Christmas Eve • I decorated my tree on Christmas Eve. It was a journey through my life history. As we listen to the genealogy of Jesus, we get a brief summary of the history of the entire Bible. Only one name is repeated. Each person is a unique link on the chain that leads to Jesus. You are precious and unique. God delights in you and rejoices in you.

Not all of us are faithful. In fact, most of us are not faithful some of the time. God was faithful to his side of the covenant even when the ancestors of Jesus were not faithful to their side of the covenant. God sent his Son so that we could be born again.

We don't always get the things we ask for from God. Even when we don't get what we wanted, we always get the gift we needed. Jimmy learned an important lesson when his little brother proved a better gift than a bicycle.

Many of us will leave Jesus at church and not take him home with us because he doesn't fit our expectations or our lifestyle choices. But those who are willing to take him home will realize that he's exactly what they always needed. Because only this gift can save you.

(24 Dec 2025)

Going Deeper: When did God not answer your prayers with the gift you were hoping for? What did he give you instead of what you asked for?

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