Advent Devotional: Because I Love You, I Won’t Withhold the Promise to Come

Scripture Focus

Luke 1:28–33 (NASB 1995)
“And coming in, he said to her, ‘Greetings, favored one. The Lord is with you…’”
 
 
 
Sermon Reflection
 
Advent reminds us that Christmas is not about human effort or achievement. We did not initiate redemption, and we did not earn God’s intervention. We were invited into a story that God had already written. Like arriving at a table already prepared, we are welcomed into a promise that was set long before we ever knew we needed it.
 
The promise of Christ did not begin in Bethlehem. It was spoken in the garden, echoed through the covenants, and reaffirmed through the prophets. Even in humanity’s first failure, God chose not to withdraw His love or abandon His plan. He promised a Deliverer, and He kept that promise.
 
When the angel Gabriel appears to Mary, this is not a sudden change in direction, but the fulfillment of centuries of faithfulness. Mary’s story reminds us that God’s promises are rooted in His character, not our worthiness. She was favored not because she earned it, but because God chose to give grace. In the same way, Advent calls us to rest in the truth that God does not withhold what He has promised. Because He loves us, He came.
 
 
How We Should Respond
 
We respond to this truth by letting go of the idea that God’s love must be earned. Like Mary, we may feel unqualified or unsettled by grace, yet God’s favor is not fragile or conditional. This week, we are invited to receive the promise with humility and trust, remembering that God’s faithfulness does not depend on our perfection. Advent begins by slowing our hearts enough to believe that God truly keeps His word.
 
 
 
Weekly Prayer
 
Gracious Father,
Thank You for being a God who keeps His promises. Thank You that even when we failed, You did not withhold Your love or Your plan of redemption. As we enter this Advent season, help us to receive Your grace with humility and faith. Quiet our fears, soften our hearts, and remind us that Your promises are secure because they rest on who You are. Prepare us to celebrate not just the birth of Christ, but the faithfulness behind His coming.
Amen.
 
 
 
5-Day Application Plan
 
Day 1, Remember the Promise
Read Genesis 3:15 and reflect on how early God revealed His plan to redeem humanity. Thank Him for loving you from the very beginning.
 
Day 2, Rest in God’s Faithfulness
Read Isaiah 9:6–7. Consider how God’s promises unfold in His timing, not ours. Where do you need to trust Him more?
 
Day 3, Receive Grace Humbly
Read Luke 1:29–30. Notice Mary’s humility. Ask God to help you receive grace without fear or self-doubt.
 
Day 4, See the Bigger Story
Read 2 Samuel 7:12–14. Reflect on how God weaves His promises across generations. Thank Him for inviting you into His story.
 
Day 5, Live With Expectant Hope
Read Luke 1:31–33. Prepare your heart for what God is still unfolding. Pray with anticipation as Christmas approaches.
 
 
 
Final Thought
 
Advent begins with a promise kept. Before the manger, before the angels, before the songs, there was a God who refused to withhold His love. As we move toward Christmas Day, may we remember this truth: the coming of Christ was not an accident or a reaction, but an expression of steadfast love. Because He loves us, He came, and because He came, we can live in hope.