Embracing Wonder: A 5-Week Advent Devotional From Matthew WestSample

Sunday, December 1: Who Is Invited to Christmas?

As we begin the Advent season, it’s a wonderful time to reflect on the inclusiveness of God’s invitation to Christmas. One of the most heartwarming aspects of this season is the way it feels like an open invitation to come home. My family lovingly calls me Mr. Christmas because of my enthusiasm for the holiday, and I cherish every moment of it—from festive parties to cozy family gatherings.

Although this time of year often comes with guest lists and RSVPs for holiday events, the true essence of Christmas lies in the fact that there is no exclusive guest list for the celebration of Christ’s birth. John 3:16 tells us that God’s love is for the whole world—not just a select few. Jesus’ parables in Matthew 22:9-11 and Luke 14:16-21 illustrate this beautifully. In Matthew, the story of the wedding banquet shows a host who invites everyone after the initial guests decline. In Luke, we see a man throwing a feast who invites anyone and everyone to fill his house after the original guests make excuses.

How often do you get too busy, too distracted, or too focused on the wrong things and miss the point of Christmas? Maybe these stories Jesus tells highlight how easily we can lose sight of the reason for the season. But the parables should also remind us of God’s grace in offering us an invitation to His lavish banquet, regardless of what we have done or where we have been or how long we have been gone. As I think about the invitation to come home for Christmas, I wonder how I am responding to God’s RSVP this season. How are you answering God’s invitation to come home to Him this Christmas?

Respond: How can you adjust your schedule and mindset this Advent to more fully respond to God’s invitation and prepare your heart for the coming of Jesus?

Prayer: Father, thank you for inviting me home to you this Christmas. Help me find new ways to say yes to your invitation every day during this season.