Joyful Anticipation
A Season of Joyful Anticipation
Thank you for joining us for our One Church Christmas devotional. Together, we gather with hearts full of joy, eagerly anticipating the birth of Jesus, our Savior. We invite you to experience the timeless wonder of Christ’s birth through the stories of real people—just like us—whose lives are beautifully woven into God’s Word. Let’s journey together, rediscovering the hope and joy of this season.
There’s a childlike excitement in all of us, especially at Christmas time, as we await the moment to unwrap the gifts under the tree. The thrill of discovering what lies beneath the wrapping paper fills us with wonder and joy, making the wait all the more worthwhile. This Christmas, we invite you to approach the season with that same sense of eager anticipation the way a child waits for the gift they know is coming.
The theme of this year's reflections is Joyful Anticipation. Over the next 10 reflections, we will explore how some of the Bible’s most beloved figures helped illuminate the truth of Jesus as the promised Messiah. Their stories offer us a glimpse into how God’s plan was unfolding long before that first Christmas night.
We will journey through the divine and human “seeds” of anticipation planted with the promise of the Messiah’s birth. We’ll reflect on the signs given to point to this joyous occasion, proclaiming the joyous arrival of Jesus, the Messiah.
So, get ready to be inspired and encouraged as we approach the celebration of Jesus' birth, filled with joyful anticipation and deep gratitude.
The Seed of Abraham Ignites our Joyful Anticipation
Genesis 15:1, After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision…v.4 Then the word of the Lord came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir ” 5 He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”
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We can only imagine how Jesus must have felt seeking to understand his identity since He was not an ordinary person with only a human family Jesus was referred to as the Son of Man since He was fully God and fully Human, making Christ part of the human family being carried in the womb of his Mother Mary He was also deity, the Son of God The supernatural conception of Jesus the Messiah provided the God side of Christ’s dual nature as the Son of God, in that He was conceived by the Holy Spirit.
Matthew opens his gospel with ancestry lineage to prove that Jesus was a descendent of Abraham, the father of the Jewish Nation. As a Jewish Rabbi, Jesus was well versed in the Old Testament Torah and his understanding of his identity being linked to Abraham gave Him a sense of identity and dignity. At least 5 times the Bible uses the term, “seed of Abraham” because each reference tells a story of how Abraham’s offspring would impact the world with Jesus’ birth being the most significant. The Apostle Paul links our relationship with Jesus Christ as our Messiah with His ancestral connection to Abraham in Galatians 3:29 Our joyful anticipation increases since we have biblical proof that when God gave His promise to Abraham that He included us in His great plan and made us part of His family of Faith because of Jesus.
Question: How is your identity impacted with the knowledge that because of Christ you have a spiritual inheritance and are a Child of God?
Prayer: Dear God, thank you for including me in your great plan of redemption. I am comforted in knowing that my identity is more than who I am because of my first birth in the human family. I am grateful that because of my second birth into the family of God I am a child of God, and you have given me brothers and sisters in my spiritual family to celebrate the birth of your Son Jesus Christ, my Savior and Lord. AMEN
The Seed of Jesse Increases Our Joyful Anticipation
Isaiah 11: 1-2 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.2 The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord 3 and he will delight in the fear of the Lord.
A study of scripture makes it abundantly clear that a full understanding of the messiah’s bloodline was critical to identifying the true promised Messiah. This particular Messianic prophecy that the Messiah would come from the lineage of Jesse, King David’s Father, gives further proof that Jesus was in fact the promised messiah and is most significant for two reasons. One, Isaiah prophesied in chapter 9:6, that one of the indicators of the real messiah was he would be a king with a kingdom. He states it this way, “the government would be on His shoulders. Two, that the true messiah would be from the lineage of David In Matthew and Luke’s gospels, Matthew names David, the son of Jesse in chapter 1:6 and Luke names does the same in chapter 3:32 of his epistle.
King Jesus and King David were often used together when someone would address Jesus during his three years of ministry Six times Jesus is called the “Son of David” in Matthew's Gospel. It was during Christ’s triumphal ride into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday when this occurred. Matthew states it this way, “The crowds going ahead of him, and those who followed, were shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David; Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest!" (Matthew 21:9).
The fact that both Matthew and Luke record Jesse as the Father of King David, Israel’s most famous and beloved King speaks to us today in two ways One, we are part of the Kingdom of God and serve in Christ’s government as His representative here on Earth. Two, as His representatives He has commissioned and deputized us with His Divine authority to go in His Name and establish His Kingdom rule on this Earth by proclaiming the Good News of the Gospel and the demonstration of His Power against the kingdom of darkness. Jesus said it this way in Matthew 28:18-20, 18 All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
This Christmas Season is an amazing opportunity to be an ambassador for Christ by reaching out to our family and friends by inviting them to join with us in the multiple Christmas services this year Statistics have proven that more people are open to attending a worship service during the Christmas and Easter seasons than any other time With Joyful Anticipation go and give someone the very best gift that you can give, the gift of Eternal life by introducing them to the Greatest Gift, Jesus Christ.
Question: As a citizen in the Kingdom of God, what are some ways God may be speaking to you to communicate His love to someone in your sphere of influence this Christmas Season?
Prayer: Dear Jesus, it is my desire to represent you well during this Holy time of the year Open my eyes, my ears and my heart to someone who needs encouragement, a smile and a gift of friendship. Grant me compassion and courage to be a light in a dark world and generous with those who need someone to give and care. AMEN
Devotional 3 • Genesis 3:1-20
The Seed of Mary Completes our Joyful Anticipation
Genesis 3:14-15: 14Then the Lord God said to the serpent,… “15I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel ”
There is an old adage that is never truer than the Bible verses in Genesis 3:14-15 that we will consider today It goes like this; Jesus was in the Old Testament concealed but was in the New Testament revealed. The meaning of Genesis 3:15 is a mystery until we understand that this verse was a promise from God that one day, a Messiah would be born and will be the fulfillment of this Old Testament prophecy. Genesis 3:15 is often viewed as the Old Testament version of John 3:16, that promises forgiveness of sin and eternal life
To understand the context of these two verses, the backstory is recorded in Genesis 3:1-20 These verses tell the story of Adam and Eve’s sin by partaking of the forbidden fruit and falling into what theologians refer to as, “the FALL or the ORIGINAL SIN. True to God’s Loving Heart, Our Father immediately reaches out with a promise to our First Parents, Adam and Eve, that the mess they created on Earth would be forgiven by a Messiah who would crush the head of Satan; the deceiver disguised as a serpent.
Jesus Christ, the Messiah, was conceived, not with natural or human seed, rather it was a supernatural seed planted in the womb of Mary by the Holy Spirit, Luke 1:11. In this case when speaking of the birth of the Messiah, Moses refers to this supernatural conception as the “seed of the woman”. From that dreadful day in the Garden of Eden, Eve, the first Mother of the Human family was comforted that another Mother of another kind of family, a spiritual family, would carry a HOLY “seed planted by the Holy Spirit with joyful anticipation of the birth of Jesus Messiah.”
Question: As you approach this Christmas Season, in what ways can you imagine how Eve felt after she sinned and understood the mess her sin created for all humanity; then can you feel the great joy that came to her heart after God promised that a Messiah would one day pay the debt of her sin and all who would believe?
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for not leaving our first Mother to wallow in her guilt and shame but that you immediately reassured her that you had a plan for redemption. Thank you that you included me in your plan, and it is with great joy I look forward with heightened excitement to celebrating the birth of your son, my Savior, Jesus Christ AMEN
The Coming King
Psalm 24:7 “Lift up your heads, you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in ”
The heart of this Psalm is the announcement of the King of Glory’s arrival which was spoken of 483 years earlier by the prophet Zechariah (Zech 9:9) The gates and doors are called to open wide to welcome the King. This is no ordinary king this is the LORD HIMSELF, mighty in power, victorious in battle He is the King of Glory, worthy of all honor and praise (Ps 24:2). The gates that were once closed to sin and death are now to be opened to allow the King to enter.
Imagine with me what that must have been like for the Jewish people in the city that day, seeing with their own eyes their Messiah Jesus Christ, and His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, “see your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey” (Matt 21:5). But this was more than just a prophecy of the triumphal entry of our King, Jesus It was an invitation to receive Him In Revelation 3:20, Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in." This beckoning invitation calls us to open our hearts to Him Could it be that we are the gates and ancient doors through which the King of Glory longs to enter?
We are the very threshold He desires to cross. He does not force His way in; He invites us to open the doors of our hearts, that He might enter and rule in our lives with His glory No matter where we are, the KING desires to enter our lives if we are willing to let Him in! He longs to lift our heads, and be the doors that HE can flow through, reaching the world around us with His glory and love. All He asks is that we welcome Him in, allowing His presence to transform us and make us vessels of His grace to the world.
Question: How can you open your heart and life more fully to the King of Glory today? Are there areas or environments in your life that Jesus wants to come in and transform you and others?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, we open the doors of our hearts to You. Come in and fill us with Your presence. Lift our heads, transform our lives, and use us to bring Your light to the world. Amen.
Devotional 5 • Isaiah 60:1
Arise and Shine
Isaiah 60:1 “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you”
Isaiah prophesied more about the coming Messiah than any other prophet, and in Isaiah 60, he again foretells the arrival of a King and Savior The phrase "your light has come" signifies the arrival of something both transformative and divine. This "light" is often understood as the Messiah, the ultimate light of the world In Hebrew, light represents life, joy, and salvation. This declaration reassures the people that God's long-awaited promise of redemption is now being fulfilled. It is a message of hope and fulfillment, urging believers to embrace the new era of God's presence and guidance
The word for "arise" in Hebrew carries the dual meanings of standing up and being established. In the context of Isaiah, this term is more than a mere physical command; it is a powerful summons to action and spiritual awakening. The Israelites, enduring a time of profound darkness and despair likely during or after the Babylonian exile would have deeply felt this call. It was a call not only to rise physically but to awaken spiritually. "Arise" speaks to readiness, urging the people to anticipate and prepare for God's coming deliverance and blessing, signaling a transformative shift from hopelessness to hope, from exile to restoration. How often do we allow ourselves to be dimmed by the challenges we face? God is calling us to step into His light no matter how dark the world around us may seem. The light of Christ doesn’t just guide us; it empowers us to live boldly for Him, to shine brightly in a world that desperately needs His love
To arise and shine means to embrace the identity we have in Christ to live as people who are loved, redeemed, and called for a purpose. It’s a daily decision to reflect God’s glory, to live in His light, and to let that light shine through us to others. The darkness cannot overcome His light (John 1:5) As we reflect God’s glory, we become beacons of hope, love, and truth to those around us.
Question: What does it mean for us today to “arise and shine” in a world filled with darkness? In what practical ways can we reflect God’s glory and be beacons of hope in our daily lives?
Prayer: Lord, thank You for the light of Your presence in our lives. Help us to arise from any darkness that seeks to weigh us down and shine with Your glory Strengthen us to live boldly, to speak truth, and to bring hope to the world. We praise You for Your constant presence and for the light that never fades. Amen.
The Shepherds and the Good News
Luke 2:10 “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all people.
The season of Christmas brings a heightened anticipation for the coming King a gift not yet fully opened. For centuries, seeds of hope had been planted, pointing to the arrival of a Savior. Everyone, from the Rabbis and scholars to the simplest shepherd, held this hope, waiting for the day God’s promise would be fulfilled. And then, on a quiet night, shepherds in the fields became part of that promise coming to life As they watched over their flocks, an angel appeared with a message that would change everything: “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all people Today, in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in clothes and lying in a manger” Luke 2:10-12
Imagine the thrill that rushed through their hearts! They were not just hearing about another prophecy; they were part of it coming to life The angel’s words meant that the long-awaited Messiah that their ancestors have spoken of for generations had finally arrived, and they, humble shepherds, had been chosen to witness it. Suddenly, the night sky filled with a vast army of angels, worshiping and glorifying God. The shepherds likely fell to their knees, overwhelmed with fear, feeling unworthy, awestruck and joyful, feeling the weight of the promise fulfilled Their hearts must have been overcome with worship and gratitude. This honor was unlike anything they could have ever imagined seeing the Savior with their own eyes. With eager hearts, they hurried to Bethlehem, racing to behold the Messiah and share their encounter with others
That night, the sky was filled with songs of praise, and just as the shepherds couldn’t contain their excitement, we too are invited to respond with the same wonder and joy. Jesus, the long-awaited Messiah, has come, fulfilling every promise—and He will come again! This Christmas season, let your hearts be filled with the same thrill and wonder the shepherds felt, as we celebrate the gift of our Savior and eagerly await the return of our King.
Question: How can you open your heart this season to experience the joy and awe of Jesus’ birth, just as the shepherds did? What would it look like to live with a renewed sense of His presence and promises?
Prayer: Lord, thank You for sending Jesus, our Savior and King Open my heart to experience the wonder and joy of Your presence. Renew my spirit with fresh anticipation, just as the shepherds felt, and help me to live each day with the hope, awe, and excitement of knowing You. Amen.
Mary the Magnificent
Luke 1:45 “Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”
Perspective can easily be clouded by the worries and fears of life. Mary had every reason to be afraid. As a young virgin betrothed to Joseph, she was suddenly visited by the angel Gabriel, who told her she would conceive and give birth to God’s Son It’s hard to imagine the flood of emotions she must have felt her entire future, filled with fear and uncertainty. God entered Mary's life at a time when having a child out of wedlock was shameful and nearly impossible to survive. Through her story, God shows that He can accomplish anything, regardless of circumstances or culture, if we would believe as Mary did He brought the greatest gift of all time from a difficult situation Let us follow Mary's example, turning our fears into a declaration of God's faithfulness.
The first thing God did was provide Mary with support by sending her to visit her cousin Elizabeth, who was also expecting a miracle child. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s voice, she was immediately filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with joy, "Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill His promises." In response, Mary’s heart overflowed with praise. She sang with joy, declaring God’s goodness and holiness. She praised Him for His faithfulness to her, to the descendants of Abraham, and for the mighty works He had done works that would impact generations to come.
See this was not just the praise of a new mother or the praise of a woman who was protected from shame. God chose Mary, a humble servant, to fulfill the long-awaited promise the arrival of the Messiah, a promise anticipated for generations She was to give birth to the Christ child, the Savior who would forgive the sin of the world.
What an incredible posture to take Imagine how our lives could change if we filled our hearts and mouths with praise, boldly proclaiming God's goodness even in the midst of uncertainty. What could happen if we would believe that He will do what He promised He will do? Let this Christmas be a reminder to place your hope in God's promises fulfilled to all of us.
Question: What new song do you need to sing? What promises are you eagerly awaiting the Lord to fulfill?
Prayer: Our father in heaven, whose word is true, would you use this season to remind me to hope in your promises Would you give me a new song of hope to sing, Amen
2:29-32, 36-37
Glory to God: The Messiah Has Come
Luke 2:29-32, 36-37 (Living Bible)
“Lord, now I can die in peace! For I have seen him as you promised me I would. I have seen the Savior you have given to the world. He is the Light that will shine upon the nations, and he will be the glory of your people Israel ”
“Anna, a prophetess, was also there in the Temple that day. She was the daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Asher and was very old, for she had been a widow for eightyfour years following seven years of marriage. She never left the Temple but stayed there night and day, worshiping God by praying and often fasting ”
The temple was alive with overwhelming joy that day. Mary and Joseph entered with their baby boy, Jesus, carrying not just a child, but the Savior of the world, the promised Messiah. This was the fulfillment of generations of prophecies, dreams, and hopes. Simeon, led by the Holy Spirit, knew immediately that this was the One he had been waiting for. Imagine his excitement as he took Jesus into his arms, his heart overflowing with praise: “My eyes have seen Your salvation!” God’s promises were being fulfilled before his very eyes the Messiah had come to save His people, a gift from God to all of us. Simeon’s joy wasn’t just for himself it was for the whole world.
Nearby, Anna, the faithful prophetess, heard Simeon’s declaration, and her spirit leapt with joy. For decades, she had worshiped, prayed, and fasted, waiting for this moment. Her heart must have soared as the Holy Spirit revealed to her that this child was the Messiah. Anna didn’t keep the good news to herself she began telling everyone who would listen that salvation had come. What a glorious day! Both Simeon and Anna, representing the faith of all who had waited, rejoiced in the fulfillment of God’s promise Their joy was uncontainable, and their praises rose to heaven. Glory to God for His faithfulness!
For Mary and Joseph, the wonder of this moment must have been overwhelming. They knew their child was special, but now they were witnessing others recognize Him as the promised Savior. Mary, who had been visited by an angel, and Joseph, who had obeyed God’s call to protect this child, were now seeing the bigger picture unfold. Their joy was rooted in the privilege of being part of God’s plan of salvation. They didn’t yet fully understand the cross and the resurrection, but they trusted in God’s promises and glorified Him for the great things He was doing
Oh, what joy fills our hearts today as we see the fullness of God’s plan! The Messiah came not only to fulfill the hopes of Simeon and Anna but to bring salvation to all of us. Through His life, death, and resurrection, Jesus became the ultimate sacrifice, restoring us to the Father. Because of His blood, we can enter the Holy of Holies, worshiping God with thanksgiving and joy Glory to God for His indescribable gift! Let us lift our voices in praise, for the Savior has come, and salvation is here for all who believe.
Question: How can you live in the joy of knowing the Messiah has come and proclaim His salvation to others?
Prayer: Father God, we lift our hearts in joy and gratitude for the gift of Your Son, the Savior of the world. Thank You for fulfilling Your promises and making a way for us to return to You Help us to live with hearts full of praise and to proclaim the good news of salvation to all. Glory to You, Lord, for Your faithfulness, mercy, and love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Follow the Star
“They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. When it was time to leave, they returned to their own country by another route, for God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod.”
Matthew 2:11-12 NLT
The Israelites had waited with great anticipation for the prophecies to be fulfilled. The time had arrived. The savior and Messiah, literally meaning liberator of people, was born as a baby, not the new ruler they expected And a star shone in the sky, so unique and wonderful that it beaconed travelers to journey to meet this precious baby. The Magi, known to be wise men for their study of astrology, would have understood the significance of this incredible heavenly star. So they prepared for a long journey headed west and brought gifts in holy expectation for what they would find.
In life, the space of time between signs and wonders is often an uncomfortable place of waiting. At times it can be joyful and also it can be painful. The Magi saw that star and it gave them direction, but the arduous journey must have been full of pain and struggle And still I believe they never stopped looking for majestic and holy signs to guide them. What an incredible moment it must have been after long and weary travel, to have been in the presence of baby Jesus, the messiah, and to finally bow and worship Him.
The Magi first looked for signs, once they saw the star, they had to be brave enough to follow. In the waiting, uncomfortable, and mundane they waited patiently in expectation. Even after they arrived at the feet of the Savior, they continued to listen and watch, seeking God's guidance to lead them on the right path.
Questions: What if the Magi had never followed the star as a sign? What direction are you looking and waiting for? When or where do you most often hear from the Lord?
Prayer: “Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you.”
Psalms 25:4-5 NLT
The Word
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the W
This Word is Jesus, the Son of God, who was p things were made. Imagine this: the pre-incarna walked in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve garden, and many believe this was a glimpse intimacy! Yet, sin disrupted this sacred communio But God, in His love, already had a plan a plan to gift of all
This plan of salvation was not fully understood, e the prophets searched diligently for the meanin preparing the way for future generations. It also s things,”showing that they, too, marveled at the m plan, designed before the foundation of the world, was revealed only through Jesus Christ When the Word became flesh, the angels proclaimed His birth with joy, yet the depths of God’s redemptive plan were beyond their comprehension until it was fulfilled in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. What a glorious, loving Father we serve! He didn’t just redeem us; He restored the possibility of walking with Him in the garden this time, in the garden of our hearts
Because of Jesus, the intimacy of Eden is no longer a distant memory. When we accept Him as Lord and receive the gift of His Spirit, our lives become His dwelling place. The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead now lives in us, empowering us to live in freedom and communion with God. This is the ultimate gift of Christmas: not only the forgiveness of sin but the restoration of relationship We are invited to walk with God daily, to cultivate our lives as a spiritual garden where His presence dwells, and to experience His peace, joy, and love
As we reflect on this gift, let us remember the magnitude of God’s plan From the beginning, He knew what it would take to bring us back to Him The Word, who was with God and was God, became flesh to walk among us, to die for us, and to rise again so we could be restored to the Father. This Christmas, rejoice in the gift of salvation and the joy of walking with Him again. He has made a way, and through Him, we have life and light that the darkness can never overcome.
Question: How does knowing the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you deepen your sense of connection to God and His plan for your life?
Prayer: Dear Father, You spoke the Word in the beginning, and through Jesus, You brought life and light into the world. Thank You for Your perfect plan of salvation and for the gift of Your Son, who walked among us to bring us back to You Help us to see the depth of Your love and to cultivate our lives as a garden where You dwell May Your Spirit lead us daily in freedom, joy, and intimacy with You. In Jesus name, Amen.
A CHRISTMAS DEVOTIONAL
