Note: This devotion material was purchased digitally from YM360 to be used for the Advent Season of 2024.
Day One: A First Promise of a Hope to Come
“I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” -Genesis 3:15
When was the last time you waited a long time for something you really wanted? What was it like hoping for the day or thing to arrive? Since the beginning, humanity has been waiting for something. You see, the very first humans on earth disobeyed God and felt the weight of sin and shame for the very first time. Sin breaks our relationship with God and keeps us from His freedom and joy. Basically, humans started off needing a Savior, needing hope.
Maybe you’ve felt like you’ve needed hope before, too. We can actually look to this verse to find some of that hope!
In this verse, God spoke the first promise of hope to come to us. Since Adam and Eve, the first humans created, humanity has had an enemy called Satan. But there is also a promise that an offspring, also known as a descendant of Eve, will bruise the enemy’s head. The singular word is used for offspring here, which tells us one person will come to defeat the enemy. This was fulfilled by God sending Jesus to Earth for us! In the end, Jesus will overcome Satan, even though Jesus was “bruised” by Satan on the Cross as He died for our sins.
The hymn, “Come, Though Long-Expected Jesus,” speaks of this victory over our enemy, His gracious kingdom, and His glorious throne. Jesus may have been born a baby on Christmas, but He grew up to hold the final victory for all of eternity! And Jesus invites us to be part of that victory and a part of His Kingdom. What an amazing invitation that has the potential to change everything for us.
Questions:
1. How does it feel to know that Jesus brings us hope when we place our faith in Him?
2. Have you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior?
3. If you have, how has that changed your life for the better?
4. If you haven’t, what’s holding you back, and who can you talk to about it?