Today, Sunday, is the first day of Advent 2018. Maybe you recognise the word ‘advent’ from those calendars , of which you pop one square open every day until Christmas Day. Some calendars have a chocolate for everyday. I saw one today on a box of beer. It had a craft beer for everyday- and two for Christmas!
What does ‘advent’ actually mean? Apparently, it is a version of a latin word which means ‘coming’. Yes, it is the coming of Christmas, but more importantly it is the coming of Christ; both his birth and anticipated return.
I grew up in a traditional church where candles placed in a wreath were lit each Sunday until Christmas. These candles symbolise Jesus Christ being the light of the world. And each of the four Sundays of Advent and the corresponding candles symbolise something more of our anticipation of the coming of Christ.
My memory of tradition is a little rusty. Research reminds me that the first candle represents hope. It is also called the ‘prophecy’ candle.
Hundreds of years before his birth, the prophets foretold of the humble birth of Jesus.
“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. “(Isaiah 7:14, NIV)
I love that word ‘ Immanuel’. It is the Hebrew word which means ‘God with us’. Imagine the presence of God living with his people?
One of my favourite Christmas carols is ‘O come, O come Immanuel’; written in the 12th century and based on the prophets words found in the Bible. It reminds us of God’s promise of a Saviour.
Does our world need saving? Can we save this world by ourselves, or in spite of ourselves?
Sometimes the brokenness of this world and the brokenness of people’s lives around me can be hard to bear. I know some even say “where is God?”
But what if He is here-in our midst, weeping too for the brokenness and hopelessness of so many people.
I believe, that He alone has the power to save and turn around even the most hopeless and broken of lives.
What are you anticipating with the coming of Christmas? Where does your hope come from? Will you light a candle today and consider the Christ in Christmas?
#writer #speaker #speaker
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