Daily Devotional For Wednesday, December 25, 2024

The Christmas word for today is the name and word that begins it all: CHRIST. As you likely know, Christ-mas literally means Christ Worship. You may also know that Christ and Messiah are the same word, one in Greek (Christ) and the other in Hebrew (Messiah). In that first Christmas story, the angels announced this to the shepherds when Jesus was born. They told them this in Luke 2:11, “For today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (NASB).  Jesus is Savior, the one who brings God’s rescue. Jesus is Christ, the one who brings God’s promise. Jesus is Lord, the one who brings God’s rule.

I thought we’d look at just a few of the verses in the New Testament about the promises we can find in our daily lives because Jesus is the Messiah, the Christ. There were so many, I decided to look at just one book: Galatians. There were so many even there, we can look at just one chapter: Galatians 3. Look at the Messiah promises that are real in your life because of Jesus Christ. Here are some of those promises:

1. Christ promises you freedom. Look at Galatians 3:22, “But the Scriptures declare that we are all prisoners of sin, so we receive God’s promise of freedom only by believing in Jesus Christ (NLT). Wonderful freedom from your sin and guilt is God’s promise because of Christ. This freedom comes only by believing in Jesus Christ because only Jesus died on the cross to pay the price for our sins. He paid the price for your freedom and forgiveness.
2. Christ promises you family. Look at Galatians 3:26, “For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus (NLT). You are now in God’s family because of faith in the love of Jesus. We are all creations of God, but only through the promise of Christ do we become a part of the family of God. To be in God’s family is to be loved unconditionally and eternally. God the Father is forever faithful to His family. Being part of God’s family leads to the next promise.
3. Christ promises you eternal reward. Look at Galatians 3:29, “And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to promise (NASB). Everyone in God’s family is an heir to all of God’s riches. It’s not because of anything we have done, but because we belong to Christ. We begin to enjoy our inheritance even on this earth as we are heirs to the riches of God’s grace and love. We will enjoy this inheritance in all of eternity and heirs together with Christ in all that God will provide us in his glory.
4. Christ promises you community. Look at Galatians 3:28, “There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus (NLT). You’re not an only child in the family of God. Because of Christ, the barriers are broken down between us so that we can grow together in his love. Of all the promises of Christ, this is the one that we probably struggle with the most. It is also the promise that gives some of us the greatest joy when we recognize that because of Jesus we can love in ways we never thought possible. There is no greater witness to the world of the love of Jesus than the promise of this love for one another being lived out.
5. Christ promises you maturity. Look at Galatians 3:27, “And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on the character of Christ, like putting on new clothes (NLT). Jesus gives us the promise of becoming more like Him in the things that we think, do, and say. He does not mean for this to happen by your human effort, but by the power of His promise. The final promise of Christ in Galatians 3 tells us how He will work these changes in our lives.
6. Christ promises you the Holy Spirit. Look at Galatians 3:14, “Through Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing He promised to Abraham, so that we who are believers might receive the promised Holy Spirit through faith” (NLT). God’s Spirit within us gives us the power to begin to live the life of promise that Christ gives us. He gives us the promise, and then He gives us the power of His presence to live out the promise He has given. Wow! And these are the promises Christ gives from just one chapter. When you add them to the hundreds of promises throughout the rest of the New Testament, you see how blessed we are because of Christ.
7. Christ promises you salvation through faith, not through works. Look at Galatians 3:23, “Before the way of faith in Christ was available to us, we were placed under guard by the law. We were kept in protective custody, so to speak, until the way of faith was revealed” (NLT). Before Christ, people were kept safe by honoring God’s Law, which required obedience in both attitude and action. In the Beatitudes, Jesus reminds us that we can commit murder and adultery in our heart. In Ephesians 2:8-9, the Apostle Paul reminds us again about this. 

Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah — the promised one who brings God’s promises into your life! Listed below are some discussion questions to help you appreciate these promises from Christ.

Questions To Consider

1. There are 7 promises we are given from this baby born in Bethlehem listed above. Which one means the most to you and why?
2. If you have children and/or grandchildren, take a moment to discuss with them what a promise is and means. Ask them what is a promise from you that means the most to them and why? If they cannot think of any, help them such as with your promise to always love them and protect them.
3. In addition to these promises above, what are some other promises from the baby of Bethlehem that mean the most to you and why this Christmas 2024?

Scripture To Meditate On: Isaiah 9:6, “For a child is born to us, a Son is given to us. The government will rest on His shoulders. And He will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (NLT).

Prayer To Pray: “Father  — thank You! Thank You for the promise of freedom and forgiveness. For the promise of family and acceptance. For the promise of community and love. For the promise of maturity and growth. And for the promise of the power of your Spirit in my life and the promise of salvation and living by faith. I receive these promises by faith in Christ. I love You Jesus. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray, Amen”

I love you Southside!--Pastor Kelly