Text if you need me? Prayer or just need encouragement…
What if the heart of Christmas is not nostalgia but rescue? On the day before Christmas, we pause the rush and sit with John 3:16–17 to ask a deeper question: why did God choose this moment, and why arrive in such a humble way? We walk through Bethlehem with Mary and Joseph, then trace four simple words that carry the weight of the gospel: love, gift, promise, and judgment, discovering how each one reframes the season and speaks to our real lives.
This reflection is part of a 25‑day Christmas devotional journey that pairs each written entry with a short, thoughtful audio companion. If you’ve been feeling the pressure of the season, let this time of Scripture and prayer steady your heart and remind you why joy at Christmas is both honest and enduring. We close with a simple prayer and a clear path forward: praise God for his love, receive the greatest gift, cling to the promise, and walk in mercy.
If this encouraged you, subscribe to stay with us through the rest of the series, share it with a friend who needs hope today, and leave a review to help others find these reflections. Your voice helps this community grow.
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Podcast Music by: prazkhanal
Song: Whip
Episode Transcript
Hello, hello.
This is Jesse Morgan Devotionsfor the Christian Heart Podcast.
Welcome, welcome.
This year I'm bringing my 25-dayChristmas devotional to life in
a new way.
Beginning on day 11 through day25, each devotional entry now
has a matching mini podcastepisode, a simple 8 to 10 minute
reflection designed to help youslow down and truly sit with the
(00:22):
story of Jesus' birth.
Each episode clearly follows thesame day as the written
devotional, so day 11 in thebook is day 11 on the podcast
and so forth.
My hope is that these dailyaudio reflections make the
journey to Christmas feel evenmore personal, peaceful, and
meaningful.
Thank you for being here.
Let's go.
(00:46):
The Why Behind Christmas,Episode 91, day 24, Key Passage,
John 3, 16 through 17, and itsays, For God so loved the world
that he gave his one and onlySon, that whoever believes in
him should not perish, but haveever eternal life.
For God did not send his soninto the world to condemn the
world, but to save the worldthrough him.
(01:10):
Today is the day beforeChristmas, a day filled with
anticipation, reflection, andquiet wonder.
Mary and Joseph have arrived inBethlehem.
They've traveled a longdistance, they're tired, and
they're searching for a place tostay.
We know how the story unfolds.
But today I want to want us topause and focus on the why
(01:31):
behind it all.
Why did God choose this moment?
Why did He choose this way?
Our scripture today comes fromone of the most well-known
passages in the Bible that Ijust read, John 3, 16 and 17.
This passage beautifully sums upthe entire gospel message, I
feel.
If I had to break it down intojust four words, they would be
(01:54):
this love, gift, promise,judgment.
First, love.
God's love is so unconditional.
He didn't wait for the world toclean itself up.
He loved us fully andcompletely, even in our
sinfulness.
This reminds us that no sin istoo big and no person is too far
(02:14):
gone for his love.
Number two, the gift.
God gave the ultimate gift, hisone and only Son.
Jesus was born, he lived amongus, and ultimately saved us from
sin.
As we prepare to exchange giftstomorrow, let's remember that
this is the greatest gift evergiven.
(02:34):
Number three, the promise.
The promise of salvation isclear and simple.
Whoever believes in Jesus willhave eternal life.
It's not about works, it's notabout perfection, it's not about
earning it.
It's about faith.
And finally, number four,judgment.
Jesus didn't come to condemn theworld.
(02:57):
He didn't come to shame or pointfingers.
He came to save us.
He came to be the solution ofsin and to offer us a way out
through him.
So as we prepare to celebrateChristmas tomorrow, let's take a
moment to praise God for hislove, his gift, his promise, and
his mercy.
(03:17):
These truths are the foundationof Christmas and the very reason
Jesus came, the Messiah, ourSavior.
Let's pray.
Lord, thank you for providingthe perfect solution to
salvation through Jesus Christ.
We're so grateful, Lord, for thesavior you gave us and for your
unconditional love.
We don't deserve it.
I pray that we as believerswould represent you well in all
(03:40):
that we do.
Help us to share the gospel withconfidence, with love, and
without judgment towards others.
We love you and we praise you,Lord, in Jesus' name.
Amen.
Till next time.
Thank you for listening.
This episode is part of myChristmas devotional series
inspired by my writtendevotional, 25 Days Till
(04:01):
Christmas, a scriptured-filledjourney preparing our hearts to
celebrate the birth of Jesus.
I invite you to read along andreflect on his story in a deeper
way.
Details in the show notes forthe written devotional.
And it also says in Scripture,Glory to God in the highest, and
on earth, peace, goodwilltowards men.
Luke 2, 14.
And don't miss the nextreflection in this Christmas
(04:23):
series by subscribing to thepodcast to continue walking
through God's word this season.
And a little bit about me.
I'm Jesse Morgan, wife, mom, anddevotional writer and podcaster
who loves sharing biblicalencouragement and the hope we
find in Jesus.
Till next time, Jesse Morgansigning off.
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