A Light for the Gentiles-Advent 7, 2025

Consider the humility of Jesus.  He created everything that has been created, yet He remembered a covenant He didn’t have to make and rescued not only His Chosen People through whom the covenant is fulfilled, but also the Gentiles, as it is written, for “those who did not ask for Me; I was found by those who did not seek Me. To a nation that did not call on My name, I said, ‘Here am I, here am I.’” Isaiah 65:1.

Jesus is the Light of the World, fulfilling Scripture prophesied by Isaiah, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.” (Isaiah 9:2)

Principle:  Our Creator, Our Light, Our Redeemer—these are among the reasons we worship Him.

Aim: To humbly worship He who humbled Himself to save us.

At Christmas, a prayer: Lord, on Christmas Eve, we celebrate You with lighted candles and singing “Silent Night.”   Help us to see the miraculous circumstances that the Father designed so that Your birth as the Light of the World would be realized on earth and would declare the fullness of God the Father’s love and care for us.  You, Lord Jesus, were born and placed in a bed of straw surrounded by animals, far from the mansions of power. You have eternally been powerful in being, yet You came to us helpless as a baby.  Your humility is something so beyond our comprehension, that You would give up everything (power, status, riches) and be the Light of the world who gives light to all men, including those who would reject You … even as You paid for human sins with Your blood.  You came to die, it’s such a sobering thought, Lord.  But we are eternally grateful that Your Light shines on forever in the hearts of those forgiven.  We praise You!  Amen.

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Acknowledging inquiries about an entire season’s devotionals for your study group’s planning purposes, Seminary Gal’s prior seasons’ Advent devotionals can be accessed via the search feature to the right and are as follows:  

• “Visitation Principles” was the theme of last Advent’s devotional series. It delved into reasons Jesus came as outlined in the Book of Hebrews. They are archived beginning December 1, 2024.
• “From the Jews for the World” was an important devotional exploration of how Jesus’ Jewish heritage was necessary for the salvation of Gentiles, too. It is archived beginning December 3, 2023.
• “Awaken Remnant” was the devotional topic for 2022. It began November 27, 2022, and highlighted the remnant found throughout Scripture as evident in Jesus’ lineage.
• The multi-faceted Interlude between the promise of a Deliverer and the birth of our Messiah and King was the theme of 2021’s devotional series. It is archived beginning November 28, 2021.
• 2020’s Devotional Series Divine Intervention began on November 29, 2020 and explored God’s activity on behalf of a hurting world and nations in tumult– Intervention for you and for me when our status as sinners required nothing short of a miracle.
• God’s Christmas list explored what might be on God’s Christmas list, learning what He wants from us. It began December 1, 2019.
• Storyteller began December 2, 2018 and entered into the Christmas story through its telling.
• The 2017 series Still Christmas, began December 3, 2017 and was the Advent complement to the Lenten series, Be Still and Know that I AM God.
• The 2016 season devotionals were called “Timeless: The Message of Christmas for All Ages” and explored how the message of Christmas is timeless truth, for all ages of people, and for all ages at all times.  Timeless hope, encouragement, grace, peace, and love as we looked into the Word, saw the face of our Lord Jesus, and experienced restoration in His presence.  His goodness and His Gospel are truly Timeless. The 2016 devotionals began November 27, 2016.
• The 2015 season devotionals were titled Incarnation and involved digging deep–and yes, I mean deep– in this important mystery of Christian theology.  They began November 29, 2015.
• Carol Me, Christmas! remains one of my most popular offerings and tells the Christmas story through our most beloved Christmas hymns and carols.  You can access all of the numbered devotionals from 2014 via the archives.  They began November 30, 2014.
• The 2013 series was Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up in Person and examined the Prologue to the Gospel of John.  It began December 1, 2013.
• The 2012 series focused on Expecting the Unexpected…the unexpected, unlikely, and uniquely divine qualities of God’s perfect plan outlined in Luke’s account of the Christmas story.  It began December 1, 2012.