She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.
Matthew 1.21

Every Christmas advertisement proclaims to have "the" thing you and your family need this holiday season. The reality, however, is that nothing you buy on this earth will accomplish what it promises because none of it can give you what you truly need. Everything this world has to offer fails to live up to its hype. If your hope is set on any gift that will be opened, you will find yourself as empty as the wrapping paper and boxes soon to be strewn about your living room floor. But Jesus saves! Jesus, and nothing else! All your expectations of satisfaction and security can be placed in Jesus without any fear of being left disappointed and empty. But if you look to anyone or anything else for what can only be found in Jesus, you will soon find yourself looking for the next big thing.

But Matthew does not say, “His name is Jesus, for He saves”, but he writes, “for He will save.” This name proclaims there is no doubt that He will accomplish His Father’s will and save His people from their sins. There is no chance that Jesus will fail! He will save!

So yhy put your hope in anything else? Often we put our hope and trust in other people or things because we are tempted to believe that Jesus alone cannot fully satisfy our every desire. In the midst of enjoying family and friends, hot cocoa and carols, decked halls and delicious meals this Advent, passionately pursue knowing and loving Jesus supremely. You will never find yourself disappointed, empty, or looking for the next big thing if you do.