2025 Advent Devotion: Day 25

Thursday, December 25

Isaiah 9:2-7; Psalm 96; Titus 2:11-14

Christmas has arrived! The decorations are up, the shopping is over, meals are being prepared, and time with loved ones fills our homes with joy. For Brit and me, this has always been one of our favorite times of year. We treasure the gatherings, the laughter around the table, the traditions passed down, and the simple joy of being with family.

But above all these things, as Christians, we celebrate something even greater. What was promised has been fulfilled. The waiting of Advent, the quiet hope, now bursts into song: “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11).

On this day we remember the name given to Jesus: Emmanuel, which means “God with us.” The child in the manger is more than a symbol of hope. He is God’s very presence come near, entering our world not from a distance but in flesh and blood. Emmanuel reminds us that God does not leave us in our brokenness or meet us only in our strength. He comes close in our weakness, in our joy and sorrow, and in every ordinary moment of life. Christmas proclaims that we are never alone because God Himself is with us.

Because God is with us, His mercy is poured out in a way we could never earn. Paul captures this in Titus 3, reminding us that the kindness and love of God appeared, not because of our works or because we deserved it, but because of His grace. Through Jesus, we are washed, renewed, and made heirs of eternal life. Christmas is God’s love story written into our lives: the Word becoming flesh, dwelling with us, and redeeming us.

When the shepherds met Jesus, they did not keep silent. These ordinary men working an ordinary night became the first messengers of the extraordinary. They glorified God and spread the news of what they had seen and heard. Christmas invites us into that same pattern: to hear the good news, to see the Savior with eyes of faith, and to go out proclaiming Christ.

Today, amid gifts, gatherings, and traditions, remember the truest gift: Jesus Christ, born for us. He is the fulfillment of every prophecy, the joy of every heart, and the hope for every future.

This is Christmas. This is joy. This is salvation. Christ the Lord is born today.

From our family to yours, Brit and I wish you a very Merry Christmas, filled with the joy and peace of Christ.



Nate Evans
Gardner-Webb University President