Advent: The Candle of Hope

And now remain these three:  faith, HOPE, love…

1 Corinthians 13:13

Advent wreaths have their origins in the folk traditions of northern Europe, where in the deep of winter people lit candles on wheel-shaped bundles of evergreen. Both the evergreen and the circular shape symbolized ongoing life. The candlelight gave comfort at this darkest time of the year, as people looked forward to the longer days of spring.

Later, Eastern European Christians adopted this practice. By the sixteenth century, they were making Advent wreaths much as we know them today. An advent wreath traditionally contains four candles-three purple and one rose. The three purple candles in the Advent wreath symbolize hope, peace, and love. These candles are lit on the first, second, and fourth Sundays of Advent. The rose candle, which symbolizes joy, is usually lit on the third Sunday.  A fifth candle of white is placed inside the Advent wreath. This candle is lit on Christmas Eve and symbolizes the birth of Jesus Christ.

CANDLE OF HOPE

Isaiah says, "The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; in him the Gentiles will hope.  May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”   Romans 15:12-13 

The Apostle Paul states that Hope is… “an anchor to the soul.”  Faith and Hope lie embedded deep within us, securing us through the storms of life.  When you feel helpless (and hopeless) inside, putting your trust in the Jesus of Christmas will give you these four things: 

HOPE for H elp

·         Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.   Hebrews 4:16

HOPE for O pportunity

·         “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  Jeremiah 29:11

HOPE for P ower

·         …He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.  1 John 4:4

·         My grace is sufficient for you: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.  2 Cor. 12:9

HOPE for E ternity

·         For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  John 3:16 

We have this hope that burns within our hearts:

Hope in the coming of the Lord.

We have this faith that Christ alone imparts:

Faith in the promise of His Word.