Part One of Five

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has a light shone….For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given… Isaiah 9:2, 6a (ESV)

In the weeks preceding Christmas, my church celebrates Advent using an Advent wreath.

Advent wreathes are used to focus on the themes of hope, peace, joy, and love in anticipation of the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Scripture reading leads people in reflection and spiritual application.

The simple, evergreen wreath is in a circle. Having no beginning or end, the circle symbolizes God’s eternal and unending love, and the everlasting life found in Christ. The evergreens remind us of the hope of eternal life that Jesus brings.

One or more candles of the Advent wreath are lit on the four Sundays before Christmas, typically as follows:

• Week One: Hope (Prophet’s Candle) purple.
• Week Two: Peace (Bethlehem Candle) purple
• Week Three: Joy (Shepherd’s Candle) rose or pink
• Week Four: Love (Angel’s Candle) purple
• Christmas Eve or Day: The Christ Candle. A white fifth candle in the middle of the wreath. (Optional)

We begin Advent with HOPE.

Circumstances in the world and often in our lives can overwhelm us. Health, relationship issues, financial and employment difficulties, and political issues can darken our lives. Consider life at the time just before Jesus Christ’s birth. Israel was ruled by the Romans. The Israelite’s hadn’t had a revelation from God in 400 years. Where was the promised Messiah?

In God’s timing, the prophecy given by the prophet Isaiah started to occur. The darkness was broken by the arrival of a baby. Not just any baby, but the Son of God! The angel Gabriel explained to the virgin Mary that she had found favor with God.

And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the son of the Most High….The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. Luke 1:31–32, 35 (ESV)

God, in His infinite wisdom, knew that deliverance is not just a change in circumstances. The darkness that envelopes us comes from the sin that traps us.

People need a Savior, which is what the name “Jesus” means.

The angel Gabriel told Joseph, “…you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21b (ESV)

Jesus Christ accomplished salvation for us with his death and resurrection. He welcomes us to come to Him in faith.

We also have hope for the future, for Jesus will come again! There are still prophecies to fulfill. Consider more of Isaiah’s prophesy:

…and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of his peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of he LORD of hosts will do this. Isaiah 9:6b–7 (ESV)

Come quickly, Lord Jesus!

Action Points:

• Read Luke chapter one this week.
• How does knowing Jesus give you hope? Please share in the comments.

My prayer for you:

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Romans 15:13 (ESV)

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Thank you for reading my devotionals. You can go back to past devotionals if you missed any of the 2025 Clay in the Potter’s Hands series, Attributes of God: A to Z series in 2024, or others dating back to August 2020. Click on the date under the title to expand the text.

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Scriptures marked ESV are taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, ENGLISH STANDARD VERSION (ESV): Scriptures taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, ENGLISH STANDARD VERSION ® Copyright© 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission.

(top) Advent wreath Image by Anna Varsányi from Pixabay