The Fourth Sunday of Advent Reading - December 22
Today, the final Sunday of Advent, we light the candle of Love, sometimes called the angel’s candle. The angels erupted on the scene in the hills of Bethlehem declaring God’s glory and announcing His disposition of peace.
Christmas confronts us with our need of a savior. The reason Christ came to earth is because mankind has rebelled against its Creator. As the Apostle Paul says,
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth (Romans 1:18)…Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen (Romans 1:24,25).
God rightly sits in judgment over us, declaring our guilt, pronouncing our definitive, eternal sentence.
But mercy is essential to His character. He is compassionate, not desiring that any should perish but that all should come to repentance, 2 Peter 3:9. It is His mercy that commissioned the Second Person of the Trinity to descend from heaven to pay for our sins. In that descent, the Son of God was born of a woman, born under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons and daughters of God, Galatians 4:4,5.
God’s compassion is the expression of His love! As Paul says,
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.
God paved the path of peace between Himself and His enemies. This candle reminds us of the peace declared by the angels and initiated by the love of God. As we light this candle, rejoice that through faith in Jesus, we are at peace with God!
Weekly readings for further study
Sunday, Read today’s Advent reading at home. www.eastcobbpres.org/christmas
Monday: Read Psalm 71. Consider the perspective of Simeon and Anna, both octogenarians, who had walked with God through life. What role do older, seasoned believers have in the life of our church? In your life?
Tuesday: Read Luke 2:22-38. Both Simeon and Anna were devout believers, meaning that they lived pious lives filled with religious practices like fasting, prayer, and worship. How have you built piety into your life? What can you grow in this coming year?
Wednesday: Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift! (2 Corinthians 9:15). Remind your family that God is still the biggest giver in the room.
For families with children
The passage this week, Luke 2:22-38, focuses on the role of pious senior saints. But you don’t have to be in your eighties to fit the profile. You are your children’s greatest influencer. Take a few minutes each day to share your stories of God’s goodness. How has God worked in your life? Don’t just focus on things God has provided for you, but share how God has worked in your life to encourage, comfort, sustain, and liberate you.