My family has loved doing advent devotionals for years, so I decided to write my own. I pray it blesses your family as much as it’s blessed mine.

You can purchase the whole book in print or in an ebook format on Amazon. You can download a printable set of ornaments here or draw or make your own!

Day 18: Prophecy of the New Covenant

Picture / Ornament: Heart with Writing on It

Scripture: Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 9:11-15; Acts 16:25-34

Song: Come Thou Long Expected Jesus

Isaiah wasn’t the only prophet that taught people what the Savior would be like. Jeremiah, too, was a prophet sent by God to teach His people. God told Jeremiah that one day He would make a new covenant with His people, writing His word on the hearts of men.

The Israelite people for thousands of years had demonstrated their faith in God by obeying God’s command to sacrifice animals. These sacrifices taught the people how dreadful it was to sin, but they also pointed to the ultimate sacrifice that Jesus would one day make for us, shedding His own blood on the cross.

When Paul and Silas were miraculously released from their chains while they were in a Roman prison, the jail keeper was so afraid! He thought he would be in HUGE trouble with the government for losing the prisoners. The jailer felt so hopeless that he was even going to take his own life, but Paul encouraged the jailer, telling him, “Do not harm yourself. We are all here!” The jailer was amazed that they had not run away. He had seen God’s power in the earthquake as well as Paul’s kindness in not escaping. The jailer wanted to know what he needed to do to be saved!

Have you ever wondered that? Have you ever thought about what you need to do to be saved? You may not be in a Roman jail, but you were born a slave to sin. We all were. We all need to be saved from the just penalty for our sin which is way worse than just going to jail.

How did Paul and Silas answer the jailer? They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household.” The jailer didn’t have to slaughter a sheep or a goat or a bull in order to be saved. The jailer had to trust in the Lord Jesus. And this offer was not only available to this adult male jailer, but to his wife and his children, too! Women and children, too, can be saved through their faith in Jesus.

Isn’t that GOOD news? Isn’t that the BEST news you’ve ever heard? Jesus’s death and resurrection changed everything! Jesus’s death and resurrection paid the price for our sin, so animals no longer have to be sacrificed! We no longer have to offer bulls and goats on an altar to be forgiven, because Jesus’s perfect blood was offered once forever to redeem us from our sins when we place our trust in Him.

Today is certainly the perfect day to be saved, to place your trust in Jesus, that His Word would be written on your heart.

Remember … Christmas is all about Jesus!