Advent Devotional: Make Room for JesusNäide

Day 6: Make Room for Hope

It’s natural to think that in order for someone to be great they must come from greatness. No one noteworthy could ever come from humble beginnings right? But the story of the birth of Jesus negates that theory. Hope was birthed from a small, insignificant town that wasn’t even listed in the Biblical registry of towns. Bethlehem was unknown but would soon become the most recognizable town in the Bible.

"But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
are only a small village among all the people of Judah.
Yet a ruler of Israel,
whose origins are in the distant past,
will come from you on my behalf." - Micah 5:2 (NLT)

When you make room in your heart to truly ponder the miraculous gift of Jesus’ birth it’s incredibly inspiring. It shows that the promise of hope can spring up out of anything! Hope isn’t defined by circumstances. It isn’t confined to what you can see. It’s apparent through Jesus’ humble beginnings that hope can come in spite of less than ideal circumstances. The fulfillment of God’s greatness from the prophet Micah would soon spring up out of an unsuspecting place and reach to the ends of the earth.

How can that encourage us today? By reflecting on the humble beginnings of our Savior, we can see God's power put on display. We can be encouraged to know that nothing is beyond God's redemptive power. He can make ALL things new.

Reflect:

• How does Jesus’ humble beginnings help us to understand God’s power?
• Why is it important to remember all the unconventional ways that God has worked in your story?
• How is your faith strengthened when you remember these God stories?

Pray:

As you pray, admit the areas of your life that make you feel insignificant or unequipped to handle. Then ask God to rewrite the lies of hopelessness you have harbored with the truths of hope. Thank Him that His hope cannot be bound by earth but that He can redeem and restore anything.