Advent 2025, Day 26: Christmas Day!

    

Day 26, December 25, 2025

Merry Christmas!

Theme: 

Love

Readings: 

John 13:34-35, 

John 3:1-16

Reflections:

Jesus personified and clearly put himself forth as the standard of love, whether with relative strangers like Nicodemus, or best friends like Simon, whom he nicknamed Peter, or with crowds he taught. Jesus was so excellent, so human, so wonderful, and, therefore, we are inspired to return the love he's given in every direction and in every way possible. The reality that Jesus risked being a fragile baby, overcame daily temptation, and offered consistent compassion is in clear evidence in the gospels.  Not only this, but he did so with the clear intention to be the sacrifice for our sins. These realities evoke so much more than presents under decorated trees or religiosity. This shapes our character and eternity.

Christmas is special because it actually happened. Jesus was born to a young virgin in a barn, as lowly as you can get; Salvation for all humanity came as a fragile baby born of a poor teenager. He is Lord of all. He grew up, taught the multitudes, and healed many, but only about 120 people really followed him closely by the time of his death. 21 centuries later, he is a historic figure, and his claims about himself and the evidence of his goodness, truth, and beauty are formidable.

He came in the flesh to communicate that he is our HOPE, our JOY, our PEACE, and he LOVES us, each of us and all of us. ALL of us.

Whether the holidays are filled with light or marred by the eruption of long-held tensions, our anchor remains the same. We return to the person of Jesus—not just in our best moments, but especially in our messiest. When we are not proud of ourselves, hope, peace, joy, and love remain our truest reality.

Let us linger with Jesus as we read this and celebrate the beginning of his earthly life and all he would accomplish... All he is accomplishing. Let us offer our best efforts and habits to be more like Jesus.  As our song today reminds us to worship God with a real-life offering, moment by moment. This song reminds of what the ultimate imact of Advent should be on each of us and our world as a whole.

Finally, I offer a blessing to you for participating in this Advent series:

May God bless you and keep you

May he make his face to shine upon you.

Hope be with you.

Peace be with you.

Joy be in you.

May God's Love surround you, dear reader, forever and ever, from now until Jesus returns. Amen.

Song: Real Life Offering, David Wesley

The Advent 2025 playlist is ready for you to listen to on Apple Music. It's diverse, and it was so much fun to put together as I read through the scriptures and wrote this series.

NOTE the songs are on Apple Music, which you can get for a month for free if you are new... I just didn't want an obnoxious YouTube Ad ruining your quiet time :-)

Please comment on today's devotional below. A Gmail account is required to comment.

If you are looking for a nondenominational church in the Denver area, check out denverchurchofchrist.org