Revelation | My Everyday God

Lauren navigates the last leg of our obstacle course.

Today on our Journey to the Manger, we followed the star with the Wise Men.

God placed the star in the sky when His Son was born to share the news with the entire world. He wanted every people of every nation, tribe and tongue to know the Messiah was here—and that the world would never be the same. God sent Himself to come and dwell among us!

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem.

– Matthew 2:1

Wise Men Follow the Star

Magi in the East recognized the shift in the skies and the new light that shone forth. They understood a King had been born, and were moved to go find him. The star guided them through the rough terrain to Jerusalem, and then on to Bethlehem. The wise men entered the presence of the King, and finally understood why they came. They fell to their knees and worshiped the Savior.

Today we jumped through an obstacle course in our home, as we considered the journey the wise men took. We wove around chairs, jumped over the ottoman, leaped from pillow to pillow and dove under the piano bench.

The star beckoned the entire earth to rejoice that the King of Kings had arrived! Jesus’ birth not only affected Bethlehem and the surrounding area, it changed the world, showcased by the star in the heavens. It transforms us even now.

Jesus came to reveal Himself to all mankind, and to you and me. For God so loved the world, that He gave His One and Only Son.

Click here to learn more about celebrating Advent with your family this Christmas, including access to a Scripture plan, free downloads and activity ideas. For more on Journey to the Manger, an advent experience from Focus on the Family, visit the Thriving Family website.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea no longer existed. I also saw the Holy City, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband.

Then I heard a loud voice from the throne:
Look! God’s dwelling is with humanity, and He will live with them.
They will be His people,
and God Himself will be with them and be their God.
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes.
Death will no longer exist;
grief, crying, and pain will exist no longer,
because the previous things have passed away.

Then the One seated on the throne said, “Look! I am making everything new.”

– Revelation 21:1-5a

Today, I am thankful that God makes all things new.

There will be a day when all that we have suffered, all the mistakes and failures, every hurt we’ve endured and inflicted, all the tears and grief, and all the destruction and sin around us will pass away. God will recreate what is worn out, torn, broken and stained. He will right every wrong. He will heal every wound. God will come and establish His Kingdom in a new heaven and new earth. He will reign supreme, over all and for always.

God will live with us. We will be His people, and He will be our God. He will personally take our faces in His hands, and lovingly wipe away every tear. Death will not exist – it has been defeated and banished! Grief, crying and pain will not be found. Our old lives of sin will be finished—gone.

We will be made new.

God speaks through Isaiah, “Look, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.” (Isaiah 43:19)

Just as God will restore Israel one day, He longs to reconcile our hearts now. He sees our brokenness. He knows we are weary of trying to do life on our own. He feels our pain and wants to fill our emptiness. He stands ready, with arms outstretched, offering us the forgiveness and freedom we crave.

Will we let Him hold us? Will we give in and accept His embrace?

When we submit to God, and trust Him for salvation, He will remake us.