3 Day Devotional: The People of Advent: When Love Shows Up - Day 3

Scripture:  
Luke 2:22-24(NIV) - When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”
Leviticus 12:7b-8 (NIV) “‘These are the regulations for the woman who gives birth to a boy or a girl. 8 But if she cannot afford a lamb, she is to bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. In this way the priest will make atonement for her, and she will be clean.’”

Reflection
The offering brought to the Temple tells a quiet but powerful story. Two birds instead of a lamb reveal insignificant resources, yet nothing about this moment suggests that love is lacking. God does not wait for abundance to show up. Love arrives with what it has. In a season where love is often measured by cost, this moment reminds us that faithfulness matters more than financial capacity. God receives offerings given in obedience, not comparison. When resources feel limited and margins feel tight, Advent reassures us that love is not defined by how much we can give, but by our willingness to show up fully present. Insignificant resources are not a barrier to love—they are often the context where love becomes most visible.

Reflection Questions
Where have you felt pressure to give more than you can afford?
How might God be inviting you to show up faithfully with what you already have?

Prayer
God, on this Christmas Day I thank You for the gift of Your Son. Free me from the pressure to measure love by abundance. Help me trust that what I bring in faith is enough, because You have already given what I could not. Teach me to show up fully present today, confident that love has already shown up. Amen.