*Above Only Devotional* TUESDAY, DEC 25 *Christmas – The Birth of Our Hope!* _John 3:16-17, Isaiah 9:6_

*Above Only Devotional*

TUESDAY, DEC 25

*Christmas – The Birth of Our Hope!*

_John 3:16-17, Isaiah 9:6_
_For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. *For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace._

Jesus is our hope, sent from God to reveal God's love to us, to rescue us and to bring us into the fullness of the life and will of God for us. Adam's fall brought us death (1Cor.15:22) and put us under the devil's bondage. But Jesus came to make us free, alive and able to rule and reign in life again, Rom.5:17. Our sins are forgiven because Jesus the Lamb of God has taken away the sins of the world. All we are required to do is receive this great love and forgiveness that has already been provided for us. We have been reconciled to God by what Jesus did for us, Rom.5:10.

We are no more separated from God. Before Christ came, we who were Gentiles were without God and we were without hope in this world. We were aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise. But now, we have been brought near by the blood of Jesus, Eph.2:11-14. We have been brought into God's family and been given a better covenant (Heb.8:6) that is established on better promises than what the Israelites previously had with God which was merely a foreshadowing of what was to come. We now have God's life. We now have power over sin, sickness, the devil and all evil. The devil no longer has power over our lives. Jesus became flesh and blood so that he could destroy that power that the devil had over us, Heb.2:14. You are free now! You are healed now! You are blessed now! All because of Jesus! May the joy of the great hope, life and blessings that Jesus came to give us constantly fill your life. Christmas

PRAYER:
I thank You, Generous God, for sending Jesus in the form of Grace and Truth, to manifest Your great love and to give me hope in all areas of my life.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR READING PLAN
SOS 6-8 Galatians 4