Welcome, friends! December 2022 is upon us, and another advent season has arrived. Once again, I’ll be sharing a daily series of short devotionals with accompanying Christmas hymns over the next few weeks.
One of my favorite memories from childhood is coming home just after dusk from a day of December shopping to see an enormous star mounted on the peak of my family’s house. My dad had built it with PVC pipe, zip ties, and large white twinkle lights. We saw it as soon as we came around the bend a quarter of a mile away, and it was glorious. We pulled into the driveway and exited the car with shouted questions. “What on earth?! How did you do all this? Did you have it planned?” My father explained that he had spent the afternoon strategizing, collecting his supplies, and tinkering in his shop. As the winter sun sank lower and lower, he hastily climbed a ladder and attached the finished product to the house, praying he could get the star up before we arrived. His trademark lopsided grin gave away his satisfaction at our surprised joy. That star gave me so much happiness throughout the entire month of December. Every time we returned in the dark from a day out in the world, it beckoned us homeward with renewed glory. My dad had built it as a gift for us, and three decades later, it remains a treasure in my heart, like a gift that keeps on giving.
As much as I still marvel at that sweet gesture from my earthly father, it me points to an even sweeter, more marvelous gift. This gift involved much more strategy and effort than my dad had employed. It required the planning of an eternal mind, the timing of one who transcends time itself, and the strength of an infinitely powerful God. It was given through the sacrificial love of a perfect Father, delivered by the voluntary obedience of the Son, and achieved by the miraculous conception of the Spirit. Jesus, the incarnate Son of God, was the ultimate joyous surprise from a Father to his children. For those with eyes to see, the glory of the Messiah’s birth was far more beautiful than any man-made twinkle lights on a building. It would have ripple effects of seismic proportions – like a gift that keeps on giving.
But the world did not burst upon the scene with the delight of a family pleased by their father’s generosity. From infancy, Jesus was hunted, scorned, mocked, and then eventually betrayed, falsely accused, and put to death. Yet in his death, we are surprised by even more of God’s generosity. For Christ’s death was also impeccably planned, perfectly timed, and mightily wrought – not by men – but by God, in order to accomplish the salvation of his people. The gift was much bigger than he looked at his advent, for humility had veiled majesty. His infant form contained all the fullness of Deity. He was sent on mission as the Savior Son, securing our forgiveness and reconciliation in himself. He gave himself to be a present that kept unwrapping, like a gift that kept on giving.
The happy expectancy of Christmas points us to an even greater advent: Christ’s return. Three days after those terrible, dark hours of his atoning death on the cross, morning dawned at an empty tomb with the glory of a thousand Christmases. The gift had grown even more, revealing new life and new hope to all who would receive Jesus. Our hope is a sure expectancy for a final gift that will be more surprising and more joyous than anything we have ever imagined. Our Lord Jesus, who has secured us as his own, is even now readying the future dawn of an eternal day. Will you join me in waiting for that day? We worship the God who came to dwell with us, to save us, and to make us new. We celebrate the ultimate gift: Jesus Christ, who keeps giving, endlessly on and on.
Scriptures to consider:
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. Galatians 4:4
In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:4
For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have received reconciliation. Romans 5:10-11
Please enjoy my 2022 advent devotional, starting tomorrow, and its accompanying playlist. (On Spotify; and on YouTube)
The Type B Mom 