Christmas Devotions

Love Bears All Things

1 Corinthians 13:1–7

“Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” (1 Corinthians 13:7, ESV)

As Christmas approaches, we often focus on joy, peace, and togetherness. But the Apostle Paul reminds us that the kind of love we are called to—Christlike love—is not just warm or seasonal. It’s resilient. It stays through hardship, holds steady in disappointment, and hopes even when the way forward is unclear.

Love that “bears all things” is not weak. It is strong enough to carry burdens, to forgive when it’s difficult, and to keep loving when others cannot or will not return it. This is the love of Christ—a love that knelt to wash feet, that carried a cross, and that still meets us with mercy. Advent invites us to grow in this love, to be patient and kind in all circumstances, and to hold onto hope for others and ourselves.

Picture a candle burning steadily in a drafty room. It’s not the brightest light, but it refuses to go out. Through gusts and shadows, it continues to shine. That’s what enduring love looks like—quiet, faithful, unwavering. It doesn’t need applause, but it makes all the difference.

Prayer:

Jesus, your love is not fickle or fragile—it bears all things and never gives up. Teach me to love like that. Help me to carry others with grace, to believe and hope for what I cannot yet see, and to endure with kindness when love is tested. Make my love more like yours, strong and true. Amen.

Christmas Devotions

Love Among the Shepherds

Luke 2:8–20

“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.’” (Luke 2:10)

God didn’t send the angels to kings or priests or scholars. He sent them to shepherds—rough-handed, weather-worn men who spent their lives on the edges of society. These were not the expected recipients of divine revelation, yet they were the first to hear the good news: Christ is born.

It reminds us that God’s love does not follow social status or reputation. It reaches to the lowliest, the overlooked, and the unimportant in the eyes of the world. In God’s kingdom, the last are brought near, and the forgotten are first in line.

The shepherds didn’t hesitate. They went to see for themselves, and after meeting Jesus, they became messengers themselves—returning glorifying God and spreading the news. Love came to them, and love moved through them.

Imagine being at a grand concert where the best seats are reserved not for celebrities or VIPs, but for street cleaners, delivery drivers, and night-shift workers. That’s what the nativity story tells us: in God’s eyes, dignity isn’t earned—it’s given. The shepherds received front-row seats to the birth of Christ, not because of who they were, but because of who God is.

Prayer:

Lord, you chose the lowly to receive your highest gift. Teach me to be humble enough to receive your love and bold enough to share it without pride or prejudice. May I never forget that your love includes all—and so must mine. Amen.

Christmas Devotions

 

No Room at the Inn

Luke 2:1–7

“She gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.” (Luke 2:7)

On the day of Jesus’ birth, the world wasn’t watching. No royal procession, no grand announcement—just a crowded town, a full inn, and a stable out back. Love came quietly. In the margins. To the forgotten places.

Jesus’ arrival reveals a truth that still challenges us: God does not always come where the world makes space. He comes where hearts are open—however humble, however ordinary. The King of kings chose not a palace but a feeding trough, not splendour but simplicity. His birth was the ultimate expression of divine humility—and of God's desire to be close to us, even in the mess.

There’s an old tale of a busy village preparing for a royal visit. Everyone rushes to clean and decorate—except one poor shepherd who simply lights a candle in his small, bare home and whispers, “If the King comes here, I will be ready.” The King never made it to the palace—he stopped at the shepherd’s home, where there was room.

It’s not the grandeur of the space that matters—it’s the readiness of the heart.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, you came where there was no room—into poverty, into quietness, into places we would overlook. On this Christmas Day, make my heart a manger. Clear out the clutter. Strip away pride. Prepare room in me for your presence, and let love be born anew. Amen.

Advent Devotions

A Love That Lowers Itself

Philippians 2:5–11

“...he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!”

At the heart of the Christmas story is an astonishing truth: the eternal Son of God willingly stepped down from glory and into a manger. The One who fashioned the stars was wrapped in cloth and laid in straw. Jesus did not cling to status or power. Instead, he lowered himself—out of love.

This was no temporary gesture. Jesus’ entire life was a downward journey of self-giving: from heaven to earth, from power to poverty, from majesty to a servant’s life, from life to death. And not just any death—but death on a cross.

This is what divine love looks like: not self-serving, but self-emptying. Not grand displays of control, but quiet acts of surrender. Jesus’ humility wasn't weakness; it was the strength of love made visible.

Imagine a king who leaves his palace, takes off his robes, and walks the muddy streets with the poor—not for a photo opportunity, but because he loves his people and wants to live among them. That is what Christ did. His throne became a manger. His crown became thorns. And his glory was veiled by the humility of human flesh.

This is the love we are called to imitate: not love that lifts us up, but love that lifts others—by stooping low.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, you humbled yourself in love so that I might be lifted up. Teach me to let go of pride, position, and self-interest. Shape my heart to reflect your humility. May my love be servant-hearted, quiet, and real. Amen.

Advent Devotions

Joseph’s Obedient Love

Matthew 1:18–25

“Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly... But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream…”

Joseph often stands quietly in the background of the nativity story, yet his love and obedience speak volumes. Faced with what must have felt like betrayal and public shame, he chose compassion over condemnation. And when God redirected him through a dream, Joseph didn’t argue—he trusted, and he acted.

His love for Mary wasn’t loud, but it was faithful. It was the kind of love that costs—his reputation, his plans, his comfort. But Joseph stayed the course, because he believed God was at work in ways he could not fully understand.

Real love is like that. It doesn't always come with fanfare. Sometimes it looks like making the harder choice, standing by someone when others walk away, or trusting God’s whisper over the noise of the world. Joseph’s obedient love made space for the Messiah to enter the world.

Think of a supporting beam in a house—often hidden behind walls, never seen, never praised. But without it, the structure wouldn’t stand. Joseph was like that beam: quiet, strong, obedient. His love gave stability to Mary and protection to Jesus, even though his role was mostly behind the scenes.

In a world obsessed with recognition, Joseph reminds us that true love is often expressed in silent sacrifice and steadfast trust.

Prayer:

Lord, help me to love with the quiet courage of Joseph. Teach me to trust when the way forward is unclear, and to act with compassion even when it costs. May my obedience open the way for your presence in the lives of others. Amen.

Advent Devotions

God Is Love

1 John 4:7–12

"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God… This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him."

Love is not just something God does—it is the very essence of who God is. God is love. And this love is not abstract or sentimental; it took on flesh in Jesus Christ. When God sent His Son into the world, it wasn’t merely to give us a good example or a set of teachings—it was to show us what love looks like.

At Christmas, we celebrate that love came down to dwell among us. God’s love is sacrificial, unconditional, and deeply personal. It moves first. It gives without expecting in return. And it invites us to live in that love—not just to receive it, but to pass it on.

This love isn’t always easy or convenient. It’s not dependent on how we feel. It often calls us to stretch ourselves, to forgive when we’re hurt, to welcome when it’s uncomfortable, and to serve when we’re tired. But when we love like this, we reflect the heart of God to the world.

Imagine a stained-glass window in a church. When it's cloudy outside, you see dull outlines and muted colours. But when the sun shines through, the window glows with beauty—it comes alive.

We are like those windows. On our own, we may appear ordinary or even broken. But when God’s love shines through us—when we choose to love others selflessly, faithfully, and with grace—something beautiful happens. Others don’t just see us—they catch a glimpse of God.

Prayer:

God of love, thank you for loving me first. Let me live today rooted in your love. May I be a window through which your love can shine into the world. Help me to love, not just in words, but in truth and action. Amen.

Advent Devotions

Good News of Great Joy

Scripture:
"But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.'" — Luke 2:10–11 (NIV)

Reflection:
In the quiet fields outside Bethlehem, heaven broke into earth. A sky full of angels announced the arrival of joy—not just for a chosen few, but for all the people. The shepherds, the poorest and most overlooked, were the first to hear. That’s God’s way: joy comes not by climbing upward, but by kneeling low.

The joy the angels announced wasn’t based on changing circumstances but on an unchanging truth: “A Saviour has been born to you.” Joy enters the world not through ease or riches, but through the nearness of God Himself in Jesus.

Illustration:
Imagine standing in darkness, your path unclear. Suddenly, a voice calls your name—and then a light turns on. Not a floodlight to show everything at once, but enough to know you're not alone. That’s what the shepherds experienced. That’s what joy does. It doesn’t erase every question but it assures us that God is here—with us, for us, one of us.

This is still our joy today: the good news hasn’t changed.

Prayer:
Lord, help me hear Your good news afresh.
Let the announcement of the angels echo in my soul today.
Where I feel distant, draw near.
Where I feel weary, shine with joy.
Thank You for sending Jesus, joy in human form. Amen.