Abiding in ChristmasSample

"Abiding in Christmas: Daily Advent Thoughts" by Bryan Craig

DAY FOUR

It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set His love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but it is because the Lord loves you and is keeping the oath that He swore to your fathers, that the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. (Deuteronomy 7:7-8 ESV)

When the Lord speaks to Israel, He is also speaking to those of us who believe and follow Jesus. Through Jesus’ blood, we are grafted into God’s family. It is a holy adoption. God loves His family and chooses to bless us. He is slow to anger and quick to keep His promises. He sent Jesus to redeem us from our bondage to a life of sin. It is not because we deserve it; it is because He loves us. You may sometimes feel like you are a minority as a Christian, and it may seem like our Father is not paying attention to your needs, but Christmas is an annual reminder of just how much He loves us.  

“Turn your eyes upon Jesus … and the things of this world will grow strangely dim …”

APPLICATION: Take some time to write down in your journal some of the blessings in your life since you found Jesus. Thank Him for adopting you and setting you from the slavery of your past.