Author: THERESA JACOBSON

Listening for the Promise
Weekly Devotional

Listening for the Promise
Weekly Devotional

First Sunday after Christmas – December 27, 2027
“And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son 
into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’”
- Galatians 4:6 -
Today, Tomorrow, and Always
The Christmas season is a time to gather, for homecomings and remembering. It is also a time when relationships are put to the test; the pressure of holiday gatherings is sometimes too much to bear. Old grudges bubble to the top and bitter rivalries explode. Some experience resentment because of family expectations, while others have unreasonable demands about the time together. Relationships are strained, and peace seems impossible in the midst of the brokenness. 
Our brokenness extends to our relationship with God our Father. We are experiencing the joy Christmas, but we have lingering doubts about His story. Paul’s letter brings these doubts to light; we wonder about our relationship with the God who is faithful to His promises. Is that relationship strained and uncomfortable like those around our holiday dinner tables? One of Paul’s analogies throughout his letters is that we are slaves, but he reminds us in this letter that though we were sinners, we have been set free to be sons of God. Sadly, we hold on to our sins, continuing to be slaves to all that keeps us from knowing and loving God fully and freely, just as happens in our earthly families.
Jesus Christ came to make us sons, healing our brokenness, and adopting us to be His children. The Kingdom of God belongs to us, and we are called to live and laugh and love as heirs of His Kingdom, doing all we do for God’s glory. We live in an incredible promise.
That promise began at Christmas and in these days following the glorious event, we ponder the story more deeply. We are called to praise Him for the beauty of His creation and for the goodness of His dealings with His people. He is our Father, and we are heirs to His Kingdom thanks to the baby that was named Jesus who was the fulfillment of all His promises. We delight in God because He has done this great thing, and our praise is our witness to the faithfulness of the God who has kept His promises for His people today, tomorrow, and always.
First Sunday after Christmas – December 27, 2027
“And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son 
into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’”
- Galatians 4:6 -
Today, Tomorrow, and Always
The Christmas season is a time to gather, for homecomings and remembering. It is also a time when relationships are put to the test; the pressure of holiday gatherings is sometimes too much to bear. Old grudges bubble to the top and bitter rivalries explode. Some experience resentment because of family expectations, while others have unreasonable demands about the time together. Relationships are strained, and peace seems impossible in the midst of the brokenness. 
Our brokenness extends to our relationship with God our Father. We are experiencing the joy Christmas, but we have lingering doubts about His story. Paul’s letter brings these doubts to light; we wonder about our relationship with the God who is faithful to His promises. Is that relationship strained and uncomfortable like those around our holiday dinner tables? One of Paul’s analogies throughout his letters is that we are slaves, but he reminds us in this letter that though we were sinners, we have been set free to be sons of God. Sadly, we hold on to our sins, continuing to be slaves to all that keeps us from knowing and loving God fully and freely, just as happens in our earthly families.
Jesus Christ came to make us sons, healing our brokenness, and adopting us to be His children. The Kingdom of God belongs to us, and we are called to live and laugh and love as heirs of His Kingdom, doing all we do for God’s glory. We live in an incredible promise.
That promise began at Christmas and in these days following the glorious event, we ponder the story more deeply. We are called to praise Him for the beauty of His creation and for the goodness of His dealings with His people. He is our Father, and we are heirs to His Kingdom thanks to the baby that was named Jesus who was the fulfillment of all His promises. We delight in God because He has done this great thing, and our praise is our witness to the faithfulness of the God who has kept His promises for His people today, tomorrow, and always.

Sola Worship Resource — Weekly Devotional © 2026 Sola Publishing (www.solapublishing.org), written by Peggy Hoppes. Scripture taken from ESV Bible® (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright ©2001 . Scripture taken from ESV Bible® (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright ©2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Sola Worship Resource — Weekly Devotional © 2026 Sola Publishing (www.solapublishing.org), written by Peggy Hoppes. Scripture taken from ESV Bible® (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright ©2001 . Scripture taken from ESV Bible® (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright ©2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.