Read Luke 1:26-38. Mary’s deep, abiding relationship with God is truly a model for all of us, young or old, to emulate. By all accounts Mary didn’t have an easy life. She was a young girl in a society where only men seemed to matter. She was poor and lived in Nazareth, a village that had a reputation for being unremarkable, so she was likewise unremarkable from a worldly perspective. Add to this the fact that when she became supernaturally pregnant by the power of the Holy Spirit, Mary was not yet married—only betrothed—so she knew her pregnancy would create a terrible scandal that could leave her abandoned, ostracized, or worse—stoned to death. Yet, because she had a self-image grounded in God’s Word, she was able to hold her head high—not faking it but trusting in the Lord for her peace. Mary knew the promises God had made to His people in the Old Testament. These were her ancestors, and she shared their hope. So, when the angel Gabriel appeared to her and told her God had chosen her to be the mother of His Son, she humbled herself and accepted God’s will for her life. In our celebrity-crazed culture, people adore the so-called “important people.” But God uses the humble and unknown. He seeks out and calls those with a contrite heart. There are some who try to emulate the immoral, worldly lifestyles of Hollywood celebrities, but God blesses those who are pure in spirit. People may admire the ruthless and arrogant, but God despises such attitudes; He lifts up the humble. For centuries, artists have attempted to capture Mary’s beauty in paintings and in sculptures. But the focus of Scripture is on the beauty of Mary’s holiness. She was striking not because of her physical features or any adornments she may have worn but because of the way she surrendered her life fully and completely to God. Mary knew the miracle of God’s favor—His grace, mercy, and love—and it humbled her so that she delighted to obey. Are you taking this miracle for granted? Don’t lose your passion for the miracle of salvation—the miracle that through Christ, you are favored by God. This Truth will both humble your heart and give you peace as you trust your Lord to sustain you through every circumstance. Prayer: Lord, I am in awe of Your matchless love. Thank You for making me a new creation in Christ. I praise You for Your grace and mercy toward me. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Read Luke 2:25-35. The Holy Spirit had revealed to Simeon that the long-awaited Messiah would come during his lifetime. In fact, the Spirit told Simeon that before he died, he would see the Savior with his very own eyes. And so, Simeon lived his life in the peace of that promise. Simeon’s expectations were not fixed on the movers and the shakers of his time. Instead, his expectations rested on the promises of God. Luke’s gospel tells us just three things about Simeon, the three things God cherished about the man. Simeon was righteous; he was devout; and he was waiting for the consolation of Israel. We know that to be righteous and devout means a person walks in step with God’s commands. But what does it mean that Simeon was “waiting for the consolation of Israel” (Luke 2:25)? It means he was on duty, standing guard, waiting for God to fulfill the promises He had made from Genesis to Malachi. As Simeon held the baby Jesus in his arms that day in the temple, he could look back on Israel’s history—all the way back to God’s promise to Adam and Eve in the garden (see Genesis 3:15)—and say, “Like my ancestors, I have set my expectations firmly and squarely on the promises of God, and now my eyes have seen the fulfillment of God’s promises. I have seen the fulfillment of the hopes and dreams of all previous generations.” Simeon had stood guard and seen the Savior. He could now say, “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation” (v. 29-30). He could now die as he lived—in peace. We live on the other side of Christmas, so we can look to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus and know that our account has been settled. Our sins have been paid for. There is no need to strive or prove ourselves somehow worthy of eternal life. Jesus has already done everything required. He has met every expectation for righteousness on our behalf and has secured our every hope and expectation about the future, for He has gone to prepare a place for us. And so we have a powerful assurance that establishes and sustains our supernatural peace today and every day into eternity. Prayer: Father, thank You for the gift of Your Son, the consolation of Israel. You have grafted me in and adopted me as Your child. I am made new and rejoice in my eternal citizenship that is both now and yet to come. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

For hundreds of years, artists have portrayed Mary the mother of Jesus as a beautiful woman. But the Bible never mentions her physical appearance. However Mary may have looked on the outside, her true beauty came from within: from her holiness, her humility, and her desire to serve God at any cost. Likewise, we are truly beautiful when we respond in humility and awe to the fact that we are treasured and loved by the God who created the entire universe. He loves us so much that He sent His Son to die for us, and He has adopted us into His family to be co-heirs with Christ. That is the amazing news of the Gospel that defines our worth and inspires quiet confidence in us—we belong to God. In today’s culture, people want to emulate the successful. They are intimidated by the powerful and awestruck by the famous. Yet, God despises the proud and uplifts the humble. Scripture tells us that “He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble” and “He mocks proud mockers but shows favor to the humble and oppressed” (Luke 1:52 and Proverbs 3:34). God uses the pure in heart, the unknown, the meek. God uses people like Mary for His work in the world because they know to whom all the glory and honor belong: Almighty God. Despite what the world tells us, it is not outward appearances—our circumstances, surroundings, achievements, or material blessings—that grant us worth. Our worth is found in God. The deeper and richer our relationship with Him, the more beautiful we become, for then we become more like our Savior Jesus Christ. Are you seeking physical beauty or spiritual beauty? Are you seeking success and self-worth based on the world’s standards or God’s standards? What worldly lies have tricked you into seeking worth outside of God? Prayer: Father, thank You for loving me and for reminding me that my true beauty comes from within through Your Spirit, that my worth is found in You. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Read 2 Corinthians 5:18-21. Since Christ’s ascension almost 2,000 years ago, God has chosen to touch hearts through us, His obedient children. Today, it is our great privilege and responsibility to tell others of the greatness of Christ’s love. To be a tool in our Redeemer’s hand, we must be willing to get outside of our comfort zones and take up the ministry of reconciliation. We must make it our aim to be His ambassadors—speaking the Truth to a culture that is blind to the Good News of Christ. Not so long ago, we too were blind—at enmity with God and burdened by the heavy yoke of sin—until somebody told us about Jesus. Now is the time for us to do the same for others. What a tragedy it would be if our loved ones never heard us speak of Christ and all that He has done for us. Let us joyfully proclaim the wonderful news that God came to transform us—His enemies!—into beloved sons and daughters. Though sharing our faith can be daunting, Scripture exhorts us: It is by losing our lives that we find them and by giving that we receive. With Jesus’ help, let us pour out our lives in the service of God and others as we celebrate Jesus coming to us. Prayer: Lord, give me boldness to speak about Your salvation when You bring opportunities for evangelism my way. I know You will give me the words to say if I will just be faithful to speak. Give me love for the lost and wisdom for my conversations. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Read 2 Corinthians 4:16-18. A few years ago, I had a conversation with my neighbor who is not doing well physically. I asked him, “How are you?” and he answered, “Well, I’m just trying to prolong my life—one day at a time.” I wanted to weep for him because I have already shared Christ with him, and he has not responded. He is just barely scraping by, living without real hope. I pray regularly that God opens his spiritual eyes. Each day, we must trust in realities that are unseen—not looking to our bank accounts or our health or our earthly relationships for assurance but fixing our eyes on Jesus and remembering who we are in Him. Only by trusting in Christ can we have the hope, peace, and joy we need to face whatever this broken world throws our way. Only by trusting in Christ can we have peace knowing that our present troubles are truly “light and momentary” compared to the eternal glory that awaits us (2 Corinthians 4:17). Are you trusting in the seen or in the unseen? Our lives are measured not by the physical but by faith. Only those who understand this can live with joy, whether they receive little or much, sorrow or happiness, sickness or health, rejection or acceptance, hatred or love. Prayer: Father, help me trust in You. You are sovereign; You are good; You are love. Thank You for giving me peace, hope, and joy in Jesus Christ. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Read 2 Corinthians 12:6-10. Jesus, God of very God, had an earthly mother so that we might have a heavenly Father. He made Himself human so that we might know everlasting life. And if we are to live for Him now, we must follow Him on the path of finding strength in weakness. On this side of heaven, before Christ returns, it is only by learning to trust in what we cannot see that we can be truly strong. For when we trust in our own abilities, we are trusting in our flesh—which will ultimately fail us and can bear no lasting fruit. Paul’s own weakness—his thorn in his flesh—tormented him, and he pleaded with the Lord three times to have it removed. But God was teaching Paul not to rely on himself but on God (see 2 Corinthians 1:9). Through it all, Paul realized that only by boasting in his weaknesses could Christ’s power rest upon him. Christ came to save people who have come to the end of themselves—who are weary of trusting in their own strength. Where in your life do you currently feel weak? It is in this very area that He wants to magnify Himself. God is a good Father who is ready and willing to come to your aid. His grace is sufficient for you! Prayer: Lord, every moment of the day I need You. And You are there. You will never leave me or forsake me. You are faithful and true. May I glorify You with every breath You give me. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.