FROM THE DAWGHOUSE…
ADVENT: HE’S GOING TO COME…HE CAME…HE’S COMING AGAIN
“Advent” is from a Latin word which means, “coming.”
We’re deep into it for sure…in the 3rd week of it for 2023.
Why does the church spread out the celebration of Christmas?
Because the birth of the eternal Son of God is a big…big…world changing, history fulfilling event. And we tend to run and gun right through it. Especially if you have kids and a lot of family in town.
Food. Fun. Family (not always fun). Gifts. Parties. Church.
Run it all together and ya gotta take a break from all the good stuff.
So we spread it out lest we lose the meaning.
And churches often light candles too. Here is what they generally stand for (different traditions have different meanings for the different candles):
#1 Prophets Candle-Purple: Yes, the Prophets of the OT said the Messiah was coming. Hope is fulfilled! Isaiah 53
#2 Bethlehem Candle- Purple: Yes, He came and was born in a real place. Faith in God is always well placed because He always comes through and fulfills His promises. Micah 5:1 ff
#3 Shepherds Candle- Pink: Yes, He was identified and worshipped by some very ordinary men like you and me. And they had joy! (Pink=the liturgical/church color for joy. Look deal with it, I’ve had to. Pink is a girl color right now in history as far as I’m concerned. Black is my favorite color. But there it is.) Joy goes beyond circumstances to the reality that God loves us and redeemed us through Jesus’ Cross-work! Luke 2
#4 Angels Candle-Purple: Yes, The Angels when nuts over the eternal Son of God taking on Human flesh because they knew He was going to re-establish Peace between us and God. Check out Romans 5:1 ff.
It was promised that He would come. He came. He’s coming again in the distant future.
But He can come again in even the toughest of our hearts as men.
Reflect on these verses.
What do you need? Hope, Faith, Joy, Peace?
Jesus has what you need.
Merry Christmas my friends.
Think…go deep this Christmas!
Pete Alwinson
