December 15
December 15
READ
In those days Mary set out and hurried to a town in the hill county of Judah where she entered
Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby
leaped inside her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Then she exclaimed with a loud
cry, “Blessed are you among women, and your child will be blessed!
How could this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For you see,
when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped for joy inside me. Blessed is
she who has believed that the Lord would fulfil what he has spoken to her!”
Luke 1:39-45
DEVOTION
For generations, God’s people in the Old Testament shared stories about the promise of the
coming Messiah. In the very beginning, after Adam and Eve disobeyed God and sin entered the
world, God promised that one day a descendant of the woman would defeat evil. Then,
generations later, God promised to Abraham, among many things, that through his offspring all
the nations of the earth would be blessed. This blessing was not simply about Abraham’s
immediate family or even the nation of Israel; it pointed far beyond them to the One through
whom God would bring salvation to the whole world, Jesus.
He then reaffirmed this promise with Abraham’s son Isaac and Isaac’s son Jacob. God was
weaving the same promise through each generation: a Redeemer would one day come from
their family line.
Repeatedly, God spoke through the prophets, who acted as His mouthpiece to His people,
about the terrible things happening in the world, but also about the hope that remained. One
day, the Messiah would come and establish His kingdom forever. These were the stories
Elizabeth would have grown up with, shared with others, and even passed on to her own son
one day, keeping the promise of God’s Redeemer at the center of her life.
As 21st-century Christians, we can forget what the birth of this baby truly meant, because many
of us, whether believers or not, already know the story. But let us not forget the miracle
Elizabeth recognized: that God Himself came to be born of a virgin. He left the throne and
holiness of heaven to enter a broken, sinful world, born to a teenage girl in humble
circumstances, all so that you and I could know Him. Praise God!
And like Elizabeth, we are invited to rejoice, to proclaim the good news, and to see God’s
faithfulness in our own lives. His promises never fail, and His timing is perfect. The birth of Jesus
reminds us that even in ordinary, humble places, God is doing extraordinary things. This
Christmas, let us pause and reflect on the gift of God with us, Emmanuel, who came to bring
hope, joy, and redemption to all who believe. May we carry gratitude into our daily lives, letting
His love guide our words, actions, and hearts toward others.
REFLECT
How does the fact that Jesus’ coming was spoken about for centuries affect the way you view
the Christmas story?
Mary and Elizabeth responded with faith and joy at the news of Jesus’ coming. What would it
look like for you to rejoice over Jesus this Christmas season?
PRAY
Lord, thank You for being faithful to every promise and for sending Jesus, the Savior long
awaited through generations. Just as Mary and Elizabeth rejoiced at the news of His coming,
help us to rejoice in Him this Christmas season. Fill our hearts with gratitude and joy as we
remember the gift of Your Son. May our lives reflect His love in all we do. Amen.