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| Advent 2013 ~ Prophecy Candle |
December 1st marks the beginning of Advent
season.
The word Advent means, “coming” or “arrival.” The purpose of Advent is two-fold:
First, advent serves as a reminder of the birth of Jesus
Christ- our Lord and Savior.
Second, advent challenges us to look forward to a second
advent- when Jesus Christ will return.
It is incredibly important for Christians to stay in the
tension of these two realities in all that we do. Whether it is the Lord’s Supper or daily living,
there is an element of looking back and remembering all that Jesus has done for
us while also looking to the future of things yet to come. If we live our Christian walk only looking at the past at
the work of the Cross, we miss out on living in the reality of the Kingdom of
God alive today. Christians who refer to
Jesus only in past-tense language lack an active, vibrant alive relationship
with a very real God.
I will be posting daily two simple Advent scriptures. The Old Testament scripture prophesies the coming of Jesus as well as other scriptures that bring
encouragement and hope during the Christmas Season. The New Testament passage is a chronology of
the events surrounding Jesus’ birth as found in the Gospels of Matthew, Luke
and John.
The first week of Advent, Christians light the Prophecy
Candle (also called the Candle of Hope).
As Advent begins, I challenge you to look back and remember the prophets
of thousands of years ago who predicted elements of Jesus’ life. Remember the details in those prophecies;
details that a baby cannot control. As you remember the remarkable fulfillment of so many
prophesies, be encouraged and filled with expectancy as you think through other
prophesies found in the Bible that have not yet come to fruition. God is true to His Word.
……………………………………………
Advent Readings for Sunday, December 1, 2013:
Old Testament: “There will be no more gloom for those who
were in distress…in the future he will honor Galilee. The people walking in darkness have seen a
great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has
dawned. For to us a child is born, to s
a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be
called Wonderful Counselor, Almighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Isaiah 9:1,2,6
New Testament: “In the
beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was
in the beginning with God. All things came into being by Him, and apart from
Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the
life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the
darkness did not comprehend it.” John
1:15
