Come and See, Go and Tell,

 

What we hear shapes what we know. What we know influences what we believe. What we believe determines what we do. This progression reveals why listening to God's truth isn't just important—it's transformative. "So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ." (Romans 10:17 NLT)

Throughout the Gospels, Jesus extends a recurring invitation to His followers: "Come and see." He signals them closer, inviting them into direct encounter with divine truth. But the invitation doesn't stop there. Jesus also commissions them to "go and tell" and to "listen and understand." This rhythm of receiving and sharing becomes the heartbeat of authentic faith.

The apostle Paul unpacks why this pattern matters so strongly in his letter to the Romans. He presents a beautiful chain of questions that reveals God's rescue plan:

"For 'Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.' But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, 'How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!'" (Romans 10:13-15 NLT)

Notice the progression: from sending leads to telling, from telling leads to hearing, from hearing leads to believing, and from believing leads to calling out for salvation. Each link in this chain matters. Someone's eternity may depend on your willingness to be part of it.

But what exactly is this "Good News" we're called to share?

First, we must acknowledge the bad news: every person has sinned and fallen short of God's perfect standard. Our rebellion has created a rift between us and our holy Creator and us, a gap we're powerless to bridge through our own efforts, good intentions, or religious activity.

Now for the breathtaking good news: God loves us so excessively that He refused to leave us stranded in our brokenness. The eternal Word became flesh and moved into our neighborhood. Jesus, fully God and fully man, lived the perfect life we couldn't live. He then died the criminal's death we deserved, though He was completely innocent. But death couldn't hold Him. He shattered the grave through resurrection, conquering sin and death forever. Through His sacrifice, He has granted us the unimaginable privilege of becoming children of God.

This is why "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Not because we've earned it, but because Christ has accomplished it.

Today, pause and thank God for the gift of His Word and your capacity to receive this Good News. Then ask Him to deepen your faith and embolden your witness. Who in your life needs to hear? Let God make your feet beautiful as you go and tell.

May the Lord bless you and keep you, and may the Lord used these words to renew your faith.

Dr. Dimas Castillo

The Word Became Flesh: An Advent Devotional

 Day 17: The Only Begotten God

By Dr. Dimas Castillo

Focus: Jesus’ Perfect Deity

Scripture Reading

No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known. (John 1:18, ESV)

Additional Reading: Colossians 1:15-20

Devotional Reflection

Jesus is not just a good teacher, a moral example, or a prophet. John declares Him to be the only God, eternally begotten of the Father, sharing the same divine essence. This is the man who walked the dusty roads of Galilee, the child cradled in Mary’s arms, and the one nailed to a Roman cross. He is the Lord of glory.

What does it mean that Jesus is eternally begotten? Unlike us, who were created and born in time, Jesus has always existed as the Son in perfect communion with the Father and the Spirit. He dwells in the bosom of the Father—heart to heart, sharing divine glory and majesty. The baby in Bethlehem is the Ancient of Days. The suffering servant is the sovereign King.

This truth changes everything. Jesus is not just someone to admire from afar. He is God Himself, deserving of your worship, obedience, and life. When you bow before Him, you bow before the Creator of heaven and earth. When you trust Him, you trust the one who holds all authority in His hands.

Questions for Reflection

•          Do you worship Jesus as God, or do you merely admire Him as a great man?

•          What would it look like to bow before Jesus with more profound reverence today?

•          How does knowing that Jesus is fully God affect your confidence in following Him?

Prayer

Almighty God, I worship You, Lord Jesus, as the only begotten Son of the Father. You are not just a teacher or prophet—You are God Himself. Forgive me for the times I have treated You casually. Teach me to approach You with the awe and reverence You deserve. I bow before You today. Amen.

The Word Became Flesh: An Advent Devotional

 Day 14: Walking in the Light

By Dr. Dimas Castillo

Scripture Reading: John 8:12; 1 John 1:5-7; Ephesians 5:8-14

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”

Reflection

You have been brought from darkness into light. You have been born again. You are a child of God. The Light has shone on you, and He continues to shine. Now comes the daily choice: will you walk in that light?

Walking in the light means living in honesty before God, refusing to hide sin in the shadows. It means following Jesus wherever He leads, trusting that His path is better than any we could choose in darkness. It means reflecting His light to others, becoming small lights that point to the great Light.

The darkness has not overcome the Light, and it will not overcome you either. No shadow in your past is too dark. No habit is too entrenched. No sin is too great. The Light dwells in you, and He is faithful to complete the work He began.

Consider

- What does it practically mean for you to “walk in the light” today?

- Are there areas where you’re still trying to hide in darkness rather than bringing them into the light?

- How can you reflect Christ’s light to someone in your life who is still walking in darkness?

Application

Make this your daily prayer this week: “Lord, search me and know me. Shine Your light in every corner of my heart. Show me where I’m hiding in darkness and give me courage to walk in Your light.” Choose one specific way you will reflect Christ’s light to someone else this week—a word of encouragement, an act of service, or sharing your testimony of how the Light broke into your darkness. 

Prayer

Jesus, Light of the world, thank You for shining into my darkness. Help me to walk in Your light each day. Expose any shadows where I’m still hiding from You. Make me a reflection of Your light to others who desperately need to see You. I am Yours—guide me, transform me, use me. For Your glory and in Your name I pray. Amen.

The Word Became Flesh: An Advent Devotional

 Day 13: Born of God

By Dr. Dimas Castillo

Scripture Reading: John 1:13; John 3:3-8; Ezekiel 36:26-27

"Who were born, not of natural descent, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God."

Reflection

Here is the greatest mystery: How do spiritually dead people come to believe? How do those blinded by darkness see the light? The answer is astonishing—they were born of God. Salvation is not the result of ancestral inheritance, natural desire, or human effort. It is the supernatural work of God. Spiritual life doesn't start with faith; faith begins with spiritual life. You were born again—born from above—by the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit. 

This is both humbling and freeing. Humbling because we contributed nothing to our salvation; it is all by grace. Freeing because if God could make you alive when you were dead, He can transform any area of your life that still feels lifeless. The same power that saved you continues to work in you.

Consider

- How does understanding salvation as "being born of God" affect your view of grace?

- What areas of your life still need the transforming power of the One who made you alive?

- How does knowing that salvation is entirely God's work protect you from both pride and despair?

Application

Reflect on your own conversion. When did you first come alive to Christ? Thank God specifically for His sovereign grace in choosing you, pursuing you, and giving you new birth when you were dead in sin.

Prayer

God of all grace, I stand amazed that You gave me new birth. I contributed nothing—it was all Your work, Your power, Your mercy. Thank You for making me alive in Christ when I was dead in sin. Continue Your transforming work in every area of my life. Amen

The Word Became Flesh: An Advent Devotional

Day 12: Receiving the Light

By Dr. Dimas Castillo

Scripture Reading: John 1:12; John 3:16-17

"But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name."

Reflection

Amidst overwhelming darkness and widespread rejection, there's this powerful "but." Some "did" receive Him. Some did believe in His name. And to them—us, if we have considered—He granted the right to become children of God. This is the language of adoption. We who were strangers and enemies have been welcomed into the family. We who were in darkness have been made children of light. We who had no claim on God have been given the legal right to call Him Father.

Notice what precedes this incredible gift: receiving and believing. We must open our hands to accept what He offers. We must turn from darkness to light. We must trust in His name, His character, His work, His promise.

Consider

- Have you personally received Christ? Do you believe in His name?

- What does it mean to you to have "the right to be children of God"?

- How should being a child of God change the way you live today?

Application

If you have received Christ, spend time today thanking God for your adoption. If you're not sure you've truly received Him, today is the day. Cry out to Him in faith, asking Him to save you and make you His child.

Prayer

Father, I marvel that You would call me Your child. Thank You for the gift of adoption through Jesus Christ. I receive Him afresh today. I believe in His name. Help me to live as one who belongs to Your family, reflecting Your character to the world. Amen.

The Word Became Flesh: An Advent Devotional

Day 10: The Witness Points the Way

Scripture Reading: John 1:6-8; John 5:39-40

"He was not the light, but he came to testify about the light."

Reflection

John the Baptist had one job: to point to Jesus. He was not the light; he testified about the Light. This same principle applies to all of Scripture—it exists to bring us to Christ. The Bible is not an end in itself but a means to knowing Jesus. It's possible to study Scripture diligently yet miss the One about whom it speaks. The Pharisees knew their Bibles inside and out but rejected Jesus when He stood before them.

God has given us His inspired Word so that we might encounter the Living Word—Jesus Christ. Every page of Scripture, rightly understood, shines light on Christ. The witness is not the point; the One to whom the witness testifies is the point.

Consider

- When you read the Bible, are you primarily looking for Jesus, or for something else (moral lessons, interesting facts, comfort)?

- How can you avoid the Pharisees' mistake of loving the Bible while missing Christ?

- What would it look like for Scripture to take you "by the hand and bring you to Christ" this week?

Application

As you read your Bible this week, ask a simple question with each passage: "What does this teach me about Jesus?" Let Scripture be your witness to Him.

Prayer

Lord, thank You for Your Word that testifies about Your Son. Keep me from the error of loving the Bible more than I love Jesus. As I read Scripture, open my eyes to see Christ shining from every page. May Your Word lead me deeper into a relationship with Him. Amen.

The Word Became Flesh: An Advent Devotional Day 9

 Day 9: Understanding Our Darkness

By Dr. Dimas Castillo

Scripture Reading: John 1:5; 1 Corinthians 2:14; James 4:4

"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."

Reflection

Our problem is not primarily that we lack information about God—it's that we are hostile toward Him by nature. The darkness John describes isn't ignorance; it's opposition. It's not that we're "in the dark" about Jesus; it's that, apart from His grace, we actively resist Him.

This is sobering but essential to understand. We didn't just need a teacher; we needed a Savior. We didn't just need more light to see by; we needed new eyes altogether. The natural person "does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him."

This makes the gospel even more stunning: Jesus came to those who were His enemies, who closed their eyes to His light, who preferred darkness to Him.

Consider

- How does understanding your darkness as "hostility" rather than just "ignorance" change how you view your need for Christ?

- In what ways do you still see evidence of preferring darkness to light in your own heart?

- What does it reveal about God's love that He sent His Son to hostile enemies?

Application

Be honest with God today about the ways you still resist His light. Confess specific areas where you choose comfortable darkness over uncomfortable truth.

 Prayer

Father, I confess that apart from Your grace, I am darkness itself—hostile to You, resistant to Your truth. Thank you for not leaving me in that condition. Thank You for pursuing me when I was Your enemy. Continue Your work of transformation in me. Amen.

The Word Became Flesh: An Advent Devotional Day 8

 

Day 8: The Light Has Come

By Dr. Dimas Castillo

Scripture Reading: John 1:4-5 "In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."

Reflection

Jesus is not just “a” light—He is The Light. In Him resides life itself, the uncreated, unoriginated divine life. Just as we need physical light for biological life, we desperately need His divine light for supernatural, eternal life. The good news of Christmas is that this Light came into the world specifically to penetrate our darkness. The Light was born in Bethlehem for you. Whatever shadows you face today—grief, fear, shame, confusion—know that Jesus' mission was to shine into precisely that darkness.

Consider

- What areas of your life feel dark right now?

- How does it change your perspective to know that Jesus came specifically to shine into your darkness?

- The Light "has not overcome" the darkness—what hope does this unchangeable truth offer you today?

Application

Identify one specific area of darkness in your life. Throughout today, consciously invite Jesus to shine His light there. You might pray, "Jesus, Light of the world, shine into my [fear/grief/confusion/sin]."

Prayer

Lord Jesus, You are the Light that darkness cannot overcome. I confess that parts of my life feel shrouded in shadow. Thank You that You came to penetrate my darkness with life-giving light. Shine into the hidden places of my heart today. Amen.

The Word Became Flesh: An Advent Devotional Day 7

 Day 7: Life in His Name

By Dr. Dimas Castillo

Scripture: John 20:31
"These things are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name."

Additional Reading: John 1:12-13, John 3:16-18, Romans 10:9-13, Ephesians 2:4-9

Reflection

We've spent six days exploring who Jesus is—the eternal Word, the divine Word, God who is love, the creative Word, the living Word who came to die for us. But John didn't write his Gospel just to give us information. He wrote with a purpose: "These things are written so that you may believe...and that by believing you may have life in His name."

God is talking to you. That's the significance of calling Jesus "the Word." He is God's message, God's invitation to you. Jesus is God reaching out to you, pursuing you, calling you to come to Him. For all the majesty and glory of Jesus—eternal, divine, Creator of all things, the living One—the response He asks for is profoundly simple: faith. Trust Him. Rest upon Him. Bend your knee to Him. Surrender yourself to Him, and He will give you life.

Jesus doesn't demand that you understand every theological mystery. He doesn't require that you fix yourself before coming to Him. He doesn't ask you to clean up your life first. He invites you to come as you are, with all your sins and failures and brokenness, and take from His nail-pierced hands the life that is His to give.

What does this mean practically? It means believing that Jesus is who He said He is—the Christ, the Son of God. It means acknowledging Him as Lord. It means trusting that His death on the cross paid for your sins completely. It means receiving the life He offers as a gift, not something you earn or deserve.

If you've never trusted Christ, today is the day. Don't wait. Don't think you need to get better first. Come to Him now, just as you are, and He will give you life. If you're already a believer, let this week's reflections renew your wonder at who Jesus is and what He's done for you. Let your faith be more than just words—let it transform every part of your life.

Personal Application

1. Have you truly trusted Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord? If not, what's holding you back?
2. If you have believed, is your faith being expressed in your daily life—in your choices, priorities, relationships, and pursuits?
3. What specific step of faith is Jesus calling you to take today?

Prayer

Lord Jesus, You are the eternal, divine, creative, living Word who came to die so I could live. I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, and I trust in You for salvation.

[If you're just now coming to faith, pray:] Today I surrender my life to You. I confess that I am a sinner in need of a Savior. I believe that You died on the cross for my sins and rose again from the dead. Forgive my sins, give me new life, and help me follow You all my days.

[If you're already a believer, pray:] Thank You for the life You've given me. Help me live today in the fullness of that life. May my faith in You be more than words—may it transform every part of my life. Give me fresh eyes to see Your glory, a renewed heart to love You more deeply, and renewed strength to serve You more faithfully.

Thank You that there is life, real life, abundant life, eternal life in Your name alone. Amen.

The Word Became Flesh: An Advent Devotional Day 6

 Day 6: He Came to Die That We Might Live

By Dr. Dimas Castillo

Scripture: John 1:4, 14
"In Him was life... The Word became flesh and dwelt among us."

Additional Reading: Isaiah 53:4-6, 2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 Peter 3:18

 Reflection

Here's the deeper mystery we must grasp: The One in whom was life came to die. Why did the Word who created all things come among us as a creature, a mere man? Why did the living One allow Himself to die?

At the climax of His earthly ministry, the eternal Word by whom God spoke light into being was shrouded in utter darkness as He hung upon the cross. The One in whom was life bled and died. Jesus came to die for sinners like you and me. He came to bear our penalty and secure our pardon so that we could live, so that we might have life in His name. This is the heart of the Gospel: the living One died so that the dead could live. The sinless One was made sin so that sinners could be made righteous. The One who knew no guilt bore our guilt so that we could be declared not guilty.

The baby born in Bethlehem was born to die. The manger was pointing toward the cross. And the cross was pointing toward the empty tomb. He died so that you could live—not just physically, but spiritually and eternally. He took your place, bore your punishment, satisfied God's justice, so that you could be forgiven and reconciled to God.

This is what Christmas is really about. Not just a baby in a manger, but the living Word coming to give His life as a ransom for many. This is love—not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

Personal Application

1. How does it change your perspective to know that Jesus chose to die so you could live?
2. Spend time reflecting on what Jesus bore on the cross for you—your specific sins, guilt, and shame. How does this move your heart?
3. How should the reality of the cross shape the way you live today?

Prayer

Lord Jesus, the depths of Your love overwhelm me. You, the living One in whom was life, chose to die for me. You bore my sin, carried my guilt, endured my punishment, so that I could be forgiven and made alive. Thank you for the cross. Thank you for taking my place. Thank you for loving me that much. Help me live today in the freedom and joy of knowing I am forgiven, not because of anything I've done, but because of everything You've done. Amen.

A Christmas Worth Remembering

 

Scripture Reading: Luke 2:8–20

December brings so much that we love—beautiful music, warm gatherings, twinkling lights, and the joy of giving. Yet in the busyness of shopping, planning, and preparing, it’s easy to overlook the one gift that stabilizes our hearts more than anything else: the Word of God. In the middle of all our activity, Scripture draws our attention back to the greatest event in human history—the moment when God became man and dwelt among us.

What makes the Christmas story so remarkable is its unexpectedness. We might expect royalty, dignitaries, or the elite to surround the arrival of the Messiah. Instead, we see a humble stable, a newborn wrapped in cloths, and two poor parents doing their best to care for Him. And the first people invited to witness this miracle? A group of shepherds—ordinary, unrefined, working-class men who were not highly respected by society.

Yet God chose them. And in choosing them, God shows us that the good news of Christ’s birth is for ordinary people—people like you and me.

They Heard the Announcement

Luke tells us the shepherds were keeping watch at night when suddenly the sky lit up with glory. The angel’s message terrified them, but it also opened their hearts to the voice of God. While we may not experience angels filling the sky, the Lord still speaks to us today. He speaks through His Word, through the Holy Spirit, and even through ordinary life experiences.

But like the shepherds, we must be willing to listen. Our greatest challenge today is not that God is silent—it’s that our lives are too loud. We fill our days with noise and activity, leaving little room for quietness. We make time for shopping, entertainment, and screens, yet often struggle to make space for God. The shepherds remind us that hearing God requires intentional silence, a willing heart, and a readiness to receive His message. 

They Took the Appropriate Action

Hearing wasn’t enough. The shepherds responded. After the angels returned to heaven, they looked at each other and said, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened.” They left their work, stepped away from their responsibilities, and went to find the Savior.

Imagine the questions they might have asked: Can we leave the sheep? What will people think? What if we’re wrong?

We wrestle with the same doubts when God calls us to obey or trust Him. We worry about what others will think, whether we might fail, or whether His call will require us to change. But the shepherds show us that obedience opens the door to joy. They followed the Lord’s leading—imperfect as they were—and found Jesus exactly as God said they would.

God still calls us to action today. The message of Christmas is not just something to admire: it’s something to respond to. The baby in the manger is the Savior who calls us to surrender our hearts, trust His grace, and follow His leading.

They Celebrated with Joy

After seeing Jesus, the shepherds couldn’t keep the news to themselves. Luke tells us they returned “glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen.” Their lives were changed forever. They found a joy no circumstance could steal, a peace no possession could buy, and a love deeper than anything the world could offer. This is still what Jesus offers to every heart open to Him.

Conclusion

In a few weeks, the decorations will come down, and life will return to normal. But the shepherds show us that Christmas isn’t meant to be packed away and forgotten. It is intended to transform us. May we, like them, hear God’s voice, take the step of obedience, and celebrate with joy the Savior who came for us.

May the Lord bless you and keep you, and may the Lord use these words to renew your spirit.

Dr. Dimas Castillo

 

The Word Became Flesh: An Advent Devotional

 

Day 5: The Living Word

By Dr. Dimas Castillo

Scripture: John 1:4a
"In Him was life..."

Additional Reading: John 5:26, John 10:10, John 11:25, John 14:6

Reflection

John doesn't say Jesus "was alive" or that He "had been given life." He says, "In Him was life." Do you see the difference? Life exists in Jesus as in its natural home, its true habitat. He is the source, the origin, the fountain of all life. He uses the same construction he used in verse 1 to tell us the Word "was" in the beginning. Now, here in verse 4, he says life "was" in Him.

We are all given life. Every breath you take, every heartbeat, is a gift. But Jesus is different. He is the living One. Life is in Him. He is, as He later describes Himself in Revelation, "the first and the last, the living one." Think about the wonder of this: The eternal Word by whom all things were made, without whom nothing was made, took on flesh and dwelt among us. The infinite joined Himself to the finite. The Creator joined with the creature. The immortal God became a mortal man. The One who fills the universe was born of a virgin and slept in a manger.

In the Middle Ages, the church celebrated something called "The Feast of Adam and Eve" on December 24, Christmas Eve. Before they celebrated the birth of Christ, they remembered Adam—as if December 24 was a last look at the old creation before December 25 declared the dawn of a new creation in the birth of the last Adam, the Lord Jesus. This is what Christmas announces: new creation, new life. The One in whom was life came to bring life to dead sinners. He came to give new life—abundant, eternal, transforming life—to everyone who trusts in Him.

Personal Application

1. In what ways do you need the life that only Jesus can give?
2. Are there areas of your life that feel spiritually dead or lifeless? How might Jesus want to bring His life there?
3. What's the difference between merely existing and truly living in the life Jesus offers?

Prayer

Living Word, in You is life—abundant, eternal, transforming life. Thank You that You didn't come just to make bad people good, but to make dead people alive. Breathe Your life into the dry and lifeless places of my soul. Help me not just to exist, but to truly live today in the fullness of the life You offer. You are the resurrection and life, help me experience that reality every day. Amen.

The Word Became Flesh: An Advent Devotional

Day 4: The Creative Word

By Dr. Dimas Castillo

Scripture: John 1:3
"All things were made through Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made."

Additional Reading: Genesis 1:1-3, Colossians 1:15-17, Hebrews 1:1-3

Reflection

How did God create the world? He spoke. "And God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light." God's Word brought order out of chaos, stability out of emptiness, life out of nothing. And John reveals that this Word through whom all things were made is Jesus Christ.

The statement is crystal clear: "All things were made through Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made." Not one thing was created except through Jesus. He is unmade; everything else is made. He made them. He is the agent of creation.

Draw two columns in your mind. On the left, put everything created—all life, all matter, angels, demons, heaven, earth, hell, every person, every place. Everything goes in this column. On the right, put only God. He alone is uncreated, the unmade Maker, the uncreated Creator. He is in a category of one. There is no other. And Jesus is in that right-hand column. No creature can or ever will cross from the left-hand column into the right-hand column to become God. But the stunning reality of Christmas is that the God who alone occupies the right-hand column crossed over and became a creature without ceasing to be God. Deity united with humanity. The infinite became finite. The Creator became a creature. The Word became flesh.

By calling Jesus "the Word"—the Logos in Greek—John is telling us that Jesus brings order, provides stability, and makes sense of things. The divine Word, the Logos of God, is the One who gives meaning to life in this world. A life without knowing Jesus is a life lived at cross purposes with the divine mind. You were made by the Word to know Him and find your purpose and significance only in Him.

Personal Application

1. What does it mean to you that the Creator became a creature to reach you?
2. Where are you searching for meaning and purpose apart from Christ?
3. How would your daily life change if you truly believed that Jesus is the source of all meaning and that you were made by Him and for Him?

Prayer

Creator God, Word of power through whom all things were made, thank You that You didn't remain distant from Your creation. You came near. You became one of us. Forgive me for seeking meaning in created things rather than in You, the Creator. Help me find my true purpose and significance in knowing You and living for Your glory. You are the reason I exist—help me live like it. Amen.