Advent
This year, our sister churches of the Spokane and North Idaho regions have teamed together to produce a series of daily video devotions for the season of Advent. Each day in December, these videos will post to our Facebook and YouTube Channels, and will also be collected here. We pray these resources will help turn your eyes throughout this season to the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
December 25
“Lo, the star which they had seen in the east went before them.”
Matthew 2:9
The Wisemen followed the star because they hoped it would lead them where the wanted to go. It did. We have hope in Jesus, our great leader. Let us always follow Him!
Prayer: O Jesus, our bright and shining Star, lead us to eternal life, Amen
December 24
“I am the Good Shepherd. The Good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.”
John 10:11
The symbol of the lamb and the shepherd’s staff reminds us that the shepherds in the fields near Bethlehem were the first people to receive the good news of Jesus’ birth. We are reminded, too, that Jesus is our Good Shepherd, who makes us lie down in green pastures, leads us beside the still waters, and whose rod and staff comfort us. This Good Shepherd gave His life for us, His sheep and lambs, that we may live.
Prayer: Good Shepherd, keep us always in Your flock. Amen
December 23
“We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul.”
Hebrews 6:9
As an anchor holds a ship firm against a storm, so Christ is our anchor of hope in life. Through storm or calm we are kept firm in faith, encouraged by our faithful and unchanging God. Because of Him, we look forward with hope to eternal life made secure for us by Christ’s death and resurrection.
Prayer: O Lord, keep us steadfast in faith so that by Your grace we may come to eternal life. Amen
December 22
“O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting? Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 Corinthians 15:55-57
A wreath is sometimes awarded to a victor after winning a competition. The Christmas wreath helps us celebrate the coming of the greatest Victor the word has ever known, Jesus Christ, the Savior! The circle made by the wreath reminds us that this Victor, who became a true man, was at the same time the true and eternal God. The wreath’s greenery symbolizes the eternal life He won for us.
Prayer: Thank you God, for victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
December 20
“I will bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people.”
Luke 2:10
The various colors of this symbol represent the many races of people on our earth. All of them, no matter what their color or nationality, age, sex, or walk of life, are those for whom the Savior came into the world. The joy we know as Christians is for ALL people. When we shake off our prejudices and share our joy of knowing Christ with others, our joy becomes more full.
Prayer: Lord, forgive our selfishness. Amen
December 19
“For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.”
Isaiah 55:12
Beautiful things bring joy! The poinsettia, the traditional Christmas flower, is a joy to behold with its green leaves rising on a stem to mysteriously burst forth is glorious red. The greatest joy for us Christians to behold is the salvation brought about for us by Christ. His beautiful, life-filled years suddenly burst forth with the shedding of His precious blood shed for us! So great was His beautiful love for us.
Prayer: Holy Spirit, fill us with the joy of our salvation in Jesus! Amen
December 18
“Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth; sing the glory of His name; give to Him glorious praise!”
Psalm 66:1
As a bell rings out its happy sound, compelling people to draw near to it, so we Christians sing out in praise of our God, whose love draws us to Himself and who will at last have us come to where He is.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, hasten the day when we will come to you and sing your praises forever. Amen
December 17
“I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
John 10:10
A Christmas tree has much symbolism to remind us of God and His gifts to us. The general shape is that of a triangle, symbol of the triune God. It’s color is green, symbolic of life. This reminds us that through Jesus we have new life here on earth and look forward to eternal life in heaven. The ornamented tree creates a feeling of joy in our home. This is similar to our lives filled with the joy of knowing Christ and the abundant life He gives us.
Prayer: Dear Savior, as the tinsel on a Christmas tree reflects the lights, make our lives a reflection of the true joy which comes from you. Amen
December 16
“Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens! Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness! Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!”
Psalm 150
The music note reminds us to praise the God of our salvation.
Prayer: O Lord, let the whole earth sound forth with your praise. Amen
December 13
“Greater love has no man than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.”
John 15:13
The symbol of the circle reminds us that love is eternal and that perfect love comes from our eternal God. Christ’s perfect love compelled Him to shed His blood and lay down His life for us. The background of white symbolizes the holiness of Jesus. Though the sins of all mankind were laid on Him, He Himself was holy and lived a life of perfect righteousness for us.
Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for Your perfect life and perfect love. Amen
December 12
“Walk in love as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
Ephesians 5:2
Sometimes people get perfume or cologne as a Christmas gift. People like sweet smelling fragrances. The Wisemen brought frankincense, a costly incense, as a gift for Jesus. This was their way of showing love. It was and act of worship and adoration. Our symbol today is a perfume bottle. May it remind us to be so filled with the Spirit of Jesus that we give off the fragrance of His quality of life and love.
Prayer: Lord let our prayers be counted as incense before you. Amen
December 11
“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers and understand all mysteries and all knowledge and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.”
1 Corinthians 13:1-3
December 10
“They offered Him gifts.”
Matthew 2:11
The Wisemen offered gifts to the Christ child to express their joy and thankfulness that He was their Savior. The baby Jesus is no longer with us on this earth, so we cannot personally give Him gifts. But He promises us that whatever we do to the least of His people, we do to Him. By showing love to one another, we give our gifts of love to Him.
Prayer: May all our gifts, Lord Jesus, be given out of love for you. Amen
December 9
“We have come to worship Him.”
Matthew 2:2
Shepherds and Wisemen came to worship the Christ child. His earthly throne was a lowly manger and His palace was the humble home of a carpenter. Throughout His earthly ministry He “had nowhere to lay His head.” Nevertheless, He was and is and will forever be our Lord and King. The gold crown symbolizes Jesus, our King of Kings, with “jewels” of white for His perfect righteousness, red for His great love and His innocent blood shed for our salvation, and green for eternal life which He gives us.
Prayer: O King of Kings, your kingdom come. Amen
December 8
“Now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of the light.”
Ephesians 5:8
God loves us so much that He sent His only Son to be our savior from the darkness of sin. He gave us the Light of eternal life. The candle’s flame reminds us of the light of faith which the Holy Spirit keeps alive in our hearts. He will lead us on the path to our heavenly goal and help us to share His light so others will see the way to heaven.
Prayer: Holy Spirit, help us to let our light of faith shine brightly so that others may see God’s love and be brought closer to Christ. Amen.
December 6
“On earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”
Luke 2:14
An angel is our symbol for today. Angels burst forth with triumphant song of glory to God the night of Jesus’ birth and they proclaimed God’s peace to mankind. This peace was possible because God charged our sins to Christ who paid for them with His life. God still sends His holy angles to watch over us, “lest we dash our foot against a stone.” Now we don’t have to worry. We can keep our minds on Jesus and have perfect peace.
Dear God. Grant us the peace of knowing that your holy angels are watching over us. Amen
December 5
“In Christ God was reconciling the world to Himself.”
2 Corinthians 5:19
Today’s symbol is a manger with a cross on it. We remember that upon that sweet little Babe laid in the manger, God “laid the iniquity of us all.” Jesus’ death on the cross was a bridge that spanned the chasm of sin between us and God. Jesus brought reconciliation and peace between God and man.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for bridging the gap that sin made between us and God.
December 4
“The peace of God . . .passes all understanding.”
Philippians 4:7
The circle is a symbol of eternity, and green is the color of life. Today’s symbol reminds us that God’s peace is eternal. We can be at peace even at the time of death because we await eternal life in heaven.
Heavenly Father, thank you for the precious gift of peace through Jesus Christ, Your Son. Amen
December 3
“The day shall dawn upon us from on high . . . to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
Luke 1:78-79
A dove is a common symbol of peace. To Christians, it is also a symbol of the Holy Spirit. He brings us a special kind of peace, peace with God. This is the peace of knowing that God loves us so much that He sent His only begotten Son that through faith in Him we have eternal life.
Prayer: Holy Spirit, fill our hearts with peace. Amen
December 2
“For you who fear My name, the Sun of righteousness shall rise.”
Malachi 4:2
Today’s symbol is a bright yellow sun. Jesus is our Sun of Righteousness. As the world follows the course of the planets in their movements about the sun, we who are God’s people follow the course of our Lord Jesus. He is our guiding Star, giving us light for our way and leading us to a life of obedience and peace.
Prayer: Guide us, O great Jehovah. Amen
December 1
“Behold your King is coming to you.”
Matthew 21:5
Advent means coming. Long before Jesus was born, God’s people were waiting for him to come. We wait for Him to come also – into our hearts, our homes, our lives. The color of our symbol is violet which is the color of repentance. The shape is that of a cross which reminds us of our need for a Savior. Jesus will come again, and we wait for His second coming with hope, peace, and joy because it will mean a joyous reunion in heaven for us.
Prayer: Come Lord Jesus. Amen