LEFC Family Advent Readings: Take Heart!
John 16:33 :: December 6, 2015
Week #2: A Candle of Hope
“Advent” means “coming.” Christmas is coming. Jesus has come and is coming again.
During this year’s Advent season, we are meditating on 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. It reminded us that our world has been full of trouble ever since the garden of Eden and that it is good and right to express grief, sadness, and longing for our broken world to be fixed.
[LIGHT SECOND CANDLE]
Our second candle is a candle of hope. In the Old Testament, a messiah was promised–an anointed savior who would solve all of the world’s problems and usher in an eternal peace.
The prophet Isaiah predicted: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
The Old Testament believers waited many long years in expectant hope of the fulfillment of that promise.
We know now that Jesus is the Savior God promised to send, and He says that we will find our peace in Him. His peace is unlike anything the world offers and will never end.
Yet even though the Prince of Peace came that first Christmas, we are still waiting for the full realization of His promises. So as we wait for Jesus to come again, we continue to place our hope in Him.
Take heart!
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| Our readings this year correspond with the EFCA Advent Devotional by Greg Strand. |
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