We know what Christmas looks like on earth. Trees and lights and songs and wreaths but what about from heaven’s perspective? Revelation 12 gives us a behind-the-scenes glimpse of Christmas. While Mary gave birth in a humble stable, heaven was celebrating the arrival of the Child who would defeat evil forever. It’s like a cosmic victory party, with angels cheering and joy flowing like waves through all of eternity.
That joy isn’t just reserved for angels and heavenly choirs. It’s ours too. Jesus’ birth wasn’t just an event in history; it was the start of a revolution of hope, love, and salvation. Heaven’s joy invites us to join the celebration here on Earth.
Reflection: How can you make room for heaven’s joy in your heart this Christmas?
Application: Celebrate big! Bake cookies, light candles, and share the story of Jesus with someone. Heaven’s joy is too good to keep to yourself.
Joy in suffering? At first, it sounds as out of place as a snowstorm in July. But Paul shows us that even in hardship, joy is possible because suffering produces perseverance, character, and hope.
The Christmas story isn’t free from struggle. Mary and Joseph faced rejection and uncertainty, yet their journey brought them to the joy of Jesus. Advent reminds us that joy isn’t found in perfect circumstances—it’s found in knowing Jesus is with us, even in life’s messiest moments. And it’s even better when we have a church family that’s willing to meet us in that very same messiness of life.
Reflection: How can you lean into joy, even when life feels hard this season?
Application: Look for glimpses of Christ’s presence in your challenges. Joy isn’t the absence of struggle; it’s the presence of hope in the midst of struggle.
The angel’s announcement to the shepherds wasn’t just good news—it was great joy for all people! Imagine being one of those shepherds, sitting in the dark fields when the sky explodes with light and music. That kind of joy isn’t quiet; it’s the kind that makes you jump up, shout, and run to Bethlehem.
Christmas is a reminder that the good news of Jesus is for everyone: the busy parent, the lonely neighbor, the overworked employee, and the wide-eyed child. It’s the kind of joy that transforms ordinary nights into holy moments.
Reflection: Who in your life needs to hear the good news this season?
Application: Share the good news of Jesus with someone, whether it’s through words, actions, or a simple invitation to church.
My mind works in some pretty weird ways – I’ll admit that one. Like this for example. Picture getting to heaven and standing at those proverbial pearly gates. But instead of the smiling face of Jesus or the skeptical face of Thomas, you are greeted by the stern face of a 350lb man with an angry face. He’s dressed in all black with the words Bouncer across the chest.
Now that would be a sight wouldn’t it! A bouncer at the gates of heaven! I really don’t think anyone wants a heaven guarded by a bouncer. So why do so many churches act like cultural bouncers rather than heavenly ushers?
When Jesus told us to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31), He didn’t add a bunch of fine print. He didn’t say, “Love your neighbor, but only if they think like you, vote like you, or live like you.” And when He commanded us to “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44), He didn’t mean we should grudgingly mutter a prayer for people we dislike just so we can check a spiritual box. No, Jesus’ words cut deeper. They challenge us to the core.
So, here’s the truth: Heaven needs more ushers—people willing to open doors, extend invitations, welcome strangers, and walk people into the grace of God—and way fewer bouncers, those who slam doors shut based on who they think belongs inside.
Bouncers Block the Kingdom
A bouncer’s job at a club or event is pretty clear: keep the “wrong people” out. If you don’t look right, act right, or meet the standards, the bouncer has no problem saying, “Move along.” Unfortunately, far too often, Christians fall into this bouncer mindset. We size people up. We create criteria for who’s worthy of love, grace, and even a seat at church. We make it harder to experience the grace of Jesus than we do get into a presidential banquet. You have to dress a certain way, memorize specific content from the Bible or other confessional book, do church the same way everyone else it, etc.
But let’s remember Jesus’ words to the religious leaders of His day—leaders who turned faith into an exclusive club. He told them in Matthew 23:13: “Woe to you… You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces.” Ouch. That’s what happens when we act like bouncers.
When we treat the church like a VIP lounge for the already-cleaned-up, we block the very people Jesus came to save. The broken, the messy, the outcasts—these are the people He welcomed. “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick,” Jesus said (Luke 5:31).
Ask yourself this: Are you standing at the door of your life, sizing people up? Are you deciding who deserves your kindness, your forgiveness, or even a prayer? If so, it’s time to put down the clipboard and hand out an invitation instead. Are you trying to purify people of their moral choices before letting them get to know the Jesus who died for them? Are you making them believe before they’re allowed to belong?
Ushers Open Doors
An usher’s job is the exact opposite. They welcome people in. They smile, extend a hand, and show others where to sit. Ushers remove obstacles so people can get where they need to go. In the church, they don’t just open physical doors—they open spiritual ones. They say, “Come as you are. You belong here. There’s a place for you at the table.”
And isn’t that just what Jesus did?
When He met the woman at the well in John 4, she came with baggage—relational failures, shame, isolation. Jesus didn’t play the bouncer. He didn’t say, “You’re not good enough to talk to me.” No, He treated her with dignity, spoke truth with love, and offered her living water. He opened the door to a new life.
When Zacchaeus climbed that sycamore tree (Luke 19), the crowds had already labeled him an outcast. Yet Jesus didn’t push the little guy aside. Instead, He said, “I must stay at your house today.” Jesus opened a door, and Zacchaeus’ life was changed forever.
This is what ushers do—they extend grace, they make space, and they trust God to do the necessary work in people’s lives.
Loving Our Neighbor AND Our Enemy
Here’s where it gets hard, though. Loving your neighbor as yourself is challenging enough, but Jesus didn’t stop there. He also said, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). And let’s be honest: that’s a tough pill to swallow.
Enemies? The coworker who undermines you. The family member who betrayed you. The person whose views offend you. The follower of Jesus who worships different than you or sings different songs than you. In our bouncer persona, we want to shut the door on them. We want to keep them out of our hearts, out of our lives, and maybe even out of our church. But Jesus totally flips the script.
Loving your enemy doesn’t mean agreeing with them. It doesn’t mean letting them walk all over you. But it does mean praying for them, showing kindness, and leaving room for God’s grace to do its work. Romans 12:20 says, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.” Why? Because love softens hearts. Love opens doors.
The Church, Simply Put, Needs More Ushers
The world already has enough bouncers—people quick to judge, exclude, and reject. What it needs are ushers, people who take seriously the call to love others the way Jesus loves us.
Think about it: Did Jesus act like a bouncer when He saved you? Did He stand at the door and say, “Come back when you’re perfect?” No. He opened His arms wide. He welcomed you in. He let you belong before you fully believed.
And now, He’s asking you to do the same for others.
So, let’s put down our pride. Let’s drop the “bouncer mentality” that says, “You’re not good enough.” Instead, let’s become ushers in God’s Kingdom—people who live with open hearts, open hands, and open doors.
Who can you love this week? Who can you forgive? Who needs a seat at the table?
Because love doesn’t shut people out. Love invites them in.
If Isaiah were alive today, he might’ve written a Christmas carol about God’s salvation. His words burst with joy: “Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid.” It’s the kind of joy that makes you want to sing at the top of your lungs—even if you can’t carry a tune in a bucket!
Christmas is a celebration of salvation. Jesus came to rescue us, not just from sin but also from fear, loneliness, and despair. His salvation is like unwrapping the biggest, most unexpected gift under the tree—nope not the Red Rider BB Gun. I’m talking about joy – pure joy!
This Advent, rejoice in the gift of salvation. Let it lift your spirits and inspire your song.
Reflection: What has God saved you from, and how does that bring you joy today?
Application: Sing! Whether it’s a carol or a simple prayer of thanks, let your joy overflow in praise.
Imagine a group of travelers going hundreds of miles with a treasure chest in tow, guided by nothing more than a star. When they finally found Jesus, their first reaction wasn’t relief or exhaustion—it was joy! They “rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.”
The Wisemen remind us that joy comes from seeking (and finding) Jesus. They didn’t let the long journey or the uncertainty stop them. And when they found Him, they gave their best gifts—not because they had to, but because their hearts were overflowing. Overflowing with joy!
This season, let’s follow their lead. Joy isn’t about perfect plans or shiny packages. It’s about finding Jesus, wherever we are.
Reflection: What would it look like for you to “seek” Jesus this Advent?
Application: Let the joy of Christ fill your heart. Share it with others through laughter, generosity, and maybe a little Christmas smile!
Have you ever tried to measure the love in that perfect Christmas gift? A handmade scarf shows thoughtfulness. A heartfelt card brings tears. But God’s love? That one is immeasurable.
Paul prays that we’d grasp the width, length, height, and depth of Christ’s love—a love so vast it can’t fit under the tree. It’s a love that crosses the galaxies to meet you in your living room, a love that fills every empty corner of your heart.
This Advent, let Christ’s love fill you to overflowing. It’s not just a gift to receive but one to share generously with others.
Reflection: Where do you see God’s love at work in your life this Advent season?
Application: Love big! Go out of your way to show someone they’re deeply loved by God—and by you.
God’s love is bigger than your longest Christmas shopping list! The psalmist says, “Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.” It’s a love that never fails, even when we do.
Think about the people you love most—family, friends, maybe even that crazy uncle who tells the same stories every Christmas. Now multiply that love by infinity, and you’ve got a glimpse of God’s affection for you. Ok so you don’t even have a glimpse because we can’t even fathom a love that big!
This Advent, bask in the unfailing love of God. It’s a love that doesn’t fade with the season but sticks around all year long.
Reflection: How can you let God’s love shape your relationships this Christmas?
Application: Let love lead! Choose forgiveness, patience, and kindness, reflecting the limitless love of God.
Immanuel. It means “God with us.” That’s the heart of Christmas: God didn’t stay distant; He stepped into our messy, chaotic world to be with us. He didn’t arrive in royal robes but in tattered and swaddling cloths, laid in a manger.
Picture a king trading his throne for a stable, just to be near his people. That’s Jesus. He doesn’t wait for us to have it all together—He meets us in our everyday struggles, joys, and even the holiday chaos. He meets us in the messiness of our day to day lives.
This Christmas, take comfort in knowing you’re never alone. Immanuel means Jesus is with you in every carol sung, every cookie baked, and every quiet moment of prayer. He’s also with you though in every screaming kiddo, over blown budget, and family gathering that didn’t go as planned!
Immanuel is God with you!
Reflection: How can you make space to experience God’s presence this Advent?
Application: Slow down. Pause during the busyness to thank God for being with you every step of the way.
The shepherds were the night-shift workers of ancient Israel—ordinary folks doing an ordinary job. But on that first Christmas night, angels filled the sky with a message just for them: “A Savior has been born to you!” Imagine their awe as heaven’s choir sang a private concert just for them.
Those common, ordinary, anything but significant shepherds were the first to hear of the amazing news of the birth of Jesus. How great is it that God didn’t choose the elite or the high powered but instead the humble and lowly! Sure gives me a chance!
And the shepherds didn’t stay in their fields either. They dropped everything, ran to Bethlehem, and found Jesus lying in a manger. It was exactly as the angels told them. Their love for the newborn King couldn’t be contained—they shared the good news with everyone they met.
This season, let’s follow their example. Let’s look beyond the outward trappings and see the heart of those around us. And when love bursts into your life, you can’t help but share it!
Reflection: Who needs to hear the good news of Jesus from you this Advent?
Application: Love isn’t meant to be bottled up. Let your joy overflow in conversations, hugs, and maybe even a Christmas card.
