Advent 24 – HOPE
‘Behold, the days are coming,’ says the Lord, ‘that I will perform that good thing which I have promised to the house of Israel and to the house of Judah:
‘In those days and at that time I will cause to grow up to David a Branch of righteousness; He shall execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell safely. And this is the name by which she will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.’
— Jeremiah 33:14-16 NKJV
A Message for the First Sunday in Advent:
As we begin our journey through Advent – a journey that will ultimately lead us to the cradle in Bethlehem – we light the first purple candle of the Advent wreath that represents “HOPE”.
The entire Old Testament of the Bible prophecies, or, “foretells”, the coming of the Lord, Jesus the Christ (the Messiah). It gives us the HOPE of a coming Savior. The HOPE of better things to come. The HOPE of righteousness. The HOPE of salvation and eternal life with Christ.
We look forward to our journey through Advent with a sense of HOPE: a sense of anticipation, and expectation, and faith.
A Prayer for the First Sunday of Advent:
Heavenly Father, as we come to You on this first week in Advent, we pray You would quiet our hearts, our minds and our souls. Help us set our eyes upon You and the coming Messiah. Help us feel Your presence with us, and in us. Help us know Your love, Your mercy, Your grace, Your forgiveness. We invite You to come in to our lives now, and to walk with us through this season of Advent. Open our eyes that we may see You. Open our ears that we may hear You, and our hearts that we may receive You. And, thank You, O Lord, for Your blessings and for the HOPE You offer us in and through Your Son, Jesus the Christ. Amen.
