Christmas Advent Devotional – Day 3
Advent – Day 3
A life of purpose. Day 3 of our Advent devotional will delve into the subject of purpose with regards to Christ’s birth. The previous devotional looked at the role of faith in our walk with Christ. Today we see how there is purpose in all that God does. The word Advent means “coming,” and we are taking time to reflect on the birth of Jesus, as well as His second coming. We will continue in the book of Matthew, picking up where we left off yesterday.
Scripture Reading: Matthew 1:21-23
21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” 22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”.
Devotional Thoughts
When the angel visited Joseph in a dream to discourage him from divorcing the pregnant Mary, the angel stated the purpose of the child’s birth. The angel mentioned the name that was to be given: Jesus; and stated the purpose of the child, which was to save men from their sins. Through this, we see another Old Testament prophecy being fulfilled from Isaiah 7:14: Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.
In the most awkward of seasons, Mary and Joseph found themselves in the center of God’s will, accomplishing God’s purpose. Our lives are not without purpose. Just as the name of Christ was not random, but filled with the intent of His purpose, your life and where you find yourself is full of purpose. There are times when our purpose seems clear to us, and there are times when we don’t have the clarity we seek. There are even times when we may feel that our existence is without purpose. That is never true. As we transition from one year into the next, it is a good time to spend some time alone with God, asking him to bring clarity to your purpose, and asking him to use you to accomplish all that He intended for you.
Christ – God is Salvation
Two names of the Lord are revealed in this portion of scripture: Jesus and Immanuel. Jesus is the same name in Greek as Joshua, which in it’s earlier Hebrew transliteration is Yehoshua, meaning “God is Salvation.” The name eventually became Yeshua. The name Immanuel adds to the purpose of the birth of this special child, which is that God will live among us, with us, and in us. This is one of the amazing mysteries of our Faith, that a great God will choose to live and express Himself through man. First, He saves us from our sins, and then He dwells in us. Today, He stands at the door and knocks on the door of our heart, asking us to open our heart to him that He may dwell with us.
Prayer
Dear God, I thank you that I am unique, and here by your design. Forgive me for the times I have allowed negative thoughts and low esteem drown the sacredness of the purpose for which you created me. I open the door of my heart to you. Help me to live a life that is a full expression of you dwelling in me. Help me to understand my purpose and to walk in all the fullness of it. I give you all the glory. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Previous Devotionals
Christmas Advent Devotional Day 1.
Christmas Advent Devotional Day 2
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