We all have those Christmas traditions that make the season feel special, right? For me, it’s all about the Christmas movies. But it’s not just any random selection; it’s a specific lineup I’ve curated over the years.

Every holiday season, our TV becomes a Christmas movie marathon, featuring everything from Elf to A Christmas Story, Muppet Christmas Carol, and The Santa Clause. But there’s one film that really takes center stage in our home: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.

This is the movie that kicks off our Christmas festivities, always watched for the first time on the day we set up the decorations. And it doesn’t end there—it also closes our Christmas season, with the final viewing happening on Christmas Eve right before we hit the sack. And you can bet it gets plenty of airtime in between! Honestly, I’ve done my part to keep the Christmas Vacation franchise alive and thriving for years. You’re welcome, world!

There is so much about this movie that I enjoy. To begin with, it’s the nostalgia. Every time I watch it, I can hear the laughter of my late grandfather from my childhood. All of the silly antics made him break into laughter each time he watched it, and made me want to laugh even harder.

Also, it’s incredibly quotable. From Ellen’s frantic shout, “We’re stuck under a truck,” to Aunt Bethany’s concern, “Oh dear, did I break wind?” and the age-old question we are all asking ourselves: “Why is the carpet all wet, Todd?” When it comes down to it, “it’s a beaut, Clark—a real beaut!”

Finally, it comedically expresses the hopeful story of a father, husband, and son wanting to have the “hap-hap-happiest Christmas,” “this side of the nuthouse” (okay, I’ll stop quoting now). It’s genuinely a hope-filled tale of someone trying to make the most of the holiday and share it with his closest family, all while facing trouble, frustration, disappointment, and “the little lights are not twinkling” (I had to get one more quote in).

I enter the Christmas season every year, hoping it will be a gentle, beautiful, and inspiring time filled with family, wonder, and peace. But quickly, stress, schedules, finances, and all of life get in the way, distracting me from enjoying the hope the season represents. The older I get, the more Christmas is more of a task than an experience.

Maybe that’s why I love that movie so much—because Clark is determined to have the best Christmas experience no matter what. Despite all Christmas failings, he can’t help but believe that Christmas still has meaning. And I think it is worth hoping for something good and inspiring to emerge from the Christmas season. Instead of another task, we are celebrating something so much bigger and more profound than we can fully grasp: the Messiah, the King has come into the world.

Remember that the anticipation of the Messiah's arrival filled the hearts of those before us - the Israelites - with longing and faith. Hope was not only a feeling or idea but a choice they made. We stand on the other side of that story, where we no longer have to anticipate the Messiah’s arrival because Jesus has come. Hope for us, today, is not only a feeling or idea but a determination to never lose the wonder and amazement of what that means.

Distractions will come this Christmas season. However, our determination will make Christmas meaningful this year. From the beginning of Scripture, in Genesis 1, creation was determined to see Jesus come and redeem. Today, creation is inviting us to celebrate Jesus’ arrival and redemption!

Would you join me this year? Would you be determined to experience the hope found in the birth of Jesus? Through time spent with family, opening presents, attending parties, and watching movies, will you encounter the story of a Savior who was foreshadowed hundreds of years in advance and came into this world to redeem creation?

This Advent season, let us commit to embracing the hope that Christmas brings. Let’s savor all that the Christmas season has to offer: moments spent with loved ones, delighting in traditions, the sights and sounds, and quiet reflection on the miraculous gift of Jesus. Let hope be cultivated in our hearts and our homes, that it would shine brightly in our world.

If we do this, the Christmas season will not just be another holiday but a heartfelt celebration of the incredible truth that our Savior has come to bring light and love into the world. So, grab your favorite holiday movie, gather your family, and let’s create memories filled with hope, love, peace, and joy. Merry Christmas!

Each day of this devotional will guide you through a meaningful exploration of the Advent season by focusing on one prophetic text from the Old Testament and its corresponding fulfillment in the New Testament. As you engage with these scriptures, you’ll be invited to reflect on the rich connections between the prophecies and their realizations, deepening your understanding of God’s promises and the hope they bring. This daily practice will enhance your journey through Advent, encouraging you to meditate on the significance of Christ’s coming and how these fulfilled prophecies impact your faith today.

Scripture Reading
Prophecy:Isaiah 9:6-7
Fulfilled:Luke 1:31-33
Reflection:
What does hope mean to me personally, and how can I actively cultivate a sense of hope in my life this Advent season?

In what ways can I integrate hope into my daily routines, relationships, and interactions with others?

How can I create an atmosphere of hope within my home and community, allowing the promise of Christ's coming to inspire my actions and outlook?

Reflect on the profound promise of God’s presence with us, fulfilled in the miraculous birth of Jesus, our Emmanuel.
Prophecy: Isaiah 7:14
Fulfilled: Matthew 1:22-23

Contemplate the beautiful continuity of God’s plan for redemption, from the first promise of a Savior in Genesis to the fulfillment of that promise in the fullness of time through Christ in Galatians.
Prophecy: Genesis 3:15
Fulfilled: Galatians 4:4-5

Focus on the significance of Bethlehem as the prophesied birthplace of the Messiah and the fulfillment of God's promise to bring hope and salvation to His people.
Prophecy: Micah 5:2
Fulfilled: Matthew 2:4-6

Consider the prophetic significance of the star that heralds the coming of the King and the fulfillment of God’s promise as the Magi seek the one who will bring light to the world.
Prophecy: Numbers 24:17
Fulfilled: Matthew 2:1-2

Reflect on the profound truth that through Christ’s suffering and sacrifice, we find healing and redemption, fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah and affirming our hope in His atoning grace.
Prophecy: Isaiah 53:5
Fulfilled: 1 Peter 2:24