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An Advent Devotional Study from Caring.
Christmastime can carry many mixed emotions—and lots of stress. But this year will be different.
Reserve five minutes a day to read the daily devotional entry in this series and journey through the Christmas season with peace, perspective and hope.
This “Hope and a Future: Advent Devotional Study” will guide you through the month of December to ponder afresh the story of the Bible with Jesus’ birth as the focus. Find daily a reflection, highlighted Scripture, meaningful questions and a prompt for prayer.
Connect with God this Christmas season and experience hope for the future.
December 22: Marveling Jesus
Take a deep breath. Invite the Holy Spirit to guide your thoughts through today’s reflection.
Sometimes we cannot see all God is doing, but we know it will be marvelous. Mary and Joseph experienced this, too.
The Holy Spirit led Simeon, a man of faith, to enter the temple courts where he encountered baby Jesus. He stepped forward to cradle the Son of God and then declaring a praise: “My eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel” (Luke 2:30-32).
But Simeon’s words probably sparked questions in Mary and Joseph: How would this infant bring salvation?
How would this babe be a “light to the Gentiles (non-Jews)?”
How would this tiny boy be the glory of Israel?
The only response suitable to these big words: Mary and Joseph marveled at what was said about him.
They marveled.
God’s purpose for Jesus was beyond their paygrade. All they knew: Jesus was theirs to raise.
So too, what the Lord has in mind for us as we follow Christ, is much bigger than we can see or comprehend. Maybe we just need to follow Mary and Joseph’s lead: do what is right in front of us, caring for the work on our hands, and marvel at how great the plans of God are—beyond what we see.
Read: Hear from God
Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
For my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of your people Israel.”
The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him (Luke 2:25–33).
Reflect: Focus on God
What does God have in your hands right now for you to do? Care for loved ones? Walk through healing? Work a paid job?
Are you focused on honoring him with the work in your hands? If not, what distractions might you need to let go of to honor him?
Pray: Talk to God
Talk to God about your reflections above. If you would like a sample prayer, here is one to follow:
Father, God, I worship you. You are marvelous. You are wonderful, beyond all I can see. Help me, oh Spirit of God, to follow the Father by doing the work in my hands today and to trust God for what I cannot see. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Do Good:
- Looking for a meaningful way to prepare your family for Christmas? Try our new, classic downloadable Advent Paper Chain. For 25 days, reflect on the love we receive from God and give to others during the holiday season.
- Join us in making a difference with The Salvation Army this season and help families in your community during the holidays and beyond.
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