Dear Friend,
Two thousand years ago, Jesus Christ came to Earth on a rescue mission, to provide a way of escape for us from the bondage of sin and death. We desperately needed a Savior, and because of the Father’s great love, He sent us His only Son. “You shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21, NKJV).
At Christmas, we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ in the little town of Bethlehem, and this joyful season is called Advent, which means “coming” or “arrival.” As you prepare your heart for this special time of the year, I pray that these devotions will help you focus on God’s Greatest Gift to us and lead you to worship Him—the real meaning of the season!
May God richly bless you,
Franklin Graham
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Week One: Code Red
SCRIPTURE READING: Romans 3:21–26
“But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”
GOD CREATED the first people, Adam and Eve, to live in harmony with Himself and each other. The Bible says the Lord created them “in his own image” (Genesis 1:27) and gave them dominion over every living thing. Out of all creation, only they could enjoy a personal relationship with Him, marked by obedience, security, love, and acceptance.
However, through their disobedience (see Genesis 3), sin entered the world, poisoning the perfect environment and bringing the penalty of death and eternal separation from God. Adam and Eve suddenly felt shame as they realized their nakedness. In His grace, God made for them “garments of skin and clothed them” (Genesis 3:21). This was the first shedding of blood to cover sin—it was truly a “Code Red” situation.
Their fellowship with God was broken, and we all—as their descendants—inherited their sinful nature. Centuries later, the Apostle Paul wrote, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), and “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). The deadly curse from the Garden has fallen on all of us.
But God did not leave them—or us today—without hope. He set plans in motion for a bold rescue.
PRAYER: Father, thank You for sending Your Son on a mission to save me. Help me to share this Good News with others who have never received Him in repentance and faith.
