ADVENT REFLECTION VERSE
2 Corinthians 9:15 (ESV)
“Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!”
Reflect on the indescribable gift of Jesus Christ. Write about the things you are grateful for, particularly the spiritual gifts and blessings that have come from knowing Jesus.
Thanks be to God for His inexpressible gift!
For God SO loved the world that He gave us His only son. Do you love someone enough to give them your child? I know I couldn’t. This is amazing love and an unimaginable gift! What a gift, what a blessing!! His love came in the form of Jesus Christ. What a wonderful gift that none of us deserve. God loves us so much that He gave us the greatest gift He could, His Son, Jesus. What love He has for us, we are all sinners but we are His children too. What a blessing that is!
God’s grace is another wonderful gift we can enjoy. Grace by definition is something that is unmerited and freely given. We do not deserve God’s grace and yet being His children He gives His grace to us freely. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the grace of God-not by works, so that no one can boast.” Salvation is a gift from God. We don’t do anything for it, God freely gives it to us. God’s grace empowers us to go beyond our natural abilities. What an amazing gift from God!
Mercy is when we deserve punishment and do not receive it. God’s mercy is another gift to us. Mercy is God’s forgiveness when we are pardoned when we don’t deserve it. God withholds the punishment we deserve because He loves us so much. Psalms 103:8 tells us, “the Lord is merciful, and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in mercy.” God is abounding in mercy for His children. I know as a parent that isn’t easy to do. Verse 17 goes on to say, “the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting.” Everlasting to everlasting means eternity-that’s a long time!
I am so thankful for His many blessings. Every morning I wake up and the first thing I do is thank God for waking me up. Not everyone is so lucky. I thank God for my home, my warm bed, the food in my refrigerator, my heat/air conditioning, and a positive balance in my bank account whether it’s $10 or $1000, I am thankful for it! The list goes on and on; my family, my friends and my health. The more I am grateful to God the more my cup is filled.
Thank God for His indescribable generosity to you!! What a mighty God we serve! As we celebrate the profound generosity of God during the Christmas season, reflecting on the ultimate gift of Jesus and the blessings of grace and mercy, consider these questions to deepen your understanding and appreciation of His love:
Heart Checks:
How does the gift of Jesus, as described in 2 Corinthians 9:15, enhance your understanding of Christmas as a time of divine generosity?
How can you share this sense of overwhelming gratitude with others during the holiday season?
Reflecting on Ephesians 2:8-9, how does the concept of grace—receiving God’s blessings without merit—change the way you celebrate and appreciate the gifts you receive and give during Christmas?
Considering God’s mercy, as described in Psalms 103, how can you practice extending mercy and forgiveness during the holiday gatherings, especially in situations where it might be challenging?
