A verse that is on my heart for the start of 2025 is Ephesians 6:17. It says, “Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
The part that is really jumping out at me is taking the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.
I feel like God is reminding me to fill up and take His Word with me wherever I go in 2025. As I do, God’s Word will build me up and strengthen me, and it will also impact those around me.
As I dwell on this thought I am reminded of Jesus when He was tempted in the desert by Satan in Matthew 4:1-11. Satan came to tempt Jesus and Jesus responded three times with Old Testament verses. Satan then left Him.
Satan still uses the same tricks against us today. He wants us to doubt God, His provision and protection, and he wants us to doubt ourselves and our mission. But like Jesus, we can quote the Bible. The key though, is to know it first.
Several days ago I posted a resource that can help you read the New Testament in one year. It has a list of all the Bible books and chapters and you can tick them off as you go. You can find it here.
I have done this a number of times over the years. It has really helped me to fill up on God’s Word each day. I would really encourage you to do it this year. Take the time to store God’s in your heart (Psalm 119:11) and allow it to renew your mind and change you in to a new person (Romans 12:2).
I honestly believe the best way we can grow in our faith in God is to fill up on His Word – the Bible. As we do, we can take the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God with us wherever we go.
In 2025, do not forget your Sword! If you do not have a Bible, you can download one here for free.
If you would like to read the New Testament in 2025 you can download our free reading plan. In this plan you can read one chapter a day and you will finish it in September. If you read one chapter five days a week you will finish it in December. If you are interested you can download it here.
You get to build your perfect space for reading and writing. What’s it like?
My perfect writing space would be were I was overlooking water. I find being near water very relaxing.
When I was younger it would have been on a country property overlooking a dam or a lake. But as I get older it could be from an apartment in the city overlooking water.
When talking with family and friends and we daydream a bit, I say I would buy a unit in South Perth where I can see the river and the city like the image below.
Looking at Perth city from the South Perth foreshore
My favourite reading place would be the same. I would have a comfortable chair near the window where I could look out the window for a break.
So where would my perfect reading and writing space be? Somewhere where I can overlook water. My perfect space would be less about the desk and chair and more about the view.
Christmas means so many different things to different people. To some it is time for a break from work after a busy year. For others it is a time to celebrate with family and friends and exchange gifts. While for others it is a time to stop and celebrate the birth of the baby Jesus.
For me as a Christian it is a combination of the three. It is a time for a break, a time to exchange gifts with family and a time to remember the baby Jesus – His birth and what it means to me.
Today I want to share three reasons why Jesus was born at Christmas. Not three reasons why He was born on December 25th, but three reasons why He was born… why He came to us.
Jesus was born at Christmas to show God is not far off and distant
Some people I speak to think that God is far off and distant. They believe He is a creator who made this world, set it in place and watches from a distance. He is at arms-length and only takes a passing interest. They think there is no way that He is involved or intervenes in our world or lives.
If we look at the Bible we see this idea is far from a reality. We see that since the creation of the world God has been intimately involved. In Genesis we see that God walked with Adam in the cool of the evening in the garden. We see God gave Moses commandments on how we should live and relate to God and each other. We see God intervened by parting the Red Sea when His people we certain to die. God even sent prophets when His people were off track and needed to be brought back to Him. We see that there was Angelic visitations record in the Bible. God announced that Mary would become pregnant with Jesus and when Jesus was born Angels appeared again.
All these things point to a God who is not far off and distant. But the most important one of all is the birth of the baby Jesus. Jesus left the glories of heaven, the perfection of heaven to be born amongst us. He didn’t come as a mighty King, He came as a humble baby born in a stable. Our carols that we sing use the word Immanuel. This means God is with us. The baby Jesus was God wrapped in skin. Nothing is more vulnerable than a new born baby. This is how Jesus came to show us what God is like. Not far off and distant, but close up and personal.
Jesus was born at Christmas to show God is for all people
One of the things I love about Jesus is that He is a Saviour for all people. In the Bible we see that He spent time with and reached out to people of all backgrounds and nationalities. This is especially interesting because at the time Jesus walked the earth, many people only spent time with people from their own people group. They did not mix with others because in many cases they thought they were unclean.
Here are a few examples of the different groups of people Jesus spent time with -The Sadducees (Matthew 22:23), the Pharisees (Matthew 12:2-6), the Herodians (Matthew 22:15-22), the Romans (Luke 7:2), the Zealots (Luke 6:15), and the Samaritans (John 4:39-42).
Combine this with Jesus spending time with other social outcasts of the day like tax collectors, prostitutes and lepers shows that Jesus was a Saviour for all people. He didn’t discriminate. He just genuinely loved and cared for people, no matter whom they were or what they had done.
Jesus was born at Christmas to show that He was a Saviour for all people. He doesn’t belong to one ethnic group, one social class of people or one period of time. He is the timeless Christmas gift – for all people, for all time.
Jesus was born at Christmas to save us
The ultimate reason why Jesus was born at Christmas was to save us. The Bible tells us in Luke 19:10 that Jesus came to seek and save the lost. And in Matthew 1:21 it says,, “And she will have a son, and you are to name Him Jesus, for He will save people from their sins”.
The Bible tells us that salvation is found in Jesus Christ. John 14:6 says, “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”. This verse tells us that Jesus is the way to the Father. The Bible also tells us in Acts 4:12 that there is no other way to find salvation. Salvation comes through Jesus Christ alone.
It was in that moment that I realised that God loved me so much that He sent Jesus into the world to save me. It began a journey where I came to the point over the next year of finding faith in Christ. My life took on a whole perspective and a whole new meaning. I didn’t feel alone in a crowd anymore. The hole inside me was filled. I realised I had a God shaped hole that could only be filled by Jesus. My life changed from being all about me, to serving God by serving others.
The good news is Jesus came for you too. God moved heaven and earth for you. He loves you and cares for you with a love that stretches out from eternity. It is a love that pierces the darkness of this world and reaches its hand out to you. Today before I hand you back over to the music team, I want to say that God loves you, He is not far off and distant, He is for you and He wants to be a part of your life.
Conclusion
Jesus was born at Christmas time to show you that God is far off and distant, that God is for all people including you and I, and that Jesus’ ultimate reason for coming at Christmas is to save us so we can spend eternity with Him.
Over the last few months I have been working my way through some reading Bible plans on the Bible app. They are by a Pastor in the UK called Rob McFarlane.
I have really enjoyed these bite sized plans as they give you a Bible verse, some reflections and end with a prayer each day. It gives me something to reflect on as I go about my day.
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