LEFC Family Advent Readings: Take Heart!
John 16:33 :: December 20, 2015
Week #4: A Candle of Joy
“Advent” means “coming.” Christmas is coming. Jesus has come and is coming again.
During this year’s Advent season, we are celebrating together our Lord
Jesus’ promise from the Gospel of John, chapter 16, verse 33.
[READ JOHN 16:33 AND RE-LIGHT FIRST CANDLE]
Our first candle was a candle of lament. Our world has been full of
trouble ever since the garden of Eden and it is good and right to
express grief, sadness, and longing for our broken world to be fixed.
[RE-LIGHT SECOND CANDLE]
Our second candle was a candle of hope. We hope in the promise of the
Prince of Peace. His peace is unlike anything the world offers and will
never end.
[RE-LIGHT THIRD CANDLE]
Our third candle was a candle of courage. Because of our faith in Jesus,
we do not have to live in fear and can obey Him even in a world full of
danger and trouble.
[LIGHT FOURTH CANDLE]
Our fourth candle is a candle of joy. “Good Christian men rejoice with
heart and soul and voice” because we know the end of the story. Our Lord
Jesus Christ has overcome the world and one day will make His blessings
known as far as the curse is found.
One day there will be no reason to lament, no reason to take courage,
and even no reason to hope because our hope will have been fully
realized! When Christ returns, He will truly bring joy to the world.
That day may be soon, and while we wait for it in faith, we rejoice at
Christmastime because we know that Jesus has over come the world.
Take
heart!
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| Our readings this year correspond with the EFCA Advent Devotional by Greg Strand. |
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