Pastor Stephen Dedman

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.
‭‭II Corinthians‬ ‭8‬:‭9‬

Question
What might God be calling you to lay down this season so that others may experience His love?

Context
Paul reminds the church at Corinth that the gospel is the ultimate picture of generosity. Jesus willingly laid aside the riches of heaven to enter our broken world. This verse captures the heart of Christmas, not accumulation, but incarnation; not comfort, but sacrifice.

Application
The manger tells the story of divine love expressed through humility. Jesus did not come surrounded by wealth or power, but wrapped in swaddling cloths. His poverty was purposeful. He stepped into our lack so that we might receive the riches of grace, forgiveness, and new life. As Christmas approaches, we are reminded that God’s love is costly and that cost was joyfully paid for us.

Ask God to help you live generously today, not just with resources, but with grace, patience, and compassion. When we give ourselves away in love, we reflect the heart of Christ.

Truth For The Day
Jesus became poor so we could become rich in God.

Pray
Lord, thank You for humbling Yourself for my sake. Teach me to value what You value and to live with open hands and a grateful heart as I prepare to celebrate Your birth. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭4‬:‭4‬-‭5‬

Question
How does knowing you are fully loved and adopted by God change the way you approach this season?

Context
Paul’s words in Galatians remind us that Christmas was not accidental or rushed. God’s love unfolded at the perfect moment in history. The phrase “when the fullness of time had fully come” points to God’s sovereign plan over centuries of promises. Advent invites us to pause and recognize that love arrived right on time, exactly when the world needed it most.

Application
Love is seen in God’s initiative. We did not climb our way up to Him; He came down to us. God sent His Son, fully divine and fully human, to enter our condition and redeem us from it. The manger points forward to the mission: redemption and adoption. Jesus came to forgive sins and to bring us into a united family. At Christmas, love took on flesh so that we could receive a new name: sons and daughters of God.

As we enter into this fourth Sunday of Advent, we are reminded that we are not just forgiven, we are adopted. This truth reshapes how we live. We no longer strive to earn God’s approval, we live from His acceptance. In a season often marked by pressure and performance, Advent love invites us to rest in belonging and extend that same grace to others.

Truth For The Day
God’s love sent His Son at the perfect time to make us part of His family.

Pray
Lord, thank You for sending Your Son at just the right time. Thank You that through Jesus we are redeemed and adopted as Your children. As we prepare our hearts for Christmas, help us to rest in Your love and reflect it to those around us. We receive this gift with gratitude and joy. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.
‭‭I John‬ ‭4‬:‭9‬

Question
Where do you need to be reminded that God is near to you today?

Context
The apostle John writes to believers to remind them that God’s love is revealed in action. God did not merely say He loved the world; He sent His Son. Christmas is the clearest demonstration of that love. The incarnation shows us that God’s love moves toward us, steps into our world, and meets us where we are.

Application
At Christmas, love didn’t remain distant; love came near. God entered human history in the most vulnerable way imaginable: as a child. The manger tells us that God’s love is personal, approachable, and intentional. No matter how far we feel from God, Christmas declares that God has already come close to us.

When you doubt your worth or feel overlooked, return to the manger. Let the birth of Jesus remind you that God sees you, knows you, and values you deeply. Because God came near to us in Christ, we can draw near to Him with confidence and trust.

Truth For The Day
God’s love is proven by His presence.

Pray
Lord, thank You for loving me enough to come near. When I feel distant or discouraged, help me remember that You entered this world for me. Draw my heart closer to Yours as I reflect on the gift of Your Son. In Jesus’ name, Amen.