You Can Find My Fingerprints
Note from Jesus Dear Child of God, One of the most amazing things about My story is that I created the mother who gave birth to Me. Like every person who has ever lived, I created My mother, Mary, and had a plan for her even in her mother’s womb, even though she would carry Me in her womb (Psalm 139:13-16). This connection is part of the great mystery of My birth: the Creator entered His creation to redeem it and reclaim it by being part of it. When I was born in Bethlehem and celebrated by shepherds, hated by Herod, and honored by the gifts of the magi, I was offering Myself to those whom I created. They could accept Me or reject Me — respond to My love or rebel against it. Of course, I knit you together in your mother’s womb, too! You are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14 NIV). My fingerprints are not just on your world and the universe in which your world is found; My fingerprints are on you. I made you to seek after and find Me (Acts 17:27), which is what I exactly hope you will do during this season that celebrates My coming to earth, My Advent. I do not want our relationship to be Creator to creature, but family — Father to child, Brother to child of God, and Spirit that binds us together. Verses to Live Yes, I left my fingerprints on you! For You [the Lord] shaped me, inside and out. You knitted me together in my mother’s womb long before I took my first breath. I will offer You my grateful heart, for I am Your unique creation, filled with wonder and awe. You have approached even the smallest details with excellence; Your works are wonderful; I carry this knowledge deep within my soul. You see all things; nothing about me was hidden from You As I took shape in secret, carefully crafted in the heart of the earth before I was born from its womb. You see all things; You saw me growing, changing in my mother’s womb; Every detail of my life was already written in Your book; You established the length of my life before I ever tasted the sweetness of it. (Psalm 139:13-16) And My fingerprints are on the world I created, although many of the very people I created did not — and do not — receive Me or believe in Me. Before time itself was measured, the Voice [Jesus] was speaking. The Voice was and is God. This celestial Word remained ever present with the Creator; His speech shaped the entire cosmos. Immersed in the practice of creating, all things that exist were birthed in Him. (John 1:1-3) He entered our world, a world He made; yet the world did not recognize Him. Even though He came to His own people, they refused to listen and receive Him. (John 1:10-11). From the beginning, creation in its magnificence enlightens us to His [Jesus’] nature. Creation itself makes His undying power and divine identity clear, even though they are invisible; and it voids the excuses and ignorant claims of these people because, despite the fact that they knew the one true God, they have failed to show the love, honor, and appreciation due to the One Who created them. (Romans 1:20-21) Because you have put your trust in Me, I have given you the right, the authority, to be reborn as a child of God! But for all who did receive and trust in Him [Jesus], He gave them the right to be reborn as children of God; He bestowed this birthright not by human power or initiative but by God’s will. (John 1:12-13) So yes, honor Me as your Creator, but also know you are part of My family! Response in Prayer Almighty God, Who came to earth in such a small but eternally precious package, I thank You for the gift of Jesus Whom I recognize as my Creator, Redeemer, Savior, Lord, and Friend. Thank You for making me in the way that You did and please help me discover how to use for Your glory all that You made me to be. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. ‘A Year with Jesus’ is written by Phil Ware. © 1998-2024, Heartlight, Inc. ‘A Year with Jesus‘ is part of the Heartlight Network.All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Voice™. © 2008 by Ecclesia Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Today’s Verse – Romans 12:10
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. —Romans 12:10 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… I love the old saying, “He who toots his own horn plays in a very small band!” A very selfish part of us wants all attention and appreciation focused on what we have done, sacrificed, and accomplished. Christ Jesus told us that if we seek honor and recognition now, we have our reward now, on earth, and we won’t receive our reward in heaven (Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21). One of the signs of spiritual maturity, however, is what Paul lists here. It’s a devotion to others who are our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. This maturity means that we genuinely rejoice when others are honored. We are even more interested in honoring others than receiving honor. That is what devotion to others means. We care more about them being honored than us being honored, and that’s living like Christ (Philippians 2:1-11). My Prayer… Dear God, my loving Father, thank you for surrounding me with many godly and honorable people. Please help me see ways I can show my brothers and sisters in Christ my love, affirmation, and appreciation. And dear Father, please lead me to your people who need this love, affirmation, and honor. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
Hidden Treasures
Note from Jesus Dear Child of the Father, If you have had a loving, godly mother, then you have been profoundly blessed. No matter if you are rich or poor, famous or unknown, young or old, a godly mother is a treasure beyond measure. My earthly mother was Mary. Her heart was a deep well of mystery and secrets held together by a profound faith that the Lord was her Deliverer and that she was His servant. Like any earthly mom who has waited to hold her new-born child, she wondered what I would become. But for her, the secrets she treasured about Me were deeper, more profound, and more bewildering than normal. So it was Luke who tenderly talked about My mother after he gathered details of My birth. She was like every good mother, whether birth mom or adoptive mom: she saw Me, her child, as a gift and a treasure. She pondered the events surrounding My birth and early childhood as cherished moments, “treasuring each memory in her heart.” So be touched, My friend; be moved in your heart, for My mother was a great window to see Who I was in My incarnation, what I experienced, and how great the cost of My coming was. Look into her heart, examine her treasures, and realize that I can be your treasure, too. Verses to Live Yes, My birth created quite a stir. People talked about it a lot… at least for a while. My mother, on the other hand, treasured each moment, as indicated by the following two short scriptures from different times early in My incarnation, and she never forgot the mystery and grace of it all! The first scripture starts by referring to the shepherds’ story after the angels appeared to them and after they saw Me following My birth. The second scripture is when I was 12 years old, and My mother and stepfather found Me in Jerusalem talking with the Jewish religious leaders. Everyone who heard their [the shepherds’] story couldn’t stop thinking about its meaning. Mary, too, pondered all of these events, treasuring each memory in her heart. (Luke 2:18-19) Jesus: Why did you need to look for Me? Didn’t you know that I must be working for My Father? Neither Mary nor Joseph really understood what He meant by this. Jesus went back to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. His mother continued to store these memories like treasures in her heart. (Luke 2:49-51) Response in Prayer Lord Jesus, You are my treasure. Holy Spirit, You are heaven’s gift given to me. Father God, You are the grace that has ransomed my life and given me everlasting hope, joy, and peace. All praise to God Almighty, Father, Son, and Spirit, for Your abundant grace, indwelling presence, and everlasting love. Amen. ‘A Year with Jesus’ is written by Phil Ware. © 1998-2024, Heartlight, Inc. ‘A Year with Jesus‘ is part of the Heartlight Network.All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Voice™. © 2008 by Ecclesia Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Today’s Verse – Romans 12:9
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. —Romans 12:9 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Special Note: Remember that this year, we are letting our verse reference be determined by the date. So on December 9, the twelfth month and ninth day, we have been led to Romans 12:9 as our verse for this day, and it’s a short but powerful and call to live for Jesus! Our love cannot be feigned, faked, or fickle! That means that we abhor evil. We not only stay away from it but disdain it. At the same time, we commit ourselves to lovingly drawing closer to goodness and righteousness. There are no shades of gray in our intentions or motivations, only a passionate desire for what is right, good, and holy. We cling to what is good! My Prayer… Holy and Righteous Father, I know you declared me righteous and holy because of Jesus’ sacrifice and my faith in him. Now, I ask that you help me live up to what you have declared me to be by your grace. Through your indwelling Holy Spirit’s power, please fill me with your love and drive out anything unclean, evil, or rancid that dwells in my heart. I want my love to be sincere. I want to cling to what is good. I want to cast off all that is evil so I can bring you joy! In Jesus’ name, I thank you. Amen. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
Glory!
Note from Jesus Dear Child of God, Glory? Glorious? “Gloria in Excelsis Deo”? It was not too glorious if you look at the place where My birth happened! I was placed in a feed trough and wrapped in strips of cloth. By most measures, My birth was less than ordinary… it was something only the poor and outcast would have experienced. Most would have missed the glory of the moment when I entered the world in the same way you did — pushed into the harsh reality of life through the birth canal. Being born in “less than royal” conditions, you might easily mistake My identity. I looked like any ordinary baby. But I had left the glory of heaven to accept the simple comforts of the manger and the loving arms of My mother, Mary, and My stepfather, Joseph. I came from the glory of God that shone long before the world began, yet I accepted the simplicity of the stable to connect with you. I wanted you to know that no matter where you are in society’s pecking order — the high thread-count sheets of the rich and famous or the simple strips of cloth of the poor — I came for you. I wanted you to know that you are welcome in My Father’s house even though I wasn’t completely welcomed into the world I had made. Glory? Glorious? “Gloria in Excelsis Deo”? Absolutely! Hear the angels. Watch the shepherds. Come to My manger and know you are gloriously loved. Verses to Live The glory that shone forth to those looking for it at my birth was a glory that I had before the world began and the glory that I came to share with you! Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others — the armies of heaven — praising God and saying, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” (Luke 2:13-14 NLT) [Jesus praying:] Now, Father, bring Me into the glory We shared before the world began. (John 17:5 NLT) So I ask you to redefine your concept of glory by what I did — don’t cling to fleeting earthly glory, but walk beside and bend down to help those who need you to share My glory! In other words, adopt the mind-set of Jesus the Anointed. Live with His attitude in your hearts. Remember: Though He was in the form of God, He chose not to cling to equality with God; But He poured Himself out to fill a vessel brand new; a servant in form and a man indeed. The very likeness of humanity, He humbled Himself, obedient to death — a merciless death on the cross! So God raised Him up to the highest place and gave Him the name above all. So when His name is called, every knee will bow, in heaven, on earth, and below. And every tongue will confess “Jesus, the Anointed One, is Lord,” to the glory of God our Father. (Philippians 2:5-11) Response in Prayer Almighty God, Who became human flesh and came to us in Jesus, how can I thank You for Your indescribable gift? You are glorious, yet left heaven’s glory. You are eternal, yet clothed yourself with mortality. You are all powerful, yet became vulnerable. You came to us as a baby placed in a manger to share our humanity so we can share Your glory. Open my heart to receive Your incredible gift of grace during this special time of year. Even more, help me see Your glory in the simplest things around me where You are at work. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen. ‘A Year with Jesus’ is written by Phil Ware. © 1998-2024, Heartlight, Inc. ‘A Year with Jesus‘ is part of the Heartlight Network.All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Voice™. © 2008 by Ecclesia Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Today’s Verse – Luke 12:8
I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God. —Luke 12:8 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… What a simple way to inherit a blessing: we confess Jesus before people, and Jesus acknowledges us before the angels of God! We must not fall into the trap that caused Peter to stumble during the night of Jesus’ arrest — being strong when in the presence of friends and weak in the presence of those who are hostile. Let’s be ready to share our faith with friends with “gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15). Let’s be willing to be openly identified as one who knows Jesus and shows it by our words and deeds (Acts 4:13). Let’s confess that Jesus is our LORD by our lives and our lips for all the world to see. My Prayer… Dear God, give me the courage to confidently acknowledge Jesus as LORD before my enemies, adversaries, and critics, just as I do before my friends, co-workers, and colleagues. May my faith in the LORD Jesus be boldly lived before others as I respectfully share my confidence in Jesus, in whose name I pray. Amen. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
Be Astonishing
Note from Jesus Dear Child of God, If you were a shepherd in the time when I was born, you would never have expected anyone to be astonished at anything you could ever say or do. You would have been “just” a lowly and despised shepherd. Most shepherds (like those who celebrated my birth) were quite young and most often ignored. Like all good shepherds, they smelled like sheep — they were not the kind of folks you invite into your house for a long conversation or a dinner party. Shepherds, in general, were not considered intellectually astute. Most people felt that shepherds would have little to say that was important. Then came My birth. Look at what God made of these shepherds. They were the first to share the good news of My birth. They were the first “missionaries” sent to tell the story of God coming down to live with people. These shepherds were told this good news by angels sent from the glory of heaven. People were astonished. They were astonished that God would use shepherds. They were astonished at what the shepherds told them about the angels. They were astonished at the story the shepherds told about Who I was and where I was born. Look at what the Father made of these shepherds. They were the first to know and to proclaim the astonishing good news of God coming to the world as a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and placed in a feed trough — the glory of the newborn King of the Jews, the Messiah of Israel, and the Savior of the world. And what about you? Are you astonishing? If you listen closely to the passages below, you will see that I have done something just as astonishing with you as I did with the shepherds. Because of Me, you are now “holy, blameless, and totally free of imperfection.” Just like the shepherds, you have been given the opportunity to be astonishing! Verses to Live Simple shepherds share the astonishing news! After seeing him [baby Jesus], the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished… (Luke 2:17-18 NLT) In the flesh, I bring you astonishing identity! He [Jesus] is the exact image of the invisible God, the firstborn of creation, the eternal. It was by Him that everything was created: the heavens, the earth, all things within and upon them, all things seen and unseen, thrones and dominions, spiritual powers and authorities. Every detail was crafted through His design, by His own hands, and for His purposes. He has always been! It is His hand that holds everything together. He is the head of this body, the church. He is the beginning, the first of those to be reborn from the dead, so that in every aspect, at every view, in everything — He is first. God was pleased that all His fullness should forever dwell in the Son Who, as predetermined by God, bled peace into the world by His death on the cross as God’s means of reconciling to Himself the whole creation — all things in heaven and all things on earth. You were once at odds with God, wicked in your ways and evil in your minds; but now He has reconciled you in His body — in His flesh through His death — so that He can present you to God holy, blameless, and totally free of imperfection as long as you stay planted in the faith. So don’t venture away from what you have heard and taken to heart: the living hope of the good news that has been announced to all creation under heaven and has captured me, Paul, as its servant. (Colossians 1:15-23) Response in Prayer O Father, I place my faith in Jesus and what He did by becoming flesh and shedding His blood to make me Yours. This grace, this story, and this Jesus have captured my heart, and I offer all that I am to You, O God, in the name of Jesus and because of Your grace. Amen. ‘A Year with Jesus’ is written by Phil Ware. © 1998-2024, Heartlight, Inc. ‘A Year with Jesus‘ is part of the Heartlight Network.All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Voice™. © 2008 by Ecclesia Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Today’s Verse – Proverbs 12:7
Wicked men are overthrown and are no more, but the house of the righteous stands firm. —Proverbs 12:7 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… The principle of this proverb is true in every culture. An evil leader who has made his way to the top by murder, deceit, and violence ends up being murdered by one even more evil. Ruin comes to those who have brought ruination on others. This principle will be fully realized when Jesus comes and judges all people justly and with nothing hidden. Then, God’s righteousness will shine like the sun. Jesus and those who belong to him will reign with him in his heavenly glory — a glory which will not spoil, perish, or fade. Justice will triumph along with mercy, love, and life without death. All who are God’s people who have been oppressed, abused, and martyred will find their way into the city God has prepared for those who love him. All wickedness will be overthrown, and those who have been made righteous in Jesus will live forever in the glorious presence of their LORD! My Prayer… Dear Father in heaven, we pray that your Kingdom comes with power in our world soon. We pray that your will is done here on earth just as in heaven. Bring down the arrogant and violent. Overthrow the wicked and murderous. Let those you have made righteous in Jesus stand in your glorious presence and grace as the LORD Jesus reigns over all his foes and brings your beloved children home to you. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
God’s Greatest Message
Note from Jesus Dear Friend, Ouch! You sent a text to someone, and he or she didn’t understand your humor. You left a voicemail that was supposed to be cute, but your words hurt the feelings of a good friend. You sent an email before you proofed it and left out a word or two and left some stuff in you wish you’d never said, and these things crushed the spirit of someone you love. It’s very easy to misunderstand simple words on a page, in a text, or in an email. There’s no body language, you can’t hear the inflection or tone of the voice, you can’t get a sense of the pace at which the words were said, and you don’t get a feel for the heart of the person from just reading the words. These messages can feel like isolated bits of data rather than words spoken from the heart of someone who cares deeply for you. Your experiences with being misunderstood give you a glimpse of some of the Father’s challenges in communicating with you. Words written on a page, no matter how inspired, are not enough to reveal the full heart of the Father. So to bridge the distance between you and your Father in heaven, the Almighty God entered human flesh in Me, Jesus of Nazareth, to give you His greatest and clearest message (Hebrews 1:1-3). Yes, you heard Me correctly. God’s greatest message was not the Bible or even the words of the prophets (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21). As important as these are, you must know that they all point to Me as the source of life (John 5:39-40). I came as My Father’s greatest, fullest, and clearest message… for you! As you look at Me — what I did, what I said, and why I did it all — I hope you can understand the heart of the Father. I hope you realize how much We — Father, Son, and Spirit — love you! That’s why My story is called the gospel — the good news from the Father, sent to people He loves, in a person Who is both fully God and fully human. I AM the Message, the Voice, and the Word of God. Verses to Live Notice how the angels announced the good news of My birth to the shepherds. I came as the Father’s greatest message, wrapped in a blanket and placed in a feeding trough! Today, in the city of David, a Liberator has been born for you! He is the promised Anointed One, the Supreme Authority! You will know you have found Him when you see a baby, wrapped in a blanket, lying in a feeding trough. (Luke 2:11-12) I came, God in human flesh, to be heaven’s Voice for you to hear and heaven’s presence to see, the ultimate expression of the Father’s heart! The Voice [Jesus, the Word] took on flesh and became human and chose to live alongside us. We have seen Him, enveloped in undeniable splendor — the one true Son of the Father — evidenced in the perfect balance of grace and truth. John the Baptist testified about Him and shouted, “This is the one I’ve been telling you is coming. He is much greater than I am because He existed long before me.” Through this man we all receive gifts of grace beyond our imagination. You see, Moses gave us rules to live by, but Jesus the Anointed offered us gifts of grace and truth. God, unseen until now, is revealed in the Voice, God’s only Son, straight from the Father’s heart. (John 1:14-18) Response in Prayer Father in heaven, I have mangled my words in emails and texts so many times that it is embarrassing. So as much as I love that You spoke to us through the words of the Bible, I am even more thankful that You came and spoke to us in human skin — One with us and One of us — so we could not only hear Your words but also see Your heart. Thank You, Jesus, for coming so we can pray with confidence, in Your name, with Your authority. Amen. ‘A Year with Jesus’ is written by Phil Ware. © 1998-2024, Heartlight, Inc. ‘A Year with Jesus‘ is part of the Heartlight Network.All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Voice™. © 2008 by Ecclesia Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Today’s Verse – Matthew 12:6
I tell you that one greater than the temple is here. —Matthew 12:6 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… What is the most outstanding construction project built by human hands? Jesus is more remarkable still! What is the most holy place you have been? Jesus is far holier still! What is the most awe-inspiring site you have visited? Jesus is far more astonishing and holy! What is the most spiritually nourishing event you have ever attended? Jesus is far more nourishing and enriching and blessing! Jesus is the One Who Is Greater! Nothing else, no one else, can hold a candle to him. As John the Baptizer reminded us, the greatest religious leaders of all time are not even worthy to stoop down and unlatch Jesus’ sandals. Jesus is greater than! Video Commentary… ToGather Worship Guide | More ToGather Videos My Prayer… Thank you, God, for revealing to me the Way, the Truth, and the Life through Jesus. Forgive me for the times I may have misused his name or underestimated his glory. Restore in me the child-like sense of joyous wonder that I need to have in his presence. In the holy and awesome and gracious name of Jesus, I live and I pray. Amen. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.