A Scripture Based Devotional for Overcomers

 

Special Christmas Advent Edition

22 December
Matt. 1:22-23
Immanuel

God had promised through His servant, Prophet Isaiah, hundreds of years earlier that a virgin will bear a son by the name Immanuel, which means God with us (Is. 7:14). According to the Scripture, this prophecy was fulfilled in the birth of Jesus, more than two thousand years ago (Matt. 1:22-23). Therefore, Jesus was born Immanuel, meaning God with us (Matt. 1:22-23). This means that with Jesus’ birth, God took our own form in order to save us (Jn. 1:14). With the birth of Jesus, God now becomes our Saviour (see Matt. 1:21). He is no longer removed or far from us but near us. Furthermore, the name Immanuel or God with us which is given to Jesus at birth means that the world can now have salvation through Him. Therefore, with Jesus’ birth more than two thousand years ago, no one has any justification today not to know God as He deserves or wishes to be known, namely, as our Saviour (cf. Jn. 3:16, 17). God became our Saviour through Jesus’ birth. To this end, our Christmas celebrations today would be utterly meaningless unless we have received or accepted the one whom God gave to us as our Saviour (Jn. 3:16). The real meaning of Christmas lies in taking Jesus as God our Saviour that He really is (Matt. 1:22-23; Jn. 1:1-2, 14).

PRAYER: 1. Father, I accept Jesus as my Saviour that He is.
2. Father, please over come every doubt and unbelief in my relationship with Jesus.
3. Father, please let the salvation that Jesus offers be my portion fully, wholly.

23 December
Matt. 3:11
One more powerful than John or anyone else

When John the Baptist introduced Jesus a few years after Jesus was born, he stated that Jesus was more powerful than him and that he was not even fit to carry His sandals (Matt. 3:11; Jn. 1:15, 26-27). John was quite correct. He was not the Christ, but only His witness (Jn. 1:6-9). What John said concerning Jesus’ power is quite true not only with regard to John but with regard to every other creature that God made. The power of Jesus is unfathomable and without limit (cf. Ps. 145:3; Ps. 95:3). Even death could not hold Him captive, as we often sing (Lk. 24:4-8). This means that Jesus is most capable to save us (Heb. 7:25). It also means that in Him we do not have a weak and impotent Saviour but one who is most powerful and most potent (Matt. 3:11). In view of Jesus’ power, we must realize that as we celebrate His birth today He wholly deserves our worship and service and trust. He is not the Saviour who runs away when the wolf comes to attack His flock (see Jn. 10:12-13). Our Saviour whose birth we celebrate all over the world every year is one who has the power not to lose anyone who comes to Him (Jn. 6:39). As we celebrate His birth once again this year, we must be completely humble before Him and subject to Him because like John, we are unfit to carry even His sandals (Matt. 3:11).

PRAYER: 1. Father, please enable me to worship and serve you as you deserve.
2. Father, please make me completely humble before you.

24 December
Jn. 1:18
A birth that makes God known

One of the testimonies that John the Baptist gave concerning Jesus is that He is the only one who has seen God and has made Him known (Jn. 1:18). With His birth, Jesus brought a knowledge of God that surpasses whatever had been available before Him (cf. Exod. 33:18-33). With Jesus’ birth, we now know God as He is (see Col. 1:15, 19). His birth makes adequate knowledge of God possible. With Jesus, we know God adequately today. In Him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge about God (see Col. 2:2-3). With His birth more than two thousand years ago, we have no excuse today for not knowing God as He deserves to be known. As we celebrate His birth throughout the world this year, we should remember that we are celebrating the birth of the one in whom lies all the treasures of the knowledge of God (Col. 2:2-3). He can make God known to us today if we are willing or ready to let Him do so for us. We lack the basis to celebrate His birth today if we do not know the God whom Jesus was born to make known (Jn. 1:18).

PRAYER: 1. Father, please make yourself fully known to me.
2. Father, please take away for me whatever hinders me from knowing you fully.

 

25 December
Jn. 3:16
A birth that brings God’s love

According to the Scripture, God demonstrates His own love for mankind by the gift of His Son Jesus (Jn. 3:16; Rom. 5:8). Therefore, Jesus was born as the embodiment, carrier, and dispenser of God’s love. His birth was the birth of God’s love for humanity (Jn. 3:16; Rom. 5:8). With Jesus’ birth, we now know God as love (1Jn. 4:16). Jesus’ birth confirms that God is indeed loving (1Jn. 4:16). Christmas is therefore a celebration of God’s love for all mankind which is available through Jesus. If there is any one phrase that summarizes Christmas it is God is love (1Jn. 4:16; Jn. 3:16). The whole world is entitled to this love that the birth of Jesus brought (Jn. 3:16). The only requirement for appropriating this love is faith, nothing more, nothing less (see Jn. 1:12-13). If anyone misses out of God’s love through Jesus, it is because he has chosen to reject it (see Jn. 1:10-11). As many as receive or accept Jesus today readily partake of this love (Jn. 1:12-13). As we celebrate His birth everywhere this year, it is important to know that God’s love is readily available to everyone who believes and that Jesus never ever drives away anyone who comes to God through Him (Jn. 6:37). Rather, He welcomes everyone who opens his heart to Him (Rev. 3:20).

PRAYER: 1. Father, I accept Jesus as your gift for me.
2. Father, please let your love that is available through Jesus be my portion fully

.


26 December
Jn. 1:14
One born like us

Although Jesus was God (Jn. 1:1-2), He took our own human form when He was born (Jn. 1:14; Phil. 2:5-8; 1Tim. 3:16) in order to save us (Matt. 1:21; Jn. 1:29; Jn. 3:16). Thus, He was born like us (Jn. 1:14). He was not only born of a woman like us (see Gal. 4:4-5), He shared in our humanity (Heb. 2:14-15) and was hungry (Matt. 4:2) and tempted as we are, although without sin (Heb. 4:15). Since He was born like us, He knows our infirmities and is able to help us (see Heb. 2:18). Besides, as one like us, He is able to sympathize with our weaknesses (Heb. 4:15). Jesus is indeed the only Saviour who can identify with us and we with Him. Since we do have a Saviour who is like us because He was born like us, let us approach Him today with full confidence that we shall receive His mercy and grace unto everlasting life (see Heb. 4:14-16). He is ever ready to welcome us with open arms the moment we turn to Him and receive Him (Rev. 3:20). As we celebrate His birth throughout the world this year, we should take note that we are celebrating the birth of the one who not only is like us but is ever ready to show us mercy since He Himself shared in our humanity and knows our weaknesses.

PRAYER: 1. Father, please help all my weaknesses.
2. Father, please let me find mercy and grace before you.

27 December
Lk. 2:20
Shepherds respond to His birth

We are told that after the Shepherds had seen the child Jesus, they responded by glorifying and praising God for what they had seen (Lk. 2:20). Their decision to go and see the child for themselves (Lk. 2:15-19) ended in an outpouring of glory and praise to God for what they saw (Lk. 2:20). By glorifying and praising God the Shepherds responded most appropriately to Jesus’ birth (Lk. 2:20). Even the heavenly host responded in the same manner to news of His birth (Lk. 2:13-14). God deserves glory and praise for giving the world a Saviour (Jn. 3:16). Our Christmas celebrations today would not be complete unless we glorify and praise God as the shepherds did. One clear way of showing that we appreciate Jesus’ birth is to glorify and praise God for it today as the Shepherds did more than two thousand years ago. To celebrate Christmas and fail to give God glory and praise for Jesus’ birth amounts to ingratitude of the worst form. As far as celebrating the birth of Jesus is concerned, the Shepherds left us a most appropriate and worthy example.

PRAYER: 1. Father, thank you for the gift of Jesus my Saviour.
2. Father, please give me a heart of gratitude for all that you have done for me through Jesus.

28 December
Jn. 1:10
A birth the world does not recognise

When Jesus was born more than two thousand years ago, the world did not recognize Him (Jn. 1:10). Although He made the world, the world did not recognize Him (Jn. 1:10). And although He took human form and dwelt in the world (Jn. 1:14), the world did not recognize Him (Jn. 1:10). The world did not recognize Him because it refused to do so. The world has not changed much in her attitude to Jesus today. Jesus suffers more or less the same treatment in the hands of the world today. What is stated in John 1:10 is as true today as when it was first written. Jesus made the world (Jn. 1:3) and gave His life for her (Mk. 10:45; 1Tim. 2:5-6), yet the world does not recognize Him. This is a most serious matter. In fact, for the world not to recognize her God-given Saviour is the most unfortunate thing that can ever happen to her. To refuse to recognize Jesus is to refuse the salvation that is available through Him (Matt. 1:21; Jn. 3:16). To recognize Him is to accept the Salvation that is freely available to all mankind through Him (Jn. 3:16). The world is therefore the loser for not recognizing Him (see Jn. 3:18, 36). What really does the world gain from celebrating Christmas when she would not recognize the Saviour whose birth is the basis for the celebration? Therefore, the best way to celebrate Christmas is to recognize the Saviour whose birth is the basis for the celebration.

PRAYER: 1. Father, I recognize Jesus as my Saviour.
2. Father, please strengthen my faith in Jesus my Saviour.
3. Father, please over come for me whatever hinders me from having an intimate, one on one relationship with Jesus.

29 December
Jn. 1:11
A birth rejected by His own people

When Jesus was born more than two thousand years ago, He was rejected even by people of His own race or nationality – the Jews (Jn. 1:11). In fact, none of the main Jewish religious parties accepted Him throughout His life and ministry. It is on record that people of His own nationality led the campaign for His crucifixion (Lk. 23:1-25). This attitude has not changed today. Neither the Jewish State nor the Jewish religion accepts Jesus as the Messiah today. Jesus born a Jew, and sent first to them (see Rom. 1:16), but He is the Saviour of the entire world (Lk. 2:10-12; Jn. 1:29; Jn. 3:16; Rom. 3:29-30). He is indeed a universal, not a national or tribal Saviour (Jn. 1:29; Jn. 3:16). The salvation that Jesus gives is available to everyone who believes regardless of his nationality or race or tribe (see Rom. 10:12-13). As far as Jesus is concerned, what matters is our faith in Him, not our nationality or race or tribe (see Gal. 5:6). In Jesus, there is no discrimination in terms of nationality or race or tribe, for all are one in Him (Gal. 3:28-29; Col. 3:11). It is wrong to regard Jesus as a Jewish Messiah only. As we celebrate His birth once again this year, we must never forget that He is indeed the Saviour of us all. Everyone who believes in him will be saved, his nationality, race, tribe not withstanding (see Rom. 10:12-13; cf. Rom. 3:29-30).
PRAYER: 1. Father, I accept Jesus as my Saviour.
2. Father, please let the salvation that you give through Jesus be my portion fully.
3. Father, please take away every unbelief from my life.

30 December
Jn. 1:12
A birth received by many

While the world refused to recognize Jesus when He was born more than two thousand years ago (Jn. 1:10), including people of His own nationality (Jn. 1:11), many received Him and became true children of God – children born of God (Jn. 1:12-13). This has remained so ever since. While others oppose, ridicule, mock, and reject Jesus, many still believe in Him today and find salvation for their souls (cf. Acts 17:32-34; Acts 2:41; Jn. 3:16). The Scripture is true today as it was when Jesus first spoke it, that as many as receive Him, He gives them the right or authority to become children of God (Jn. 1:12-13). As we celebrate His birth all over the world this year, we need to know that the opportunity or privilege to become God’s true child is still available (Jn. 1:12-13). This opportunity or privilege is available only to those who accept Him as their Saviour (see Jn. 1:12-13; Jn. 3:16). The Scripture is trite that everyone who believes in him has salvation or eternal life (Jn. 3:16, 18, 36; Jn. 6:40, 47; Acts 10:43; Rom. 1:16; 1Jn. 5:1). The opportunity or privilege to become God’s true child is not available to one who rejects Jesus as his own Saviour (see Jn. 3:18, 36). And this opportunity or privilege to become God’s true child is available through Jesus only (Acts 4:12).

PRAYER: 1. Father, I believe in Jesus.
2. Father, please strengthen my faith in Jesus.
3. Father, please grant that my faith in Jesus never ever fail.

31 December
Lk. 9:18-20
But what about you?

Once after asking His disciples who the crowds were saying He is (Lk. 9:18-19), Jesus also asked His disciples who they said He was (Lk. 9:20). The question was quite pertinent. It was most necessary for Him to make sure that His disciples had the right understanding of Him. The question is also quite pertinent today. Who do we say Jesus is? He was born more than two thousand years ago (Lk. 2:4-7). He gave His life as a ransom for mankind (Jn. 3:16; Rom. 5:8). Today He is at God’s right hand in Heaven interceding for humanity (Rom. 8:34). Therefore, salvation is still available through Him (Jn. 3:16, 18, 36). Who is Jesus to you? It does not matter what the crowds are saying (Lk. 9:19). What really matters is what He is to you personally (Lk. 9:20). Salvation is personal, as is eternal judgment (2Cor. 5:10). Peter’s answer to the question is the right one (Lk. 9:20). Jesus alone is our Saviour (Acts 4:12). God accredited Him to us as such (Acts 2:22). Salvation cannot be found through anyone else than through Him (Acts 4:12). Unless we accept Him as our Messiah or Saviour that He is (Lk. 9:20), He is nothing to us, and our celebration of His birth is in vain. Remember that if one does not have Jesus as his Messiah or Saviour, he has nothing, even if he has the whole world (Mk. 8:36-37).

PRAYER: 1. Father, I accept Jesus as my Saviour.
2. Father, please enable me to trust in Jesus alone for salvation.
3. Father, please enable me to live all of my life for you alone.

Begin the NEW YEAR with a Daily Key to life ...read on!

 

Our Daily Key: A Scripture Based Devotional for Overcomers

If you find these materials a blessing to you or someone you know and wish to encourage the author's ministry with a donation, you are most welcome to do so.  Please simply follow the link here. God bless you richly!


Copyright © 2018 Abia Friday Abia All rights reserved

abia@OurDailyKey.org ~ Abia Friday Abia ~ Acknowledgement