Today’s Verse

Romans 15:13
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (NIV)

For a few years, my family did a pretzel log cabin competition. Like gingerbread house competitions, everything had to be edible, except house rules dictated that you could use hot glue. Each year, we would pair up in new teams, sketch out designs, and get going. Everyone has different strengths: some are more visually creative, and some have better ideas on how to construct an effective cabin. Sometimes, a fun name would garner more votes. In the end, after hours of constructing our masterpieces, we’d take to the internet with reasonable anonymity, requesting votes from friends and family members. Inevitably, solid teamwork would show in the final product and the coolest cabin won. We’d all be tired, but pleased with a day of hard work (yes, day. After 8 hours of building pretzel cabins, we started questioning how long this tradition would last). It was fun to see how switching up teams affected the outcome year-to-year. I always loved this opportunity to get a close-up look at how God has made everyone’s minds uniquely. Leaning on each other for help is what made the competition fun!

God crafted you uniquely and equipped you for the challenges ahead, even if it doesn't always seem that way. Who has God placed in your path this week? Can you think of a way to use the strengths He has given you to show them who Jesus is?

Christmas is an important time of year. We reflect on one of the two most foundational events in the Christian faith: the birth of the Messiah, Jesus Christ (the other one is Easter, where we celebrate Christ’s resurrection and defeat of death!). Jesus, who was fully God and fully human (see Philippians 1:1-11), was born in pretty humble circumstances, and we get to celebrate the fulfillment of God’s promises and the redemption of His people. Jesus came for you, that your sins would be washed away, and you be granted the gift of salvation. He knows you intimately—how you think, how you work, what you need. As believers, we get the gift of the Holy Spirit, who fills us with joy and peace as we trust in Him. That hope can overflow in our lives to others. Today, ask God to place an opportunity in front of you this week to share the hope of Christ, our Mighty God.

REFLECTION

Reflect on Romans 15:13. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in joy and understanding as you learn to lean on Him and love those around you.