DAY 2: A Redemption Promise
BY: Jessica Hammond
“And I will put enmity between you (the serpent) and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”
Genesis 3:15
The Christmas promise was given all the way back in Genesis. This is where humanity’s story began. In the first three chapters of the Bible we read the account of Creation and the Fall; the story of Adam and Eve and the act of disobedience that brought sin into a perfect world. This may seem like a strange place to prepare our hearts for this season, but in today’s scripture we find God’s first Christmas promise.
Eve was deceived by the father of lies (John 8:44). When the enemy comes, it is usually not in a blatant attack, but he does his most devastating work if he can get us to doubt God and question what He really said. Eve gives in to the temptation and chooses to disobey the one command that God gave them. Then, giving the fruit to Adam, he disobeys as well. This brought devastating consequences: separation from God who is perfect and holy, death both physically and spiritually, and all of creation came under the curse of sin. Because we are all descendants of Adam, we are also sinful from conception (Psalm 51:5). The Bible says that, “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) and the wages of our sin is death (Romans 6:23). We were helpless and needed a Savior to cover our sin with the sacrifice of His perfect life. We needed Jesus to build a bridge back to God.
God could have left us in our brokenness but, instead — He turned to the enemy of our souls and made a promise of salvation for his sons and daughters “He will crush your head” (Genesis 3:15). This is our promise: Jesus would come and strike a fatal blow to our enemy and redeem us by His perfect sacrifice.
As we ‘prepare Him room’ in our hearts this season, the best place to start is with the unshakeable promises of God. Christmas is not about shopping, parties, Santa, decorations or Elf on the Shelf. There is nothing wrong with all of those things, but the true wonder of Christmas is God’s fulfillment of His promise that He would send a Rescuer to save us.
Today, let the reality of God’s great love, the magnitude of this divine rescue, and the true meaning of Christmas come alive in your heart as you reflect on what Christmas truly means.
“But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law…”
Galatians 4:44
Daily Challenge:
How has He redeemed you from your past?
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