Advent 2024
Thanks for participating in our Advent 2024 devotional series. We pray these daily devotions will bless you as we journey through the themes of hope, peace, joy and love.
Use the links below to access each days devotion, new links and devotions will be added every Sunday.
Mon 23rd Dec
– Lamentations 3:22
For many of us that might be a long time ago or just this morning. We are beings created to love and to be loved. Yet this time of year can be painful as broken hearts ache all the more at loss of love, or many are nursing hearts that are cased in iron-like boxes to self-protect after rejection or filled with deep shame.
Love, which is a most beautiful precious and utterly selfless gift at its essence, can sadly be held in fear by too many of us.
But, there’s good news. Jesus’ love is different.
For me, discovering as a mixed-up hurting teenager, that this mighty incredible God in heaven loved and cared for me so deeply, was just mind-blowing. And it still is all these years later.
Christmas is a time for giving and receiving gifts. As you do that over coming days, pause and remember that the greatest and most precious gift you’ll ever receive is Jesus and his never-ending, grace-filled love for you.
A prayer from Ephesians chapter 3:
“And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” – Ephesians 3:17-19
Tues 24th Dec
“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.”
– Luke 2:8-9
The story of Jesus’ birth highlights humble, everyday people, none more so than the shepherds. Living on the outskirts of society, they were largely invisible—but fully seen by God. It was to these simple people that the greatest news in history was first revealed, showing us the gifts of Advent: Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love.
Hope in the Darkness
Life for the shepherds was tough, spent in fields exposed to danger. Then, one night, an angel appeared, bringing a message of hope. Even in darkness, God reaches those who feel overlooked, reminding us that hope often arrives unexpectedly.
Peace in God’s Presence
When the angel appeared, the shepherds were terrified, but the message was “Do not be afraid.” God’s peace calmed their hearts. Peace isn’t the absence of worry, but the presence of God with us, reassuring us in our struggles.
Joy in the Good News
The angel’s announcement filled the shepherds with joy because the Savior had come. This Advent, we’re invited to find joy in the simple truth that God is with us, working for our good.
Love in Sharing the Message
The shepherds couldn’t keep the news to themselves. After meeting Jesus, they shared the good news with others. Their story reminds us that love is meant to be shared, through kind words, gestures, or simply being present with others.
Wed 25th Dec
– Luke 22:19
Jesus’ life on earth was marked by open invitations—to sinners, the broken-hearted, and the weary. In the Gospels, Jesus often shared meals with people from all walks of life. His invitation wasn’t reserved for the perfect but extended to anyone willing to come.
This Advent, Jesus extends an invitation to us, asking us to sit at His table, a place where all are welcomed, no matter our past or our imperfections.
Sitting at Jesus’ table is more than a physical act; it’s an invitation into His grace, peace, and love. Like a family gathered around a feast, He calls us to experience intimacy with Him as well as each other, even those without loved one’s or friends to share a table with, He longs to be with you.
In Luke 22:19, as Jesus shares the Last Supper with His disciples, He says, “Do this in remembrance of me.” As we prepare our hearts in this Advent season, we remember that Jesus has prepared a place for us, inviting us to bring our burdens and exchange them for His rest.
This Advent, may we respond to Jesus’ invitation, setting aside distractions and drawing near to His table, finding our true home and peace in Him! Amen