December 1st
The Promise Begins
“I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” (Genesis 3:15, ESV)
As we enter into the advent season, may we turn our gaze towards the greatest story and the best news ever told - the gospel. You may think to yourself that we should begin this devotional in Luke chapter one or in the gospel of Matthew. Dear friend, in order to fully grasp the weight of the hope that we now possess in Christ, we must first go to the beginning where we found ourselves in hopelessness.
Genesis 3 is the darkest moment in human history. The only created beings that were made in His own image now stained with sin. Their eyes are opened and what they see isn’t what was promised by the sneaky serpent. They see shame and guilt. They feel fear and embarrassment. All at once, these once foreign feelings now flood over them as they race to cover themselves with a lame attempt of trying to hide what they have done.
When God arrives onto the scene He does something that is unexpected; He gives a promise. Even in humanity’s darkest moment, God promised a Savior for mankind. A Savior that would destroy the tempter and redeem the tempted. He would be the offspring of the deceived and disobedient couple. What a glorious display of God’s rich mercy and good grace! They have hope. We have hope.
Advent is a reminder that hope didn’t start in Bethlehem - it started in Eden. When God removed Adam and Eve’s lame attempt of covering their sin (fig leaves) and clothed them in the skins of an innocent animal, He was giving us a glimpse into the future when that promised child would one day be slain for the sins of the world so that we may be clothed in His righteousness.
Aaron Owens
December 2nd
A Promise to Abraham
“I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Genesis 12:1-3, ESV)
As you continue to study the Bible, you will notice that there are some major figures that stand out as ‘pillars’ of the faith. Christ is the foundation and guys like Abraham, Moses, Elijah, and David are the standouts that are often referenced and honored throughout history.
If you know anything about Abraham he is often referred to as “Father Abraham,” because of the promise given to him in Genesis 12. He is looked at as the father of the nations. If you are into genealogies and tracing your ancestry, one thing is for certain; you are related to Abraham. Guess who else is a descendant of Abraham - Jesus. If you’re really into reading genealogies, Matthew 1 is the genealogy of Jesus and Abraham is the starting line.
Abraham didn’t belong to the nation of Israel when this promise was given. Israel wasn’t even born yet. Abraham had a grandson named Jacob and God eventually changed Jacobs name to Israel. Israel had twelve sons and those twelve sons would make up the twelve tribes of the nation of Israel. Jesus is brought forth from one of those tribes, the tribe of Judah to be exact. But the promise given to Abraham wasn’t that the tribe of Judah would be blessed or that Israel would be blessed. The promise was that all the families of the earth would be blessed. All of Abrahams descendants. Jew and gentile. Jesus is promised to us all. Through Abraham, God promised blessing to all nations — ultimately fulfilled in Christ.
This should help us to look at people through a different lens as we walk around the earth each and every day. Every time you and I lock eyes with someone, may our hearts be reminded that Jesus was the blessed promise for us all. Let us all, being descendants of Abraham, bless the Lord who is faithful to His promise.
Aaron Owens
December 3rd
The Everlasting King
“And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me.” (2 Samuel 7:12-16, ESV)
We in America aren’t familiar with living in a monarchy society. We’ve never had an individual hold the position of king or queen in this country. In fact, that was kind of the point when America was established as a free nation. When the Constitution was written, its framers intentionally created a system that would make it impossible for a king—or anyone like one—to rise up. Power comes from the people, not from royal inheritance.
The nation of Israel didn’t begin as a monarchy either. It was governed by a succession of tribal leaders known as judges. In this system, God was considered the direct ruler. Eventually the people wanted a ruler to lead them against their enemies and appointed Saul as the first king of Israel. From this point on, Israel would go through king after king, defeats, victories, corruption, and order. They had kings that were old and a king that was 7 years old. In other words, the monarchy was very imperfect. Each man who sat on the throne was a sinful man riddled with flaws and failures. There was never a single king that could sit as a king and as a savior.
However, God promised a king whose throne would last forever. He will rule, not only over Israel, but over the whole earth. His countrymen won’t be the only subjects who bow their knee, but every tribe and every tongue will bow and confess that He is Lord. His majesty is unmatched. The train of His robe fills His temple. He is crowned with many crowns. The government is upon His shoulders. There will be no end to His rule. This king left His throne so that He could save His people from their sins. He traded a glorious crown for a crown of thorns. He stooped down from his throne to be nailed to a wooden cross. He laid in a cold tomb for three days and conquered death, hell, and the grave. He now sits at the right hand of His Father with all power and authority given to Him. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords. He is Jesus.
Aaron Owens
December 4th
Light in the Darkness
“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.” (Isaiah 9:2-7, ESV)
Christmas is a season of lights. Houses are glowing with beams of colorful and flashing lights. The branches of our Christmas trees have strands of lights woven into each of them with years of memories hanging on by frail hooks. Stores and malls seem to be a bit brighter as they flash their end-of-year sales and marketing campaigns to consumers. Although the daylight doesn't last as long during this time of year, there is still a brightness that breaks forth from the season.
However, Christmas is also a season of darkness for many people. Grief creeps in with a blanket of sorrow and pain. Depression and anxiety are at an all time high during the final months of the year. Instead of joyous singing there is a melancholy grumbling.
Isaiah 9 is one of the more famous messianic prophecies and for good reason. What a glorious declaration! The light has shone on them. They didn’t see the light because they journeyed long enough through the land of deep darkness and earned the right to be rewarded. The light is coming to them! In total despair, a glorious beam of hope sheds gracious light and evicts the darkness.
Jesus is the light of the world. He said that, “whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” His Word is the lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. He is the gift of light in our darkest hour. The darkness has to flee in His presence. May His majestic light invade every dark cavern and crevice of our hearts today.
Aaron Owens
December 5th
The Humble Root of Jesse
“In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples—of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious.” (Isaiah 11:1-10, ESV)
I used to have rose bushes in my front yard that had grown so tall that we couldn’t see past them when looking out the window in our living room. If you know anything about rose bushes, they are resilient. I would cut them down to ground level and within weeks there was new growth sprouting from the trunk. No matter how much damage I caused to that bush it always grew past the cutting.
The prophet Isaiah uses similar imagery when prophesying of the coming Messiah. In contrast to proud trees that God cuts down is a tender shoot from a seemingly dead stump (David’s dynasty). Isaiah looks beyond his people’s trials to the glorious kingdom that will be established when Messiah comes to reign.
Overlooked, just like David, this shoot wouldn't draw much attention until the time came for His purpose to be revealed. We see a mighty progression take place where the small shoot from Jesse’s stump will one day be the root of Jesse. Strong and victorious. The “root” will become a “banner” for the rallying of the people as the Lord reaches out and gathers His people from the nations.
What else could we take from the prophetic message other than the fact that a stump is typically deemed dead upon first appearances until new life is seen growing out of it. A once dead trunk is now revered as a living organism. Christ laid lifeless in Josephs tomb for three days until Sunday morning when they arrived and saw an empty grave with no trace of death. What happened? He lives!
Aaron Owens
December 6th
The Suffering Servant
“Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed..” (Isaiah 53, ESV)
During this Advent season, as we prepare our hearts for the celebration of Christ’s birth, we must remember why He came. The manger always pointed to the cross. Isaiah reminds us that Jesus wasn’t simply born to teach or inspire—He was born to suffer in our place.
“Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows…” —Isaiah 53:4
Isaiah uses that powerful word “Surely” to stop us in our tracks. We once thought His suffering must have been for something He did. But Advent opens our eyes: He was suffering for us. Before we rejoice in the beauty of salvation, we must face the sobering truth of why Jesus came at all: we needed a Substitute.
“He was wounded for our transgressions… and with His stripes we are healed.” —Isaiah 53:5
This is the Great Exchange: Our sin laid on Him. His righteousness was given to us. Jesus did not die because of what He had done — but because of what we have done. Every lash of the whip, every moment of rejection, every nail driven into His hands was loaded with your sin and mine. This is why the angel said, “He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). The cross wasn’t a tragedy — it was the plan. Isaiah describes Him like a lamb led to slaughter, silent and submissive (Isaiah 53:7). Jesus was not a victim of circumstance—He chose to come. He chose to suffer. He chose the cross. Why? Because love compelled Him.
“All we like sheep have gone astray…” —Isaiah 53:6
We wander. We choose our own way. We forget our Shepherd. But God — in love — has laid all our iniquity on Him. This is the heart of Christmas: Christ came because we couldn’t come to Him.
Advent isn’t just a countdown to Christmas. It’s a call to worship the One who came to die. So today, pause and ask: Have I been wandering? Have I forgotten the cost of my salvation? Will I look again to the Lamb who carried my sin? The cross does not ask for improvement — it calls for surrender. Friend, take hope and rest in this truth: The cross was not an accident — it was God’s eternal purpose for your salvation.
Scott Owens
December 7th
The Birth in Bethlehem
“But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from old, from ancient days.” (Micah 5:2-5, ESV)
Remember getting picked last for the recess basketball pick-up games when you were a kid? Each name getting called, one after another until you’re standing there alone. It isn’t the best feeling in the world let’s be honest. The little town of Bethlehem knows what it’s like to be overlooked and underestimated.
The estimated population of the small village during Jesus’ birth was between 300 and 500 people. It makes sense that there was no vacancy in the inn upon Joseph and Mary’s arrival. Small towns usually don’t have many visitors, let alone hotels. It was one of those towns where everybody knows everybody. It was most commonly known as David’s hometown. It was also known, through the prophets, that this would be the birthplace of the Messiah.
If you were going to pick a city for your Messiah to be born in, maybe you would think of the most grand and royal city to be the host. Jerusalem, Sepphoris, or Capernaum. But God chose the smallest village to be birthing place of His glorious only Son. It was once known as the home of Israels greatest king and now it would be known as the place where the King of kings was born.
This is a great example of how God works. He often works through the small, the unexpected, and the overlooked. These moments amplify His greatness and His glory as the world around gazes upon the miraculous things that He is doing. I can just imagine the amount of people who had journeyed through Bethlehem and didn’t think twice to stop because of its lack of splendor. There may not have been much there, but on that holy night it made room for a young woman and her betrothed husband to give birth to the Savior of the world. God’s grace poured out on Bethlehem. The first city to behold His glory.
Aaron Owens
December 8th
The Messenger Prepares the Way
“Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.” (Malachi 3:1, ESV)
When my wife and I began preparations to start having children we didn’t tell anyone. We wanted the announcement of our pregnancy to be the revealing of this new season of our lives. I remember vividly one weekend sitting in a restaurant with her when suddenly my phone rang. It was my little brother calling. He and my sister-in-law were calling to share with us the news that they were expecting their first child. Our eyes locked and our mouths dropped. They beat us to it. Just a couple of months later, we had the pleasure of announcing that we also were expecting our first child.
Before Mary was told that she would bear a son, her cousin Elizabeth had become pregnant as well. Hers and Zechariahs son wasn’t the Messiah, but his birth was prophesied of along with Jesus’. His purpose was simple and yet so profound—prepare the way of the Lord. His name was John. The locals knew him as ‘John, the baptizer.’ Other’s just knew him as the man who wore camel skins and ate locusts with wild honey. What an image. However, he wasn’t famous for his appearance, instead, he was known as bold preacher of the truth, evangelizing the lost and calling people to repentance. Standing toe to toe with the Pharisees and Sadducees and rebuking them for their hypocrisy, referring to them as a “brood of vipers!”
He spent his days pointing people to Jesus. For this reason he was born. In medieval times, the king would have a herald. This man’s role was to go out into the streets and speak on behalf of the king. He would often deliver news, orders, and occasionally invitations to special events. When he spoke, his objective was simple—alert and inform everyone of the kings commands. John was the herald for Jesus. He came to prepare the way of the Lord so that those who were captivated by the message would be ready to receive the Messiah.
As John was baptizing in the Jordan one day, he looked up onto the banks of the river and saw Jesus stepping into the water and making his way towards him. What came out of John’s mouth was his life’s message—”Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!” He didn't identify Jesus as the healer of our sickness nor did he proclaim Him to be the deliverer from social injustices. That’s not the good news. The good news is that Jesus came to save sinners from their sin, death, and hell. Those who had been with John knew this to be true because they heard his teachings. Therefore, they were ready and prepared for when Jesus stepped onto the scene. In fact, John had his own disciples and when Jesus began His earthly ministry John sent his disciples to follow Jesus. Why? Because his role as the ‘preparer’ was complete. We aren’t called to be followed, but to prepare others to follow Christ.
Aaron Owens
December 9th
Silence Between the Testaments
“I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.” (Psalm 130:5-6, ESV)
One of the new age terms used to describe someone who has stopped receiving calls, texts, and messages out of nowhere from someone is ‘ghosted.’ Just silence. You may reach out in the form of a friendly salutations and get nothing in return. It leaves you wondering what you did or what you might have said to make them not want to speak to you again. All of this pondering leads you to a place of wanting to speak to them all the more.
In the scriptures we see an extended period of time when God was absolutely silent for 400 years. When you open a bible you will see that there are two testaments—an Old Testament and a New Testament. The thin page that separates the two sections represents this quiet period of time between God and humanity. Not a single prophecy was given. There was no visits from heavenly beings to the people of earth. There was nothing. However, just because God was silent didn’t mean that He wasn’t present. His promises would still come to pass. His Word was still active.
It’s easy to become discouraged and desperate when we find ourselves in seasons, of what seems like, God’s silence. It’s important that we remember to be patient. The writer of the 130th Psalm slows everything down and just takes on the posture of waiting. We will find ourselves here often. Waiting on the Lord. Looking towards the horizon everyday longing for the warmth of the sun to embrace us in our anticipation. Remind your soul that just because God is silent doesn't mean he is absent.
The writer held onto the hope we have in Christ through the Word of the Lord. God gave us His Word so that we would never truly sit in silence ever again. When you feel as if the voice of God has become a faint whisper, turn your eyes to the Word and encourage your soul to wait and hold fast to hope. Don’t waste the silence. Sometimes it is in the silence that we learn to listen—to hear. “Faith comes from hearing and hearing from the word of God.” - Romans 10:17.
Aaron Owens
December 10th
The Annunciation
“And Mary said, ‘Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.’” (Luke 1:26-38, ESV)
There’s this strange feeling that wells up inside of you when someone says, “I have some good news and I have some bad news.” You aren’t sure how to respond or which one you want to hear first. Typically we want to hear the bad news first so that the good news sort of eases the blow. Well, when the angel Gabriel approaches Mary in Luke 1, he isn’t coming with good news and bad news, he’s coming with good news and better news. The only thing is that it’s coming at an inconvenient time.
Mary has just recently become betrothed to Joseph. In the jewish culture during this time, marriage had two parts: betrothal (binding agreement) and nissuin (the formal move to the husband’s home). During the betrothal period the two are considered to be a married couple bound by covenant. The woman would continue to live at home with her family for a year until it was time for her to move in with her husband. It was then and only then could they begin to engage in sexual relations with one another. Mary and Joseph are in the first stage of their marriage—the betrothal. She is still a virgin and at home with her family.
Gabriel shares with her that she would carry the Messiah in her womb after the Holy Spirit comes upon her and overshadows her untouched womb. This is great! However, it meant one thing—she was pregnant. You see, unfaithfulness during the betrothal period was considered adultery, carrying the death penalty under the Law. So, even though she has just been given the good news and better news, now she begins to consider what people around her are going to say when she inevitably begins to show that she’s pregnant.
Her response, however, shows us that she is more willing to surrender to God’s will than consider the thoughts and ways of man. Total surrender in humility to the Lord’s plans to use her. She trusted that if God would use her for this purpose then He will see her through to the end. Surrendering to the Lord’s will doesn’t promise a path of ease and comfort, but He does promise His provision and His presence. Mary understood this. She was willing to say “yes” and believe that all things will work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose.
Aaron Owens
December 11th
Joseph’s Obedience
“When Jospeh woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son.” (Matthew 1:18-25, ESV)
The Bible doesn't tell us much about Joseph other than the accounts around Jesus’ birth and young childhood. We know that he was a carpenter and that he was Mary’s husband. That’s about it. In the previous devotional we shed a little light on the conditions of Joseph and Mary’s martial status. There’s no question that young mans world was turned upside down when he learned that his young bride was expecting a child that he did not beget. All of his plans are now out the window. This changes everything.
We know that he would’ve felt pressure from society and from the Law to either stone her or divorce her. However, we see in scripture that Joseph was a gracious and kind man as he wanted to divorce her privately to spare Mary of the shame. God, in His own kindness and mercy, doesn’t leave Joseph in the dark concerning the Christ’s advent. The angel appears to him in a dream and reveals the marvelous truth of Mary’s conception.
Again, we see one who responds to the will of the Lord with humble surrender and faith. This child would not have Joseph’s blood running through His veins, but Joseph understood that this child’s blood would save him from his sin. He faithfully devotes his life to raising the Messiah as his own son. He would teach him the ways of carpentry. He would’ve shown Jesus how to run and play ball. The scriptures tell us that Jesus was submissive to his earthly parents and increased in wisdom and in stature. He remained faithful to Mary, bearing more children and raising a family with her. Joseph had a very important role in the arrival of Jesus Christ. He didn’t have all the answers to the rolodex of questions he must have had, but he trusted God and faithfully served the Lord. His obedience was blessed.
Aaron Owens
December 12th
The Magnificat
“And Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God in my Savior.’” (Luke 1:46-55, ESV)
Mary’s song in Luke 1 is one of Scripture’s clearest windows into what true worship looks like—not the polished, comfortable kind we often imagine, but praise that rises right in the middle of tension, uncertainty, and waiting. Mary stands between promise and fulfillment. God has spoken, but she cannot yet see how everything will unfold. She carries both joy and fear, excitement and unknowns… yet her instinct is not to worry. It is to worship.
Mary begins with a heart anchored in who God is: “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” She isn’t trying to make God bigger—He is already great. She is simply seeing Him as big. Praise, then, is not enlarging God but enlarging our vision of God. When we fix our eyes on His character—His holiness, mercy, faithfulness, and strength—worry begins to shrink.
But Mary’s praise is not only heartfelt; it is intelligent. Her song echoes the Old Testament repeatedly. Her mind is full of Scripture, so her praise is full of truth. Genuine worship is never shallow or detached from God’s Word. The more we know God through Scripture, the deeper and more resilient our praise becomes—especially in seasons of tension.
At the center of her worship is one overwhelming truth: “God my Savior.” Mary marvels that God would look upon her in her lowliness, pour out grace, and include her in His saving plan. She praises not just for blessings but for the greatest gift—salvation itself. All true praise flows from this realization: God has saved us. Everything else is grace upon grace.
Mary’s song challenges us to ask:
Is God big in my eyes, or have my problems grown larger than my praise?
Is my worship rooted in scripture, or is it driven by moments and moods?
Do I praise God only when life is smooth, or also when the road is unclear?
Like Mary, we are invited to choose wonder over worry, truth over emotion, humility over pride, and the Savior over ourselves. And when we do, praise stops being a performance—it becomes a posture. A way of living. A way of seeing God in every season.
May your soul, like Mary’s, learn to say today: “He has done great things for me.”
Scott Owens
December 13th
Zechariah’s Song of Redemption
“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David,” (Luke 1:67-79, ESV)
One of my favorite components of the advent story in scripture is that Zechariahs tongue was bound by silence at the beginning and then we have a moment where he is giving one of the most beautiful prophecies by the end. This, in and of itself, is a redeeming moment. The reasoning behind his punishment of being mute for 9 months was because of his disbelief when the angel of the Lord told him that his wife was pregnant in her old age. Now, he is proclaiming the good news of the coming Messiah.
The word redeem means “to set free by paying a price.” Jesus came to earth to bring deliverance to the captives, salvation to people in bondage to sin and death. Certainly we are unable to set ourselves free. Only Christ could pay the price necessary for our redemption. In scripture, a horn symbolizes power and victory. The picture here is that of an army about to be taken captive, but then help arrives and the enemy is defeated. The enemy is defeated so that he cannot capture more prisoners. It means total victory for the people of God.
The people were sitting in darkness and death, and distress gripped them when Jesus came; but He brought light, life, and peace. It was the dawn of a new day because of the tender mercies of God. The mercies that are new every morning. God calls us today to believe His good news. Those who believe it experience His joy and want to express their praise to Him.
Aaron Owens
December 14th
The Birth of John the Baptist
“And Zechariah said to the angel, ‘How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.’” (Luke 1:5-25, ESV)
If we’re being honest, there are times when we are reading the scriptures and we come across moments like this one where Zechariah is told by an angel of the Lord that he and his wife are going to have a son and we tell ourselves that we wouldn’t react like he did. We fool ourselves if we think we would’ve responded with faith and excitement instead of doubt and confusion. How many times have we questioned God’s calling? How often do we doubt Him instead of believe Him? I’ll help us answer honestly—we do it all the time!
Zechariah’s questioning is valid. He’s not the young buck that he once was and Elizabeth isn’t in her prime childbearing years. Of course he is going to doubt the possibility of these things coming to pass because all he can see is where he is lacking in the face of an impossibility. The same goes for the rest of the world. If you’re facing a situation that is seemingly impossible, all you are going to notice is your inability to achieve. May I say, that’s the point.
It is often in those moments when we are doubting that God graciously reveals to us His marvelous nature. God shuts Zechariah for nine months so that he must watch God keep His word until the day came for that baby boy to be born. “How shall I know this?” said Zechariah. “Well, I’ll show you.” God responds. I believe that over the course of Elizabeths pregnancy, as her belly slowly became more round, Zechariah’s doubt was replaced with faith and belief. God keeps His word, even when we doubt. “His name is John.” A journey that began with a question ends with a declaration.
Aaron Owens
December 15th
The Journey to Bethlehem
“And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David.” (Luke 2:1-5, ESV)
We call this providence. What is providence besides a big theological word? Providence in theological terms is the doctrine that God has a plan and purpose for the world and actively governs all of creation to bring that plan to fruition. From grand cosmic events to the smallest details of everyday life.
Simply put, providence is God actively involved in part of His creation making sure that everything moves in the direction of His grand plan.
So, what does this have to do with Christmas? Everything! Jesus’ story is nothing but God interrupting life. People were justing living life, holding onto plans, dreams, and aspirations. People who had accepted the outcomes of their lives. People who were the lowest on the social ladder. People who held to the highest and most powerful status. People searching, like you and I.
Joseph and Mary had their whole future ahead of them. They planned and prepared for the life any young Jewish couple dreamed of having. That was until God interrupted their plans so that His plans could be carried out. God’s plans are more important than ours. His plans take precedence over ours. In their story, their humanness comes forth but soon fades into their love and devotion for the Lord. Although not easy, God’s plan was so much greater.
God never erases our plans. He simply makes His plan shape our plans in order to achieve a greater purpose. In Joseph and Mary’s case, to bring the Savior of the world to us. Mary and Joseph were still married and they still had other children. God just wove His plan into theirs.
This Christmas season, don’t think that God is asking you to put your plans on hold, but submit to His plans shaping yours. Just remember that what feels like interruptions and inconvenience is actually His providence. God’s hand in on your life making sure that the greater plan is unfolding. Our lower stories are a part of His upper story!
Scott Owens
December 16th
No Room in the Inn
“And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.” (Luke 2:6-7, ESV)
We assume whoever, if there is a whoever, opened the door when Joseph was seeking a place for Mary to deliver Jesus into the world and basically closed the door in their faces. That’s what we do, jump to the negative conclusions.
We have to understand normal Jewish custom of guest rooms in the 1st century. Homes commonly had a guest room. Many Jewish homes included a kataluma, best translated as guest room rather than “inn.” This was often an upper room or a separate space within the family home used for visiting relatives or pilgrims. Hospitality was a strong cultural obligation, especially toward family.
Guest rooms were not commercial inns. Commercial inns (pandocheion) existed but had a poor reputation and are referred to with a different Greek word (see Luke 10:34). Luke’s choice of kataluma suggests a private home, not a public inn.
Bethlehem was crowded due to the census, and guest rooms would have filled quickly. It was normal for extended family to stay together, so space was limited.
The main living area doubled as animal shelter that typical homes had. A lower section where animals were brought in at night. Feeding troughs (mangers) built into the floor or wall. When the guest room was unavailable, the family living space was still usable, which explains the presence of a manger without implying abandonment or rejection.
The normal Jewish custom was to host guests in a designated room within the family home. Luke 2:7 indicates that this guest room was already full, not that Mary and Joseph were turned away from an inn. Jesus was born in a crowded but hospitable household setting, consistent with ordinary Jewish domestic life of the time.
The point here is obvious—we all have crowded lives. Demands, schedules, ball-games, meetings, and whatever else we cram into a calendar that takes up room. It’s not open rejection of Jesus, but overcrowded lives we feel are necessary to seem productive and successful. Christmas should be a time to declutter and provide for Jesus the best place in our lives not secondary place because everything else has occupied space in our lives. The question of the day is this, what needs to go to the guest room for Jesus to have the best place in your life?
Scott Owens
December 18th
The Shepherds visit
“And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.” (Luke 2:15-20, ESV)
In first-century Judea, shepherds were common figures, especially around Bethlehem, an area with pastureland suitable for sheep. Historically, shepherding was an ancient occupation in Israel and carried strong biblical associations with figures like Abraham, Moses, David, and with God himself as Israel’s shepherd (Psalm 23).
By the time of Luke 2, however, shepherds often held a low social status. Their work kept them outdoors for long periods, which could make strict observance of purity laws difficult, and they were sometimes viewed with suspicion considered socially marginal.
When someone is described as marginal, it means they live on the edges of society rather than at its center. More specifically, a marginal person or group:
• Has low social status or power
• Is often overlooked, excluded, or undervalued
• Has limited access to influence, respect, or resources
• Maybe viewed with suspicion or prejudice by the wider community
In the context of Luke 2, saying shepherds were marginal means they were not socially important or respected. They lived and worked outside towns, had little influence, and were often ignored—making it especially meaningful that God chose them to receive the announcement of Jesus’ birth first.
In 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.
God chose the least expected people to be the first voices to tell the “Good News” of Jesus. After the shepherds spent time adoring this Christ child, their next move was telling the world! You do not have to be someone who knows a lot of theology or a Bible scholar. God uses people who know the grace of God by experience. We are the least likely to succeed by earths standards, but heaven uses all kinds of people to spread the “Gods News” of Jesus. What I love about this story is the reaction from the town folk.
Luke 2:18, “And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.” If you think that your life is of no value to God, too many mistakes, bad choices, to many failures. You feel marginalized. Look at the shepherds and follow their example. Spend time today worshiping the Christ and then tell someone about His amazing grace!
Scott Owens