Devotionals

Luke 2:8 “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.“ Shepherds were ordinary, overlooked, and sometimes despised. Yet God chose them—not princes, not scholars, not priests—to receive heaven’s greatest announcement. This reveals the heart of God: He delights in meeting the humble and lifting the…

Luke 2:7 “And she brought forth her firstborn son… and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.“ There was no room for Jesus in the inn, but He came anyway. Not in a palace, not with applause, but in a manger—a feeding trough. God chose the lowest

Luke 2:4–5 “And Joseph also went up from Galilee… to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.“ Joseph and Mary’s journey was not glamorous. It was long, tiring, uncomfortable, and filled with uncertainty. Yet they obeyed without complaint. Sometimes God’s will looks more like a long, mundane road than a mountaintop

Luke 2:1 “And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.” God used a pagan emperor’s decree to move Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem—exactly where the Messiah needed to be born. What seemed like political pressure and unwanted inconvenience was

“Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?” — Matthew 6:26 If you live around Kitchener, you’ve probably seen those big, dark turkey vultures soaring overhead. They’re not exactly the most glamorous birds

Genesis 33:5  “And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, Who are those with thee? And he said, The children which God hath graciously given thy servant.” Jacob introduced his family to Esau, not with pride but with gratitude. He acknowledged that his children were a gift from

Genesis 33:9  “And Esau said, I have enough, my brother; keep that thou hast unto thyself.” Esau wasn’t concerned about gifts or possessions; he valued peace with his brother. In a world that constantly measures success by wealth, God reminds us that relationships are the real treasure. Esau had enough because reconciliation was worth more

Genesis 33:1–2  “And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids.” Jacob faced what he feared most—meeting Esau again. With his family behind him, Jacob took the risk of reconciliation. Fear

Genesis 33:4  “And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept.” Jacob braced himself for anger, but instead was met with forgiveness. Esau’s embrace shocked him—restoration came when he least expected it. Isn’t that the beauty of forgiveness? It disarms fear and replaces it

Genesis 33:3  “And he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.” Jacob approached Esau with humility, bowing himself to the ground. This was not weakness, but strength—the strength to admit his past wrongs and to seek reconciliation rather than retaliation. How often do