December crowds our calendars and our hearts. It’s a season of gifts, gatherings, and glitter—and, if we’re honest, a season when other allegiances easily creep onto the throne of our hearts. Advent invites us to slow down, look up, and make room for the only King who belongs there. The gospel announces a simple but profound truth: Jesus is Lord. And why He came, who He is, and how we respond changes everything.

Who He Is: Not Just a Teacher—Jesus is God and Lord

At Christmas, many admire Jesus as an inspiring moral teacher or a sentimental symbol of peace. But the Scriptures refuse to leave us with a reduced Jesus. The child in the manger is the eternal Word who “became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:1–14). He is the Lord who “did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,” yet humbled Himself to save us (Philippians 2:5–11).

To confess that Jesus is Lord is not merely to nod at a religious idea. It is to acknowledge His deity, authority, and rightful allegiance over every part of life. Christmas is not a quaint story; it’s the announcement of a Kingdom and a King.

Why He Came: From Manger to Cross

Why did Jesus come? Because love moved Him. The angel told Joseph, “You shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). We don’t need a life coach; we need a Savior. Sin estranges us from God, enslaves our hearts, and distorts our witness. But God’s gift of grace is this: the Lord took on flesh so He could take our place. “Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18).

The cross was not an accident; it was necessary for our salvation, forgiveness, and freedom from sin (Romans 6:22). From manger to cross to empty tomb, the mission of the Incarnation was always rescue, restoration, and the making of a holy people for His Kingdom.

How We Receive: The Gift We Don’t Earn

Advent declares that salvation is a gift, not a wage. We don’t climb to God; God came to us. The Bible teaches: “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9–10). We receive the gift by grace through faith—never by our performance—so that no one can boast (Ephesians 2:8–10).

And yet grace doesn’t leave us unchanged. The same Spirit who opens our eyes to Jesus’ glory now reshapes our lives to reflect His holiness, kindness, and compassion.

No Rival Thrones: Allegiance That Shapes Life

To confess Jesus is Lord is to renounce idols—competing allegiances that claim our worship. In December, those idols often look respectable: consumerism, hurry, control, or the need to be seen. Advent discipleship says, “No rival thrones.” The King has come; the throne is taken.

• Allegiance: Jesus doesn’t share Lordship. He commands our heart, habits, and hopes.
• Surrender: We surrender what rules us—our schedule, wallet, words, and private worlds—to His good reign.
• Obedience: Love for Jesus shows up in everyday decisions that reflect His Kingdom.

“Little children, keep yourselves from idols” is as timely in December as ever (1 John 5:21).

The Fruit of Genuine Faith: Kindness, Compassion, and Holiness

How do we recognize the shape of a heart where Christ reigns? Scripture offers a “sufficient test” of genuine faith—not to earn God’s love, but to display its power.

• Control your speech: Our tongues reveal our hearts. We build up instead of tearing down (James 1:26–27; Ephesians 4:29).
• Care for the vulnerable: “Pure and undefiled religion” visits the orphan, the widow, the stranger—the least of these (James 1:27; Matthew 25:35–40).
• Pursue purity and holiness: By the Spirit, we say no to sin and yes to a life that looks like Jesus (Galatians 5:22–23).

These are not add-ons to the Christian life; they’re the fruit of a life where Jesus is Lord is more than a confession—it’s our practice and our joy.

The Posture That Opens the Door: Humility and Prayer

If the Incarnation is God stooping low, then Advent calls us to humility. We come to God not with clenched fists but with open hands—dependent, meek, ready to receive direction and power. A heart of prayer is a heart that expects God to act. Humility says, “Lord, I need You,” and prayer turns that confession into daily reliance.

Practices for an Undistracted Advent

Ready to receive the gift and clear the throne? Consider these simple, concrete steps this season:

1. Begin each day with humble prayer: “Jesus, You are Lord. I receive Your gift of grace again today. Lead me; I will follow.”
2. Confess and remove one rival: Identify an idol—comparison, hurry, consumerism—and replace it with a habit of worship. For example, pause for Scripture reading before you check your phone (John 1:1–14).
3. Practice Spirit-shaped kindness: Choose one act of unexpected kindness daily. Let your witness shine through love and joy.
4. Guard your words: Ask, “Will this build others up?” before posting or speaking (Ephesians 4:29).
5. Care for the vulnerable: Give, serve, or invite. Consider supporting a local ministry or inviting someone lonely to your table (James 1:27).
6. Pursue purity: Set boundaries online; confess sin quickly; ask a trusted friend to pray with you. Holiness is freedom, not drudgery.
7. Test your heart with Scripture: Read Philippians 2:5–11 and ask, “Where can I mirror Christ’s humility today?” (Philippians 2:5–11).

From Identity to Gift to Response

Here is the Advent arc in three movements:

• Identity: Jesus is God and Lord—worthy of worship and our exclusive allegiance.
• Gift: He came and died to save us, forgive us, and make us holy—this is grace we receive, not a wage we earn.
• Response: Confess Jesus is Lord, and let your genuine faith bear fruit in humility, prayer, kindness, compassion, purity, and a life with no rival thrones.

A Simple Prayer for This Season

Lord Jesus, You are God and You are good. Thank You for coming to save us. I renounce my rival thrones and receive Your gift of grace. Take the whole of my life—my words, my work, my wallet, my witness. Form in me kindness, compassion, and holiness by Your Spirit. This Advent, be enthroned in my heart. Amen.

Make Room, Receive the Gift, Live the Life

Let’s not settle for a sentimental season that never touches our allegiances or our actions. The Incarnation is the inbreaking of the Kingdom. Jesus is Lord—He came for you, to save, to restore, to make you holy, to set you free. So clear the cluttered throne, receive the gift of grace, and let your life display the beauty of Christ’s Lordship this Christmas—through kindness, compassion, humility, prayer, and pure religion that serves the least of these. That’s an Advent worth celebrating—and a witness the world can’t ignore.