Christ | Final Day of Advent

This devotional comes from our Advent 2025 booklet, In Quiet Expectation.

If you weren't able to pick up a copy, don't worry! We're sharing our devotionals here to help you reflect on the meaning of the season—the arrival of Jesus Christ, whose very birth began to minister to those who encountered Him.

Join us in celebrating Advent by lighting the fifth candle for Christ.

I’ve been a worship leader since I was a boy, and one of my favorite Christmas carols I got to lead every Christmas season is “Joy to the World.” What if I told you that it wasn’t written just for Christmas?

Isaac Watts wrote it as a reflection on Psalm 98, which celebrates the Lord’s coming to judge and rule the world with righteousness. In other words, “Joy to the World” was written about Jesus’ second coming, not His birth.

And yet, how fitting it is that we sing it every Christmas. This prophetic psalm, once sung by those waiting for the Messiah to come, has become a song for those of us who have received Him and now wait for Him to come again.

Here’s the good news: As we celebrate Christ’s first coming on this Christmas Eve, we join a story that stretches from ancient Israel to today. The same God who kept His promise then will keep it again. The baby in the manger is also the King who will return.

So tonight, as we remember the Messiah who came near, we share in the hope of the believers of old: that He will bring peace, that He will conquer sin and darkness, and that He will wipe away every fear and doubt.

“Let every heart prepare Him room.” The King has come, and He will come again!

We invite you to celebrate the Good News and hope of Christmas with us at one of our many Christmas Eve Services, both today and tomorrow! We'll conclude this time of quiet expectation in worship and fellowship, with hearts and eyes turned toward the One we've been awaiting: Jesus.