Sunday, December 12, 2021

Advent Candle #3: O Come, Thou Wisdom

LEFC Family Advent Readings: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
Colossians 2:2-3 :: December 12, 2021
Week #3: O Come, Thou Wisdom

“Advent” means “coming.” Christmas is coming. Jesus has come and is coming again.

Our Advent readings this season reflect on the titles given to the Messiah in the ancient Advent  carol, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.”

[LIGHT FIRST CANDLE AGAIN.]

Our first candle was about the title “Emmanuel” itself. “Emmanuel” means “God with us.” The Messiah would be called “Emmanuel” because God will never abandon His people. Instead, Jesus came to redeem us from our sins.

[LIGHT SECOND CANDLE AGAIN.]

The second candle reflected on the title “Dayspring.” Though our world has been darkened by sin and death, the Messiah will rise like the morning sun to dispel the shadowy gloom and spread the joy of His daylight in our souls.
[LIGHT THE THIRD CANDLE.]

The third verse of the carol names the Coming One as the “Wisdom from on High:”

“O come, Thou Wisdom from on high,
And order all things, far and nigh;
To us the path of knowledge show
And cause us in her ways to go.”

Our world is chaotic and awash in folly. God’s people desperately need wisdom, an understanding of God’s ways, and discernment of what is truly good and right. Amazingly, the Messiah does not simply bring wisdom–He is wisdom Himself.

The Apostle Paul, in explaining his reason for writing his letter to the Colossians, said:

[READ COLOSSIANS 2:2-3.]
May this candle shine to remind us that all of the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are ours in Jesus Christ. He brings stability to our lives and reveals to us the path of knowledge in which to walk.

“Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!”

0 comments: