Happy Advent 2024
Happy Advent 2024! Can you believe it? 2024 is coming to a quick conclusion. What a year of ups and downs it has been—just to list a few—a summer of Olympic gold, Drake and Kendrick beefing, the Trump trials, and the presidential election.
As we approach Christmas, I want to give us a brief reminder: Christmas can be a very stressful time of year. Between all the events and parties, school finals, and the grief of experiencing this holiday for the first time without a loved one at the table, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. In the midst of it all, I want to offer some encouragement and remind us that this Advent season is a time to reflect upon the glorious joy of what we celebrate: the Creator of the universe deciding to become a man to save us from our sins.
The Bible tells us in Matthew 1:21 (NKJV): *"And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins."* This is followed by the powerful declaration in Matthew 1:23 (NKJV): \*"Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us."
We don’t just have a Savior who came to die on the cross in our place for our sins; we have a Savior who chose to be with us. When stress and depression try to steal your hope, peace, joy, and love, remember this: we have a Savior who saved us and remains with us. God is with us! That’s good news. No matter what comes your way, no matter what you don’t have to eat on Christmas morning, regardless of what gifts are (or aren’t) under the Christmas tree, we’ve already received the best gift anyone could ever receive. As John 3:16 reminds us: \*"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
This Advent season, remember that you not only have a Savior who saves you from all your sins, but you also have a Savior who promised never to leave or forsake you. We have a Savior who is with us—Immanuel, God with us!
Amen!
Devotional by ~ Rev. Feltus C. Frost
