Worldwide Christmas December 17, 2025 Devotional

LUKE 3:18-20 | ¹⁸ So with many other exhortations he proclaimed the good news to the people. ¹⁹ But Herod the ruler, who had been rebuked by him because of Herodias, his brother’s wife, and because of all the evil things that Herod had done, ²⁰ added to them all by shutting up John in prison.

Ego strength is visible in our lifestyle choices and in our capacity to tell the truth about the hard aspects of reality in ourselves and in the world. It is also evident in how bravely we deal with opposition. Alternative lifestyles and inveterate truth-telling will generate opposition. John told the truth about Herod and was imprisoned and eventually executed for it. This extreme form of opposition may be rare but various forms of subtler criticism or social exclusion are not. People who abstain from drinking are suddenly not invited to parties. Those who live simply are looked down upon as failures. Conformity is easier than achieving Christian individualism—which is nothing less than becoming the unique person God intends you to be.

Have you ever faced opposition for your moral stances or your lifestyle choices?

Have you faced opposition?

Gracious God,

May we remember that truth will triumph and nothing can finally stand against Your kingdom. Give us gracious determination in the face of opposition.

Amen.