Advent Devotional: Make Room for JesusSample

Day 7: Make Room for Hope

Opening presents on Christmas morning would be chaotic if you didn’t know who the gift belonged to. It could lead to confusion and tears, false hope and even disappointment when you realize the gift opened was intended for someone else. That's why we are specific with the recipients of the gifts we give. Gifts are intentionally selected and purposely wrapped for a certain person. They are carefully thought out and intended to fill a need or a want for someone close to you.

Over 2000 years ago, on a starry night in Bethlehem the gift of HOPE was wrapped up and placed in a manger. This precious gift was intentionally selected and made available to those who believed and accepted Jesus. God saw that the world desperately needed a Savior so He crafted the most beautiful and purposeful gift of hope for those He loves.

This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." - Matthew 1:18-21

God sent the gift of His Son because He knew we would need a visual representation of His hope. This gift would be called “Immanuel” because it solidified that God would be with His people. He would come to the earth, walk among those He created and bring hope to a very dark world. He saw the need for light and He gifted us with the greatest gift of all. Jesus was the best gift because He was given with each of us in mind. God wrapped Him up and wrote each of our names on the gift tag. On that Christmas night, we received the most specific gift of love we could ever receive.

Reflect:

• How does it impact the way you view God when you see how intentional He was when He sent His son to the earth?
• What is an area of your life where you have seen God intentionally work?
• Why is it important for us to understand that Jesus is still with us today through the gift of His Holy Spirit?

Pray:

Spend some time today in prayer thanking God for being so intentional with the gift of Jesus. Thank Him for this personal gift of love He sent on that Christmas night.