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December 25

Bible Reading: John 3:16; 2 Corinthians 8:9, 9:15; 1 Timothy 1:15

I have a friend who always knows how many days it is until Christmas. For him, the holiday isn’t just about the festivities but about its profound meaning and message. If we are to celebrate Christmas as God intended, we must first understand why it exists.

I once heard a tragic story about a mother hosting a birthday party for her one-year-old son. As guests arrived, she placed their jackets on the bed where her baby slept. When the celebration began, the baby was found smothered beneath the coats—the very reason for the gathering was forgotten. Similarly, we risk losing sight of the real reason for Christmas amidst the holiday bustle.

As D.L. Moody says, “The main thing is keeping the main thing the main thing.” So, what is the “main thing” about Christmas? Growing up in a non-Christian home, my family celebrated Christmas with decorations, delicious food, and gifts—my favorite part. Yet, I never understood why there was Christmas.

Some argue that we shouldn’t celebrate it all, because of its supposed pagan origins or because Jesus likely wasn’t born on December 25th. But the problem isn’t in celebrating; it’s in celebrating without understanding its purpose.

The Bible provides the answer: Christmas is about God saving sinners, as 1 Timothy 1:15 succinctly declares, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.”

He Came Deliberately.  Jesus, the eternal Son of God, came by design, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies (Luke 24:44). Though rich, He became poor for our sake (2 Corinthians 8:9). He left heaven’s glory and entered our broken world, motivated by God’s love (John 3:16). Christmas is a deliberate display of God’s grace, manifest in Christ.

He Came to Save.  From His birth, Jesus was destined to die. Myrrh, a gift from the wise men, symbolized this destiny. Simeon foretold it (Luke 2:35), Jesus predicted it (Mark 8:31), and He embraced it (Luke 9:51). His death wasn’t an unfortunate end, but the very purpose of His coming (Acts 2:23). He came to bear our sins (2 Corinthians 5:21), turning His cradle into a pathway to the cross, and a gateway for salvation.

He Came for Sinners. We are all sinners (Romans 3:23), deserving judgment (Romans 6:23). Yet, Jesus offers forgiveness and new life through faith in Him. Christmas is the celebration of this gift—God’s indescribable grace (2 Corinthians 9:15). Paul, once a persecutor of Christians, exemplifies this transformation. If God could save him, He can save anyone.

A.W. Tozer summarized it well: “Why did Christ come? … That He might make worshipers out of rebels and restore us to the place of worship we were created for.”  The “why” of Christmas is simple: Jesus came to rescue sinners and transform them into devoted worshipers. If we miss this truth, we miss the point of Christmas. Have you trusted in Him? If not, don’t wait (Acts 16:31). If you have, you already know why.

Jesus came to rescue sinners and transform them into devoted worshipers.

THOU DIDST LEAVE THY THRONE
Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy kingly crown,
When Thou camest to earth for me;
But in Bethlehem’s home was there found no room
For Thy holy nativity.
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
There is room in my heart for Thee.

Heaven’s arches rang when the angels sang,
Proclaiming Thy royal degree;
But of lowly birth didst Thou come to earth,
And in great humility.
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
There is room in my heart for Thee.

The foxes found rest, and the birds their nest
In the shade of the forest tree;
But Thy couch was the sod, O Thou Son of God,
In the deserts of Galilee.
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
There is room in my heart for Thee.

Thou camest, O Lord, with the living word
That should set Thy people free;
But with mocking scorn, and with crown of thorn,
They bore Thee to Calvary.
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
There is room in my heart for Thee.

When the heavens shall ring, and the angels sing,
At Thy coming to victory,
Let Thy voice call me home, saying “Yet there is room,
There is room at My side for thee.”
My heart shall rejoice, Lord Jesus,
When Thou comest and callest for me.

December 24

Bible Reading: Psalm 31:19, 34:8, 119:68; James 1:17; Romans 8:28

The words from the hymn “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” written by Robert Robinson in the 1700s, express a deep longing for God’s goodness to bind our wandering hearts to Him:

“Let Thy goodness like a fetter; Bind my wandering heart to Thee.”

Robert’s life wasn’t easy. Orphaned at five, he struggled until hearing a sermon by George Whitefield that led to his salvation. Despite his challenges in ministry, he wrote these words of hope. Life often brings hardship, as I’ve personally experienced with Laura’s cancer and my work as a hospice chaplain. Yet, even in tough times, God’s goodness remains steadfast.

A. W. Tozer described God’s goodness as “a disposition to be kind, benevolent, and full of goodwill toward men.” God’s goodness is not limited—it’s infinite and unchanging. In times of trouble, we can find comfort in the fact that God is always good. As Psalm 119:68 reminds us, “Thou art good, and Thou doest good.” This truth is a foundation that we can rely on, especially in difficult seasons. God’s goodness has already touched our lives, and He desires to fully satisfy us with His blessings.

Even in life’s trials, God’s goodness can bring good out of bad. Joseph’s story is a prime example. Sold into slavery, falsely accused, and imprisoned, Joseph faced many hardships. Yet, through it all, he trusted God, and ultimately, God used his circumstances to save many during a famine, as he declared to his brothers: “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good (Genesis 50:20).” Similarly, the cross—though a moment of extreme suffering—shows God’s ability to bring the greatest good from the greatest evil: through Jesus’ death and resurrection, sinners are saved. God is good, and His goodness brings both hope and restoration.

“Thou art good, and Thou doest good.”—Psalm 119:68

GOD IS SO GOOD
God is so good;
God is so good;
God is so good;
God’s so good to me.

God cares for me;
God cares for me;
God cares for me;
God’s so good to me.

God loves me so;
God loves me so;
God loves me so;
God’s so good to me.

God is so good;
God is so good;
God is so good;
God’s so good to me.

December 23

Bible Reading: Daniel 2:20-23; Ephesians 1:11

An organizational chart in a company outlines relationships and authority, with the person at the top in charge of everything. In the universe, that authority belongs to God, the Creator, who rules with absolute power and wisdom, directing everything according to His will and purposes.

This truth is both comforting and difficult to understand. Many struggle with questions like, “If God is sovereign, why did He allow sin, death, and suffering?” A. W. Tozer addressed this by explaining that while the origin of sin remains mysterious, God, in His sovereign wisdom, allows evil in limited areas of creation, knowing its influence is temporary and confined.

Another common question concerns the balance between God’s sovereignty and human responsibility. How can God be in control and still hold people accountable for their actions? This question has sparked debate, leading to theological divides. The Bible, however, shows that God often uses human choices—good or sinful—to fulfill His divine plan (see Genesis 50:20 and Acts 2:23).

Joel Beeke illustrated this balance by comparing the doctrines of sovereignty and responsibility to parallel train tracks that seem to merge in the distance. Though we cannot fully understand this mystery in this life, we are called to hold both truths in balance.

Above all, we can take comfort in knowing that God is in control of the universe. Humanity is not adrift; God is guiding it precisely to His intended destination. As Tozer says, “We know that God will fulfill every promise made to the prophets; we know that sinners will someday be cleansed out of the earth; we know that a ransomed company will enter into the joy of God and that the righteous will shine forth in the kingdom of their Father; we know that God’s perfections will yet receive universal acclamation, that all created intelligences will own Jesus Christ as Lord to the glory of God the Father, that the present imperfect order will be done away, and a new heaven and a new earth will be established forever.”

“Cheer up, Christian!  Things are not left to chance: no blind fate rules the world.  God hath purposes, and those purposes are fulfilled.  God hath plans, and those plans are wise, and never can be dislocated.”—Charles Spurgeon

GOD MOVES
God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform
He plants His footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm
Deep in His dark and hidden mines
With never-failing skill
He fashions all His bright designs
And works His sovereign will

So God we trust in You
O God we trust in You

O fearful saints new courage take
The clouds that you now dread
Are big with mercy and will break
In blessings on your head
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense
But trust Him for His grace
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face

So God we trust in You
O God we trust in You
When tears are great
And comforts few
We hope in mercies ever new
We trust in You

God’s purposes will ripen fast
Unfolding every hour
The bud may have a bitter taste
But sweet will be the flower
Blind unbelief is sure to err
And scan His work in vain
God is His own interpreter
And He will make it plain

December 20

Bible Reading: Exodus 15:1-18; Job 42:2; Ephesians 1:19-23; Psalm 121:1-2

The sun’s power output is staggering—382.8 septillion watts—but it pales in comparison to the power released in a gamma ray burst (GRB) from a supernova. The most powerful GRB ever recorded in September 2008 could have provided the entire Earth with enough power for 13.8 octillion years. That’s a mind-boggling amount of energy! Yet, the One who created the stars and all things is infinitely more powerful.

God is omnipotent, meaning He has the power to do anything He desires. As Stephen Charnock says, “The power of God is that ability and strength whereby He can bring to pass whatsoever He pleases.” His omnipotence is evident throughout Scripture. The creation of the world (Romans 1:20), the deliverance of Israel from Egypt (Exodus 15:6-7), and the victory of Jesus over sin, death, and the devil (Ephesians 1:19-23) all testify to God’s power.

In Ephesians 1:19, Paul prays that believers will realize “the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe.” This isn’t just a theological idea—it has practical significance for believers. God’s omnipotence is shown most clearly in salvation, where He saves us from sin and promises to present us faultless before His glory.

The Bible repeatedly reminds us of what God is able to do. He is able to:

• Make us stand (Romans 14:4)
• Establish us (Romans 16:25)
• Keep us from falling (Jude 24)
• Abound grace toward us (2 Corinthians 9:8)
• Guard what we’ve committed to Him (2 Timothy 1:12)
• Build us up (Acts 20:32)
• Transform our bodies (Philippians 3:21)
• Save us completely (Hebrews 7:25)
• Do more than we ask or think (Ephesians 3:20)

As Romans 8:31 declares, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Charles Spurgeon put it best: “O my soul, what can destroy thee if Omnipotence be thy helper? Rest thou secure. If Jesus is thine all prevailing King, and hath trodden thine enemies beneath his feet; if sin, death, and hell are vanquished by him, and thou art represented in him, by no possibility canst thou be destroyed.”

“The power of God is that ability and strength whereby He can bring to pass whatsoever He pleases.”—Stephen Charnock

I SING THE MIGHT POW’R OF GOD
I sing the mighty pow’r of God,
that made the mountains rise,
That spread the flowing seas abroad,
and built the lofty skies.

I sing the wisdom that ordained
the sun to rule the day;
The moon shines full at His command,
and all the stars obey.

I sing the goodness of the Lord,
who filled the earth with food,
Who formed the creatures through the Word,
and then pronounced them good.

Lord, how Thy wonders are displayed,
where’er I turn my eye,
If I survey the ground I tread,
or gaze upon the sky.

There’s not a plant or flow’r below,
but makes Thy glories known,
And clouds arise, and tempests blow,
by order from Thy throne;

While all that borrows life from Thee
is ever in Thy care;
And everywhere that we can be,
Thou, God, art present there.

December 19

Bible Reading: Psalm 139:7-12; Jeremiah 23:24

Corrie and Betsie ten Boom risked their lives to hide Jews during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. When the Nazis discovered their efforts, the two sisters, in their middle years, were sent to a concentration camp. There, they endured unimaginable suffering, yet in the midst of such horrors, they ministered hope to countless fellow prisoners. Their barracks became a place of Bible study, and the message of God’s love flourished even in the most dire of circumstances.

Betsie, however, grew gravely ill and was transferred to a prison hospital. As she lay on the floor of the facility, she whispers to Corrie, “Tell people what we’ve learned here… there is no pit so deep that God’s love is not deeper still.” Betsie died the next day. Then, through an inexplicable clerical error, Corrie was miraculously released. Following her release, she forgave the guards who had held her captive. Through her books and speaking tours, Corrie touched millions of lives. She once said, “I’ve experienced His presence in the deepest, darkest hell that men can create… I have tested the promises of the Bible, and believe me, you can count on them.”

Corrie and Betsie’s story is a profound testimony to the truth that God is always present, no matter the circumstances. There is no place in God’s creation where He is not. As King David wrote in Psalm 139:7-10, there is no place one can go to escape God’s presence. Whether in the highest heavens or the depths of the earth, God is always with us.

It is important to note that God is not in everything, as some forms of pantheism suggest. Pantheism posits that everything is part of an all-encompassing god. Instead, the Bible teaches that God, in His person, is Spirit (John 4:24) and is present everywhere in His creation. As Paul tells the people of Athens on Mars Hill, “In Him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28).

For those who have accepted Christ, God’s presence is not only universal but also personal. Through the Holy Spirit, believers are never truly alone. Whether we are at home, at work, or enduring hardship, the Spirit of God is with us, offering comfort and strength (John 14:17; 1 Corinthians 3:16).

While God’s presence is a great comfort to those who have chosen to follow Him, it also carries a sobering truth for those who reject Him. The Bible warns that, when God’s judgment comes, no one will be able to hide from His sight (Amos 9:2-4). But for those who trust in Jesus Christ, there is refuge in His love. Jesus, the One who left His heavenly home to dwell among us, died for our sins and rose again, offering salvation and bringing us to God (1 Corinthians 15:3-4; 1 Peter 3:18).

“I’ve experienced His presence in the deepest, darkest hell that men can create… I have tested the promises of the Bible, and believe me, you can count on them.”—Corrie ten Boom

OMNIPRESENCE OF GOD
Father of spirits, natures’s God,
Our inmost thoughts are known to thee;
Thou, Lord, canst hear each idle word,
And every private action see.

Could we, on morning’s swiftest wings,
Pursue our flight through trackless air,
Or dive beneath deep ocean’s springs,
Thy presence still would meet us there.

In vain may guilt attempt to fly,
Concealed beneath the pall of night;
One glance from thy all-piercing eye
Can kindle darkness into light.

Search thou our hearts, and there destroy
Each evil thought, each secret sin,
And fit us for those realms of joy,
Where nought impure shall enter in.

December 18

4:13.Bible Reading: Psalm 139; Hebrews 4:13.

An Arab proverb states:

He who knows not, and knows not he knows not, is a fool; shun him.
He who knows not, and knows he knows not, is simple; teach him.
He who knows, and knows not he knows, is asleep; awaken him.
He who knows, and knows he knows, is wise; follow him.

The one who truly knows understands that his own knowledge is infinitesimally small compared to the vast knowledge of God. Theologians call this attribute “omniscience” — the all-encompassing knowledge of God. A. W. Tozer described it this way: “God knows instantly and effortlessly all matter, all minds, all beings, all laws, all thoughts, all mysteries, all feelings, every secret, all good and evil, heaven and hell.”

King David recognized this profound truth. In Psalm 139, he acknowledged that God knew everything about him — his thoughts, actions, and words — even before he spoke them. He marvels, “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it” (Psalm 139:6). God, the Creator of the universe, loves us, knows us intimately, and seeks after us.

Hebrews 4:13 reinforces this: “And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” For those who reject the gospel, God’s omniscience is a fearful reality. They have no place to hide or defense before His judgment.

But for those who have sought refuge in Christ, God’s knowledge is a comfort. A. W. Tozer’s words remind us: “To us who have fled for refuge, how sweet is the knowledge that our Heavenly Father knows us completely… no enemy can make an accusation stick, no forgotten skeleton will be exposed, no weakness will turn God away from us. He knew us utterly before we knew Him and called us in full knowledge of everything against us.”

In Christ, the God who knows all about us loves us completely. This is a wonderful truth worth embracing (Romans 8:33-39).

The God who knows all about me loves me unconditionally!

GOD OMNISCIENT
God omniscient, God all-wise,
With thy ever-searching eyes,
Look within me, view my heart;
Keep me pure in ev’ry part.

Refrain:
God of love, God of light,
Guide my trusting soul aright;
God of wisdom, God of pow’r,
Be thou with me ev’ry hour.

God almighty, God of pow’r,
Be thou near me ev’ry hour;
Grace and glory to me give,
In thy might within me live.

God unchanging, God so dear,
God afar, and yet so near,
In thy majesty so fair,
Thou art present ev’rywhere.

God of holiness divine,
Let thy glory in me shine;
Like thine image let me be,
Pure as heaven’s crystal sea.

God eternal, God most high,
God of truth, who cannot lie,
Round about me cast thy charms,
Underneath me be thine arms.

December 17

Bible Reading: Psalm 102:25-28; Hebrews 13:8: James 1:17

In January 2017, my wife Laura was diagnosed with Stage IV Metastatic Cancer. That diagnosis dramatically altered our lives. I retired, we sold our home and moved to be closer to our grandkids. We were forced to adapt to a new place and lifestyle.

Since June 2021, as a part-time hospice chaplain, I’ve said farewell to over 100 patients. Their families also faced the challenge of responding to terminal diagnoses and adjusting their lives to dramatic changes.

Life is filled with changes, but one comforting truth is that God does not change. He is unchanging in His perfection. His omnipotence means He cannot grow stronger or weaker. His wisdom, love, and knowledge remain constant. While we may experience bad days, mood swings, or aging, God’s nature and attributes are eternal. His purpose, promises, and Word remain steadfast: “The grass withers, and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever” (Isaiah 40:8). Even the heavens and the earth will pass away, but God remains the same (Psalm 102:25-28).

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). The same Jesus who brought you “out of darkness into His marvelous light” is now interceding for you at God’s right hand and will one day transform your body to be like His (1 Peter 2:9; Romans 8:4; Philippians 3:21). This is deeply reassuring.

A. W. Tozer wrote, “What peace it brings to the Christian’s heart to realize our Heavenly Father never differs from Himself. In coming to Him, we need not wonder if we will find Him in a receptive mood… Today, this moment, He feels toward His creatures exactly as He did when He sent His only Son to die for mankind.”

“Yet, in the maddening maze of things, and tossed by storm and flood, to one fixed trust my spirit clings; I know that God is good!”–John Greenleaf Whittier

IMMORTAL, INVISIBLE, GOD ONLY WISE
Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
in light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
almighty, victorious, thy great name we praise.

Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,
nor wanting, nor wasting, thou rulest in might;
thy justice like mountains high soaring above
thy clouds, which are fountains of goodness and love.

To all life thou givest, to both great and small;
in all life thou livest, the true life of all;
we blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree,
and wither and perish but naught changeth thee.

Great Father of glory, pure Father of light,
thine angels adore thee, all veiling their sight;
all praise we would render, O help us to see
‘tis only the splendor of light hideth thee.

December 16

Bible Reading: Psalm 145:3; Isaiah 55:6-9; Romans 11:33-36

We humans have limits. There’s only so fast we can run or swim, and only so much we can carry or accomplish. Our cars, computers, and even our own endurance are all bound by limitations. The very length of our lives is finite.

It’s difficult to fathom a God without limits. We tend to think of Him in human terms, often “putting God in a box,” as A.W. Tozer pointed out. We create a god in our image—one who is predictable and understandable, but not transcendent.

Because God is infinite, He is immeasurable and without limits. His transcendence goes beyond simply being greater than us—it exists in an infinite realm that is beyond our comprehension. We have measurements for things like length, weight, volume, speed, and power, but these are meaningless when it comes to understanding the boundless nature of God.

God is infinite. His being, His knowledge, His power has no boundaries. His thoughts and ways are higher than ours, as far as the heavens are from the earth (Isaiah 55:8-9). His love surpasses all understanding (Ephesians 3:18-19), and His forgiveness is as far-reaching as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12). Nothing is too hard for Him (Jeremiah 32:17), and He saves to the uttermost (Hebrews 7:25). The peace He gives surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7). Truly, our infinite God works “far more abundantly than all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20).

In his book Your God is Too Small, J.B. Phillips explores how we often reduce God to something smaller and more manageable. But we are called to trust the Holy Spirit to renew our minds and align our thinking with the truth of God’s Word. 

“How completely satisfying to turn from our limitations to a God who has none.”—A. W. Tozer

INFINITE GOD, TO THEE WE RAISE
Infinite God, to Thee we raise
Our hearts in solemn songs of praise,
By all Thy works on earth adored,
We worship Thee, the common Lord;
The everlasting Father own,
And bow our souls before Thy throne.

Thee all the choir of angels sings,
The Lord of hosts, the King of kings;
Cherubs proclaim Thy praise aloud,
And seraphs shout the triune God;
And, Holy, holy, holy, cry,
Thy glory fills both earth and sky!

God of the patriarchal race,
The ancient seers record Thy praise,
The goodly apostolic band
In highest joy and glory stand;
And all the saints and prophets join
To extol Thy majesty divine.

Head of the martyr’s’ noble host,
Of Thee they justly make their boast;
The church, to earth’s remotest bounds,
Her heavenly founder’s praise resounds;
And strives, with those around the throne,
To hymn the mystic Three in One.

Father of endless majesty,
All might and love they render Thee;
Thy true and only Son adore,
The same in dignity and power;
And God the Holy Ghost declare,
The saints’ eternal comforter.

December 13

Bible Reading: Exodus 3:14-15; Isaiah 44:24; Acts 17:24-25; Colossians 1:16-17

God is self-existent and self-sufficient, needing nothing outside Himself for His life and being. The question “Who created God?” is answered with a resounding “No one.” God existed alone, self-contained and self-satisfied, before creation. As Arthur W. Pink writes, “‘In the beginning, God’ (Genesis 1:1), when there was no heaven, earth, or angels—just God, from everlasting.”

There was no heaven, where His glory is now particularly manifested. There was no earth to engage His attention. There were no angels to sing His praises; no universe to be upheld by the word of His power. There was nothing, no one, but God; and that, not for a day, a year, or an age, but “from everlasting.”

Creation, including the universe, angels, and humanity, added nothing to God’s essential nature. God is unchanging (Malachi 3:6), and He had no obligation or necessity to create; He did so solely out of His sovereign will for His glory (Ephesians 1:11).

In contrast, humans are neither self-existent nor self-sufficient. Abraham Maslow’s “Hierarchy of Needs” outlines the basic necessities for human survival and self-actualization, emphasizing our dependence on the Creator. As A. W. Tozer notes, “To stay alive every created thing needs some other created thing, and all things need God. To God alone nothing is necessary.”

Sin, at its core, is rebellion, often manifesting as the belief that we can exist independently of God. In today’s secular world, many live as though the universe revolves around them, only to face frustration when the universe doesn’t comply.

Though God needs nothing from us, He created us in His image and sent His Son to save us from sin (John 3:16; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4). By His grace, He calls us to serve Him, having prepared good works for us to do (Ephesians 2:10). The self-sufficient Creator, who needs nothing, deserves our worship.

“To stay alive every created thing needs some other created thing, and all things need God. To God alone nothing is necessary.”—A. W. Tozer

ALL POWERFUL, SELF-EXISTENT GOD
All-powerful, self-existent God,
Who all creation dost sustain!
Thou wast, and art, and art to come;
And everlasting is Thy reign.

Fix’d and eternal as Thy days,
Each glorious attribute divine,
Thro’ ages infinite, shall still
With undiminish’d lustre shine.

Fountain of being! Source of good!
Immutable dost Thou remain;
Nor can the shadow of a change
Obscure the glories of Thy reign.

Earth may with all her powers dissolve,
If such the great Creator’s will;
But Thou for ever art the same;
“I Am” is Thy memorial still.