Author: Nathaniel Colt

Read: Isaiah 9:1-7

“Why did you decide to . . . ?”

If you could meet your governor, senator or president, you might have some questions—if you could work up the courage to ask! It’s a big deal to face someone who has such influence.

When that someone is the Creator of the universe, though, there’s really only one thing to say: “Yes, Lord, I’ll do it.”

When God brought Isaiah into His presence, He had a job for the prophet. God despised the injustice and rebellion that Israel’s leaders had perpetrated, so He wanted Isaiah to declare that this conduct would have consequences. Foreign invaders would come and take over Israel’s land.

But there was light on the horizon, too—the Lord would send a new King to Israel. A child would arrive, who would grow to become the counselor and teacher for His people. This Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, Isaiah assures his people, will be born. God keeps His promises, Isaiah declared. God is passionate about helping His people achieve the purposes He has for them.

And God delivered. Seven hundred years later, God came to live among the people of Israel in the person of Jesus. He set aside, for a time, His heavenly qualities and became human flesh. That future King—the Wonderful Counselor— had arrived!

Read: Jeremiah 33:13-16

“Oh, I wish I could . . .”

We all wish for things. When we’re young, we desire some awfully big things. We may wish for a bazillion dollars or for incredible strength. Or perhaps we wish that Grandma were still alive or that we hadn’t said something hurtful to a friend.

Hope is greater than a wish. It’s an anticipation of something that really can happen. When a student spends a lot of time preparing for a big presentation, she hopes that the production will go well. If she hasn’t prepared, though, she wishes for a good presentation.

The prophet Jeremiah lived hundreds of years before Jesus came. He spoke out against the corruption and evil of his time, telling God’s people that God would not let their sins go unpunished. And he longed for the Messiah to come. This was no mere wish. Jeremiah believed that the Savior would come because he was counting on a promise. He confidently hoped for the Savior’s arrival because the Lord had proclaimed it.

Jeremiah delighted in God’s promises. His hope was anchored in God’s words:

“Your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart” (Jeremiah 15:16).

Read: Micah 7:7-8

“There’s not much here.”

Ever said that about a town, perhaps one you’re driving through on a road trip while looking for a good place to eat lunch or a park to stretch your legs? You cruise the main street, unimpressed.

“Can’t we go somewhere else?” you ask.

Then you see a sign proclaiming that this town is the birthplace of a famous leader or writer. See that little white house with the green trim? It was once her home. You think, OK, maybe this place is worth a closer look.

Hundreds of years before Jesus came to earth, the prophet Micah spoke out against the leadership of Israel, warning them that their corruption and rebellion against God’s ways would not go unpunished. But Micah also spoke of hopeful things to come, the arrival of the Savior in the town of Bethlehem.

“A small town without much there,” he pointed out. But from that town came a great leader. Bethlehem—once the city of David—became known as the place of the Savior’s birth.

A similar thing is true for believers today. When we agree to let Jesus live within us, to be Lord of our lives, we are changed. Our identity is defined by Him.

Read: Luke 2:8-20

It’s the night of the big show. The choir is dressed in its shining finest. The music has been honed to perfection since the beginning of time. This performance will be epic, a celebration of the greatest moment in human history: the arrival of the Savior.

And where is this angelic choir scheduled to perform? At a majestic concert hall or to an audience of earthly kings? No, the army of angels descends in the dark to a scraggly hillside outside a small town, to perform for a group of shepherds gathered around a campfire as their sheep graze nearby. “Fear not,” one angel says. “I bring good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

Needless to say, shepherds weren’t exactly the cultural elite of the time. You can imagine what more “proper” folk would say about a bunch of guys who spent most of their time taking care of animals. Yet this was the first audience to hear the news of God’s Son’s arrival on earth. The Lord of hosts sent His army to sing, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

Read: 1 Samuel 16:6-12

In school, did you ever pick teams for a game of soccer or basketball during recess? You knew which players you wanted: the fast, the tall, the powerful. You wanted to win.

The prophet Samuel had similar qualities in mind when God sent him to Jesse’s home in Bethlehem to anoint Israel’s future king. Kings had a certain look to them

in those days, a look that helped citizens feel secure. People wanted powerful kings who would protect them against enemies. Back then, kings didn’t just give orders; they often joined the fight, too.

But God was looking for something else. As Samuel began to meet Jesse’s tall, powerful sons, God rejected each of them. He said Samuel should not evaluate the new king by his outward appearance, but by his heart. God told Samuel to anoint the last of Jesse’s sons, a seemingly un-kinglike shepherd boy named David. Samuel obeyed, and after David grew into a young man, he did indeed become king.

Generations later, God said to look to Bethlehem for the new king. And in that humble little city, Israel’s true King was found—taking the form not of a mighty warrior but of a humble child sleeping in a manger.

Read: Luke 1:26-38

Have you ever delivered big news to someone? Depending on the specifics, you may have found it either a thrilling opportunity or a dreaded responsibility.

Big news was Gabriel’s business. Tasked by God to deliver important messages, he’d once been sent to help the prophet Daniel understand a complex vision of the end times (Daniel 9:20-27).

But Gabriel’s mission to Mary was perhaps the biggest news yet. Would such news be overwhelming to the girl?

“Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” Gabriel began.

Then as Gabriel stood before Mary, his bright figure filling the room, he recognized that she was troubled. His first job was to reassure her.

“Do not be afraid,” he told Mary. “You have found favor with God.”

Mary would give birth to a baby boy, the long-promised Messiah. The moment that generations had waited for was finally here: The Lord was coming to save His people.

Gabriel knew that she’d have questions: How can this be? I’m not married yet.

As Gabriel delivered answers, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you,” he may have thought Mary took the news remarkably well. Indeed, the girl seemed to simply . . . trust.

“I am the servant of the Lord,” she said. “Let it be to me according to your word.” In other words, she was saying, I will trust in His plan. If only everyone faced big news as this young teen had.

Read about It

Read: 1 Timothy 2:1–6

There are things in the world that are reserved just for people who meet certain guidelines. Only kids can play on a kids’ sports team. Referees in a football game are the only ones who wear a black and white striped shirt on a football field during a game. Only those who meet a certain height requirement can ride most roller coasters at theme parks. These are only for certain people. However, the saving grace of God’s love doesn’t work like that.

God wants everyone to be saved and to understand that the good news about Jesus is for everyone. There is no one excluded from that love of God. Jesus gave His life to purchase forgiveness for everyone. There’s no special requirement on who can be saved. Anyone who comes to Jesus, accepts Him as their Savior, and follows Him can be saved.

Read about It

Read: Acts 4:11–13

Peter and John were bold followers of Jesus, and they knew how important it was for everyone to know about Jesus. In our Scripture reading today, they were telling members of the council about Jesus and His power to save people. Although people may look to false gods, illegal drugs, or bad behavior, none of those things can help. The Bible says that there is no other way for us to be saved except through Jesus. Without Him, we would be lost and there would be no way to have a relationship with God. Jesus’ work on the cross made it possible for us to be saved.

Read about It

Read: Ephesians 2:8–9

Have you ever had a stinky attitude all day? Maybe throughout the day you intentionally made many wrong choices. Yet, at the end of the day you were still offered a trip to go get an ice cream cone. You didn’t earn it and you certainly didn’t deserve it, but it was given to you as a gift from someone who loves you.

This is a bit like the way it works with Jesus. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we’ve done and we certainly have done nothing to deserve it. Yet, because of God’s great love for us, He sent Jesus to be our Savior and His salvation is given to us as a gift. This is grace. When we choose to believe and obey, we can be saved and we can receive the grace that Jesus offers.