Christmas Calls You to Mission: Day 1, God's Heart for the World

Christmas Calls You to Mission Day 1: God’s Heart for the World Devotional When we think of Christmas, we often picture a cozy nativity scene with shepherds and angels. But Matthew’s account introduces us to unexpected visitors—wise men from a distant land who practiced astrology. These weren’t religious people by Jewish standards, yet God used their pagan practices to guide them to Jesus. This reveals something beautiful about God’s heart: He wants Jesus to be found by everyone, everywhere. God’s plan wasn’t limited to one nation or people group. The arrival of these foreign magi signals that Jesus came for the whole world. God had promised Abraham that all nations would be blessed through his descendant, and here we see that promise beginning to unfold. The same God who placed a star in the sky to guide these seekers is still at work today, drawing people from every corner of the earth to worship at the feet of Jesus. This should fill us with hope and excitement. No matter how far someone seems from God, no matter their background or beliefs, God is actively working to reveal Jesus to them. He uses circumstances, people, and even unexpected means to point hearts toward His Son. Bible Verse And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. - Galatians 3:8-9 Reflection Question How does knowing that God actively pursues people from all backgrounds and nations change the way you view the people in your daily life who don’t yet know Jesus? Quote “God wants Jesus to be found. God wants to save sinners. God has and will use the gospel to draw people all over the world to worship at the feet of Jesus Christ, and he’s invited us to be a part of that.” Prayer Father, thank You that Your love knows no boundaries. Help me to see the people around me through Your eyes. Give me faith to believe that You are working in ways I cannot see to draw hearts to Jesus. Amen.