Advent Devotional 2025: Part 1
by Bruce Billington
Advent Devotional – Part 1
Over the next four weeks, we will explore Advent—the coming of Christ. We start this first session by focusing on the first great gift of Advent: hope.
Christmas is arguably the biggest secular holiday and celebration in our culture. It brings much joy, but also sadness, as we remember the loved ones we used to celebrate with. For those who are alone, it can feel isolating while everyone else is with family and friends.
However, in every situation, Jesus offers a message of hope. Incredibly, the Lord and King of all creation humbles Himself to come among us, being born into a poor family in a lowly part of a house usually reserved for animals. As a result, He can relate to the humblest and excluded members of humanity.
Jesus came because we are spiritually blind and unable to find our own way. He took on a human body and entered the world because it was the only way that sinners, such as we all are, could be pardoned and set free.
How does this work?
He embraces all of humanity and then takes upon Himself the full weight and punishment for sin, offering us the chance to be reborn and embrace His life instead of ours, thereby transforming us into citizens of a new realm called the Kingdom of God. Remarkably, this was prophesied by Isaiah 700 years before Christ’s birth. Isaiah prophesied the following,
For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this (Isaiah 9:6-7).
Earlier in the chapter, Isaiah tells us that those who walk in darkness will see a great light (Verse 2). So, during this time of darkness, even to the point of death, there is a strong reason for hope because God’s power and incredible wisdom have made a way for us to be restored and redeemed to His glory. Speaking of this, Matthew says,
“THE PEOPLE WHO WERE SITTING IN DARKNESS SAW A GREAT LIGHT, AND THOSE WHO WERE SITTING IN THE LAND AND SHADOW OF DEATH, UPON THEM A LIGHT DAWNED.” Matthew 4:16.
From that moment, Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17). This is not just speaking to the era when Jesus’s incarnation occurred – it is speaking to and calling to every era until He returns at the end of the allotted time. The four titles given by Isaiah – Wonderful Counsellor, Almighty God; Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace – belong to God alone. The God-man, Jesus Christ, came to earth, suffered, died, and then rose again, and invites us to join Him in the work He plans to accomplish on this planet before His return.
Our hope is given in such an amazing way. Our wonderful Saviour was
…pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed (Isaiah 53:5).
God forgives us, accepts us, and places His Holy Spirit within us to renew us from the inside out. How amazing is this? What kind of Christmas present or gift could compete with this? To accept this gift, we must accept that we are saved by grace, follow Jesus, and surrender control of our lives.
But our great hope doesn’t end there. I like the comment from Preaching Today, which says,
Our Hope Is That: Jesus will Bring Forward Good from that Future World into the Mess of this one. Our hope is not just for the life to come; it’s also for this life. Remember: the kingdom is now and not-yet. Jesus can and does bring forward good from the age to come, into “this present evil age,” from heaven to earth.
He calls us to come and join Him in that work.
God bless you.
Bruce Billington