pursuer and Redeemer.

Read: Matthew 1:19-25; 2:13-15

A new King was coming! The Son of the Most High! Good news for everyone, right?

For Joseph, engaged to Mary, the news that his fiancée was going to have a baby was probably shocking. They were not yet husband and wife!

But one night an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and explained how and why Mary had become pregnant. Joseph believed God—that He had chosen Mary to be the mother of the Messiah. Joseph, a humble carpenter, realized he would play an important role in God’s mission to save humanity. And so Joseph chose to protect Mary and provide for her and the child.

After Jesus was born, an angel showed up again in Joseph’s dreams, guiding the new father and his family to safety and provision. We never learn what Joseph said in response to these dramatic events, but his swift obedience to the Lord demonstrates a strong, quiet character—and an example for us all.

Read: Luke 2:25-39

“Yes! I finally got it!”

Christmas morning brings lots of glee—kids tearing the paper off of gifts and squealing with delight at what’s inside. Can you remember a Christmas morning when you ripped open a gift that you had been waiting years for? And have you ever thought, This gift completes my life?

Simeon was a faithful, devout man who had waited a long time for his own big gift. You see, God made a promise to him: Simeon would not die until he met the long-promised Messiah.

As the years slipped by, he probably met many firstborn male children visiting the temple. But when Joseph and Mary arrived with Jesus, Simeon knew right away that this boy was special. Imagine Simeon’s joy when he saw that little boy, knowing God had kept His promise, and that here at last was the Messiah the Jews had been waiting for.

A prophet at the temple named Anna shared Simeon’s excitement. The woman was an older widow and had also waited for years to be given a gift.

Perhaps she exclaimed, “This is the child who will redeem Israel. Praise be to the Lord!”

Read: Luke 2:6-7

“What can we do?”

Ever asked that question while observing some wrong or unfairness? It’s out of our control. How can we really help? Sometimes the world’s problems do feel too big for our actions to have any real consequence.

When travel-weary Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem during the big census, they likely encountered a similar attitude among Bethlehem residents who told them, either in words or actions, that they didn’t have space for any more guests.

“Everyone is back in town for the census,” they must have said. “So sorry; we wish we could help!”

The census had transformed quiet Bethlehem into a travelers’ hotspot.

Innkeepers and homeowners had filled every extra space to put a bed. And besides, Mary appeared to be very pregnant, perhaps ready to give birth, and her condition would bring its own complications.

But this tired couple clearly couldn’t spend the night out in the cold. Someone finally stepped forward. We can do something. Maybe they can take a little corner back where the animals sleep. We can clean up that extra manger if the baby comes.

Surely the innkeeper didn’t recognize the significance of the moment. The Son of God would grow up never having a home of His own. He would continue to depend on the kindness of people who saw a need and said, “It won’t be much, but we can do something.”

Read: Luke 1:24-25, 39-45

Have you ever felt an expectant mom’s belly when the baby moves inside? It’s an exciting time, especially for the mom. Is that an elbow? A tiny foot?

You might be able to imagine Elizabeth’s joy when her son moved inside her. This was no hiccup or nudge. The baby leaped within her!

Elizabeth had company at the time. Her young cousin Mary was visiting, and when the two women came near each other, Elizabeth’s baby jumped. In that moment, Elizabeth must have remembered the angel’s words to her husband, Zechariah: Their son, John, would prepare Israel to meet the Messiah, and he would be filled with the Holy Spirit even before birth.

Indeed, the baby’s physical response to Mary’s arrival must have been a confirmation of the angel’s message. God’s Spirit moved both mother and son, enabling them to recognize the arrival of the Messiah. “Why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” she exclaimed. In other words, she expressed her honor that the Messiah’s mother came specifically to visit her.

Read: Luke 1:11-23

Have you ever prayed for something and assumed God had decided not to grant you your request? When enough time goes by, it’s easy to have such thoughts.

Zechariah had asked God for a child, but he hadn’t received one, and he and his wife were now too old to have children. He worked as a priest, serving God faithfully, and probably decided years earlier that God wouldn’t grant his request.

So when the angel Gabriel showed up one day at the temple, announcing to Zechariah that his wife, Elizabeth, was going to have a baby, the old priest had a moment of disbelief. Then the angel said that Zechariah’s son, John, would grow to become the prophet who would announce the arrival of the Messiah. That was a lot to take in, given the tall, powerful form filling the room with light.

“How shall I know this?” he asked. “I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.”

A reasonable question, one might think. Zechariah and his wife were old. But the priest’s doubt cost him his ability to speak during the time of his wife’s pregnancy. God was going to show the people that nothing was impossible when His power showed up.

And everything in the angel’s message came true. When John was born, Zechariah’s speech returned. He promptly praised God.

“The Lord . . . has visited and redeemed his people,” Zechariah exclaimed (Luke 1:68).