Rumination Journal

On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the Child, He was named Jesus—the name the angel had given Him before He was conceived. — Luke 2:21 On the first day of a new year, Scripture draws our attention to an intimate and quiet moment in the life of Jesus—His naming. Eight days after His birth, according to Jewish custom, the Child was circumcised and given His name: Jesus, the name spoken from heaven before Mary ever felt His first movement, before Joseph ever dreamed of His coming, before the world knew that God was drawing near. The name Jesus means “The LORD saves,” and with it, the mission of Christ is declared. Advent and Christmas have told the story of His arrival; now His name tells the story of His purpose. This small moment reminds us that God’s plans unfold with intentionality and tenderness. Nothing is accidental. Jesus enters fully into human customs and family life, bearing a name that proclaims His identity. As the year begins, we are invited to remember that t...

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.” — John 3:16–17 On the final day of the year, Scripture brings us back to the heart of the gospel in two of the most well-known and deeply loved verses in the Bible. “For God so loved the world.” This is where the story begins and ends—with love. Not obligation, not anger, not distance, but love so vast that God gave His Son. Christmas reveals the depth of this love. The Child in the manger is the gift of God’s heart, offered freely, sacrificially, personally. The love that holds the universe enters human history not to condemn, but to save, to restore, and to bring eternal life to all who believe. These verses remind us that God’s posture toward the world—even a world marked by sin, sorrow, and rebellion—is grace. Christ’s coming is not a verdict o...

In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways. But in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature, upholding all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. — Hebrews 1:1–3 As the year draws toward its close, Hebrews offers us a sweeping view of Christ—one that lifts our eyes from the manger to the full majesty of who Jesus is. God has always spoken: through prophets, visions, and signs. But now, the writer tells us, God has spoken in the clearest, fullest way possible—through His Son. Christmas reminds us that Jesus is not merely a messenger but the message, not merely a sign but the radiance of God’s glory. To see Jesus is to see the heart of God revealed in human form. The passage unfolds a ...

But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive our adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, you are also an heir through God. — Galatians 4:4–7 Paul describes the birth of Jesus in breathtaking terms: “When the time had fully come.” Christmas is not an accident in history; it is the precise moment when God, in His wisdom and love, chose to enter the world. Jesus was “born of a woman,” fully human; “born under the law,” fully obedient; and He came for a purpose—to redeem us. Redemption is more than rescue; it is restoration. Jesus not only frees us from sin’s power but restores us into a relationship we could never earn. Through Him, we receive the astonishing gift of adoption into God’s family. Paul emphasizes that this adoption is not symbolic—it is...

But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us—not by the righteous deeds we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we would become heirs with the hope of eternal life. — Titus 3:4–7 In these verses, Paul offers a beautiful summary of the gospel in the language of Christmas: “the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared.” The birth of Jesus is the appearance—the shining forth—of God’s kindness. Through Him, the love of God steps into the world in a visible, tangible, unmistakable way. Advent has been preparing our hearts to recognize this truth: Jesus is not simply the bearer of God’s message; He is the embodiment of God’s mercy. His arrival reveals a God who saves not because we earned it, but because His heart overflows with compassion. Paul stresses...

The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. — John 1:14 With one breathtaking sentence, John captures the mystery and majesty of Christmas: “The Word became flesh.” The eternal Son of God, through whom all things were created, took on human frailty and entered our world as a child. This is the heart of the Incarnation—not God appearing to be human, but God becoming human, embracing our weakness, our vulnerability, and our experience. Christmas is not merely a celebration of Jesus’ birth; it is a celebration of God’s nearness. In Christ, God comes close enough to touch, to speak, to comfort, to save. Advent has been preparing our hearts for this astonishing truth. John goes on to say that Jesus “made His dwelling among us,” using a word that literally means “tabernacled” or “pitched His tent.” God has chosen not to remain distant but to move into the neighborhood of humanity. He...

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the Baby, who was lying in the manger. After they had seen the Child, they spread the message they had received about Him. And all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, which was just as the angel had told them. — Luke 2:15–20 The shepherds’ response to the angelic announcement is immediate and wholehearted. “Let us go… and see this thing that has happened.” Their faith is simple, eager, and active. They do not delay, question, or debate—they hurry toward the presence of Christ. Advent has brought us to Christmas, and now Christmas invites us to respond. The shepherds remind us...

And there were shepherds residing in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks by night. Just then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! For behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord! And this will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there appeared with the angel a great multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying:   “Glory to God in the highest,     and on earth peace to men     on whom His favor rests!” — Luke 2:8–14 On this holy morning, Scripture leads us into one of the most wondrous scenes in all of the Bible: heaven bending low to announce the birth of the Savior. The message is not delivered to kings, priests, or scholars, but to shepherd...

Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that a census should be taken of the whole empire. This was the first census to take place while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, since he was from the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to him in marriage and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her Child to be born. And she gave birth to her firstborn, a Son. She wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. — Luke 2:1–7 On this night before Christmas, Advent draws us into the humble scene where God chose to enter the world. The birth of Jesus is set against the backdrop of an empire flexing its power—a decree from Caesar that sends people scattering to be counted. Yet within this swirl of political authority ...

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:   “Behold, the virgin will be with child     and will give birth to a son,   and they will call Him Immanuel”     (which means, “God with us”). When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and embraced Mary as his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a Son. And he gave Him the name Jesus. — Matthew 1:22-25 Matthew reminds us that the birth of Jesus is not an isolated event—it is the fulfillment of a long-promised hope. The prophecy from Isaiah becomes flesh in Mary’s womb, and its meaning becomes the heartbeat of Advent: Immanuel—God with us. This truth is the center of the Christmas story. God does not remain distant, silent, or unreachable. He enters human life, steps into our frailty, and chooses to dwell among us. The God who created galaxies also takes on the vulnerability of a child. Advent teaches us that God’s love is not merely...

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged in marriage to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and was unwilling to disgrace her publicly, he resolved to divorce her quietly. But after he had pondered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to embrace Mary as your wife, for the One conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.” — Matthew 1:18-21 Joseph’s story is filled with quiet courage. Before God revealed the truth to him, Joseph faced a heartbreaking situation—Mary, his betrothed, was expecting a child he knew was not his. As a righteous man, he sought a path that honored both the law and Mary’s dignity. His decision to act with compassion, even before he unde...

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,   who are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come forth for Me   One to be ruler over Israel— One whose origins are of old,   from the days of eternity. — Micah 5:2 Micah’s prophecy points us to a deeply Advent-shaped truth: God’s greatest works often begin in the smallest places. Bethlehem was insignificant, overlooked, and easily forgotten among Judah’s towns. Yet God chose it as the birthplace of His Messiah. The Almighty deliberately wrapped majesty in humility, glory in obscurity, and eternity in the simplicity of a rural village. Advent invites us to trust that God continues to work in quiet, hidden ways—in the small choices we make, the quiet prayers we whisper, and the ordinary spaces of our lives where His grace is quietly unfolding. The ruler promised in Micah is not a new creation but One “whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” This is no ordinary king. The Messiah who would come forth from Bethlehem is et...

He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God—children born not of blood, nor of the desire or will of man, but born of God. — John 1:10–13 John’s Gospel presents a profound mystery at the heart of Advent: the Creator entered His creation, yet many did not recognize Him. The One who shaped the world with His hands walked unnoticed through the streets He formed. Even His own people—those who longed for the Messiah—struggled to receive the One who came to save them. Advent invites us to examine our own hearts with humility. Have we recognized Christ’s presence in the ordinary? Have we received Him not only with our words, but with our lives? Or have distractions, expectations, and worries kept us from seeing Him clearly? Yet John’s words also shine with incredible hope: “To al...

There came a man who was sent from God. His name was John. He came as a witness to testify about the Light, so that through him everyone might believe. He himself was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light. The true Light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. — John 1:6–9 In the opening verses of John’s Gospel, we meet John the Baptist—a man sent by God not to draw attention to himself but to point others to the Light. Advent is a season shaped by this same calling. Even as we wait for Christ’s coming, we are reminded that our role is not to be the source of light but to bear witness to it. John lived with clarity about who he was and who he was not. He knew his purpose: to prepare others to see Jesus clearly. His humility and focus show us that the greatest calling of a believer is not self-promotion but pointing others to the hope found in Christ. John’s Gospel emphasizes that “the true Light… was coming into the world.” The Light does not originate ...

Then Mary said:   “My soul magnifies the Lord,     and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!   For He has looked with favor on the humble state of His servant.     From now on all generations will call me blessed.   For the Mighty One has done great things for me.     Holy is His name.   His mercy extends to those who fear Him,     from generation to generation.   He has performed mighty deeds with His arm;     He has scattered those who are proud     in the thoughts of their hearts.   He has brought down rulers from their thrones,     but has exalted the humble.   He has filled the hungry with good things,     but has sent the rich away empty.   He has helped His servant Israel,     remembering to be merciful,   as He promised to our fathers,     to Abraham and his descendants forever.” Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then...

In those days Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah, where she entered the home of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord’s word to her will be fulfilled.” — Luke 1:39–45 As soon as Mary hears Gabriel’s message, she seeks the companionship of someone who will understand—Elizabeth, who is also experiencing a miraculous work of God. Mary enters Elizabeth’s home not with certainty about the future but with a heart full of wonder, questions, and the need for community. Advent reminds us that we are not meant to carry God’s work in our lives alone. Go...

In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin pledged in marriage to a man named Joseph, who was of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. The angel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. So the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end!” “How can this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God. Look...

Then the eyes of the blind will be opened   and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then the lame will leap like a deer   and the mute tongue will shout for joy. For waters will gush forth in the wilderness,   and streams in the desert. The parched ground will become a pool,   the thirsty land springs of water. In the haunt where jackals once lay,   there will be grass and reeds and papyrus. And there will be a highway   called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not travel it—   only those who walk in the Way—   and fools will not stray onto it. No lion will be there,   and no vicious beast will go up on it. Such will not be found there,   but the redeemed will walk upon it. So the redeemed of the LORD will return   and enter Zion with singing,   crowned with everlasting joy. Gladness and joy will overtake them,   and sorrow and sighing will flee. — Isaiah 35:5-10 Isaiah’s vision continues with even greater beauty and hope....

The wilderness and the dry land will be glad;   the desert will rejoice and blossom like a rose. It will bloom profusely   and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it,   the splendor of Carmel and Sharon. They will see the glory of the LORD,   the splendor of our God. Strengthen the limp hands   and steady the feeble knees! Say to those with anxious hearts:   “Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance.   With divine retribution He will come to save you.” — Isaiah 35:1–4 Isaiah’s vision opens with a surprising transformation: the desert rejoices. The place associated with emptiness, lifelessness, and exhaustion is pictured bursting into bloom. Advent uses this imagery to remind us that God brings life to the places we least expect—both in the world and in our own hearts. The wilderness represents seasons of loneliness, waiting, dryness, or discouragement. Yet it is precisely in these places that God...

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. — Philippians 4:6–7 Paul’s words in Philippians meet us where Advent often finds us—in the midst of busyness, worry, and emotional weight. The command, “Be anxious for nothing,” is not a scolding but an invitation. Paul is not asking us to pretend we have no worries; he is calling us to bring every worry into the presence of God. Advent is a season of giving our hearts to God as they truly are—tired, hopeful, anxious, joyful, overwhelmed, eager—and trusting that He meets us with gentleness, not judgment. When we present our requests to God “with thanksgiving,” we acknowledge that He is already at work, already faithful, already near. The peace of God that Paul describes is not simply relief from fear. It is a guarding peace—a protective presence that surrounds o...

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has torn down the dividing wall of hostility. — Ephesians 2:13–14 Paul’s words remind us that Advent is not only about waiting for Christ’s coming—it is also about remembering what His coming has already accomplished. “You who once were far away have been brought near.” That is the story of every believer. We were distant from God, separated by sin, fear, confusion, or even indifference. But Christ does not leave His people far off. He draws us close—not by our efforts, our worthiness, or our spiritual strength, but through His sacrifice and His love. Advent proclaims the startling truth of the gospel: God has come near so that we may come near to Him. Paul goes even further. Christ is our peace—not merely the giver of peace, but peace Himself. His presence becomes the place where hostility ends—hostility toward God, hostility ...

“How can I be sure of this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years.” “I am Gabriel,” replied the angel. “I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. And now you will be silent and unable to speak until the day this comes to pass, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time.” Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he took so long in the temple. When he came out and was unable to speak to them, they realized he had seen a vision in the temple. He kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak. And when the days of his service were complete, he returned home. After these days, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. She declared, “The Lord has done this for me. In these days He has shown me favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.” — Luke 1:18–25 Zechariah’s honest ques...

“In the days of Herod king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the division of Abijah. His wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and decrees of the Lord. But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well along in years. Now while Zechariah was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And when the time for the burning of incense came, the whole congregation was praying outside. Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and gripped with fear.  But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to name him John. He will b...

I will listen to what God the LORD will say;    He promises peace to His people, His saints—   never let them return to folly.  Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him,    that His glory may dwell in our land. Loving devotion and faithfulness meet;    righteousness and peace kiss. Faithfulness sprouts from the earth,    and righteousness looks down from heaven. The LORD will indeed provide what is good,    and our land will yield its increase. Righteousness will go before Him    to prepare the way for His steps. — Psalm 85:8–13 Psalm 85 invites us into a posture that is essential during Advent: listening. “I will listen to what God the LORD will say,” the psalmist begins, reminding us that peace does not come through our striving but through God’s speaking. The world is filled with noise—anxieties, responsibilities, distractions—but Advent gently calls us to silence, to attentiveness, to the patient expecta...

Righteousness will be the belt around His hips, and faithfulness the sash around His waist.  The wolf will dwell with the lamb,    and the leopard will lie down with the goat;  the calf and the young lion and the fatling will be together,    and a little child will lead them.  The cow will graze with the bear,    their young will lie down together,    and the lion will eat straw like the ox.  The infant will play by the cobra’s den,    and the toddler will reach into the viper’s nest.  They will neither harm nor destroy    on all My holy mountain,  for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD    as the waters cover the sea. — Isaiah 11:5–9 Isaiah’s vision stretches our imagination to the limits. It depicts a world so permeated by God’s peace that even natural enemies live side by side without fear. Predators no longer harm, the vulnerable are completely safe, and creation is re...

Then a shoot will spring up from the stump of Jesse,     and a Branch from his roots will bear fruit. The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him—     the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,     the Spirit of counsel and strength,     the Spirit of knowledge and fear of the LORD. And He will delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what His eyes see,     and He will not decide by what His ears hear, but with righteousness He will judge the poor,     and with equity He will decide for the lowly of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth     and slay the wicked with the breath of His lips. — Isaiah 11:1-4 Isaiah paints a picture of surprising hope: a shoot growing from what looks like a dead stump. Israel’s royal line, once vibrant and flourishing, had been reduced to almost nothing through exile, rebellion, and loss. Yet God declares that from this stump—this seemingly hopeless place—new ...

But you, brothers, are not in the darkness so that this day should overtake you like a thief. For you are all sons of the light and sons of the day; we do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not sleep as the others do, but let us remain awake and sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and the helmet of our hope of salvation. — 1 Thessalonians 5:4-8 Paul’s words remind us that the coming of Christ—both His first coming in Bethlehem and His future return—changes our very identity. We are no longer “of the night” but are now “sons of the light and sons of the day.” Advent is the season in which we remember who we are because of Jesus. We do not wait in fear or confusion. We wait as people who belong to the light, people who recognize God’s redeeming work and live with hope that shines into every circumstance. Darkness may ...

Be on your guard and stay alert! For you do not know when the appointed time will come. It is like a man going on a journey who left his house, put each servant in charge of his own task, and instructed the doorkeeper to keep watch. Therefore keep watch, because you do not know when the master of the house will return—whether in the evening, at midnight, when the rooster crows, or in the morning. Otherwise, he may arrive without notice and find you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to everyone: Keep watch!” — Mark 13:33-37 Jesus’ words in this passage remind us that Advent is not only a season of comfort but also a season of alertness. His call—“Keep watch!”—is not meant to create fear but to awaken expectation. The master is returning, Jesus says, and His people are meant to live with attentive hearts, eyes open to God’s presence and hands ready for God’s work. The Christian life is not passive waiting; it is active readiness. Advent teaches us to watch for the ways Christ is alr...

And do this, understanding the time: it is already the hour for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day has drawn near. So let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. — Romans 13:11-12 Advent is the season when Scripture calls us to pay attention—to recognize that God is doing something, that His purposes are unfolding even when we are tempted to drift through life half-awake. Paul’s invitation echoes the themes of the prophets: Wake up. Look up. Take notice. The night is fading, and God’s light is approaching with ever-increasing brightness. Our salvation—God’s complete, final redemption—comes closer with each passing day. Advent reminds us that we live not in a closed story but in a story that is moving toward fulfillment. Christ’s first coming anchors our hope; His second coming completes it. Paul’s language of night and day suggests that the world around us often d...