The Perfect Plan - Miracle of AdventSample

Christmas Eve, The Incarnational Peace of Jesus (God with us)

Alas, the birth of Christ is here! The answer to prayers foretold by prophets for so long and the hope of countless prior generations demonstrates God’s faithfulness and perfect timing. The four lit candles represent the four thousand-year period from when God created the world until the birth of Jesus.

This morning, we light the fifth and final candle, representing Christ coming into the world. It is anchored in the middle of the Advent wreath as a reminder that Christ is the center of all things and takes His preeminent place at the center of our lives.

This candle is white and hearkens back to the first week of Advent, where Jesus is described as the Lamb of God, pure and spotless, and without sin. His sacrifice and forgiveness wash us whiter than snow. And His love and tenderness make Him accessible to everyone so we can each have a personal relationship with Him.

On this Christmas Eve, all of the candles will be extinguished except for the Christ candle, representing the Light of the World that shines throughout all darkness. Our eyes are drawn to the Light, and His radiance beams out in all directions, to every corner of the world, available to all people.

As we light our individual candles from the light of the Christ candle and hold them in front of us, we are reminded that Jesus goes before us, lighting our path in life. We don’t take this walk alone. We are reminded that our Savior’s love shines through even the deepest darkness.
If we honor Him and keep his commands, in that obedience we find the ultimate comfort and peace.

As we pass the light of the Christ candle around to everyone tonight, let us also remember our responsibility as Christians to pass the story of the birth of Jesus to the next generation so that the Love of Jesus might grow and live on.

We celebrate you, Lord, this Christmas and always.

If you enjoyed this reading plan, I invite you to check out the book Hidden Miracles of the Bible: Secret Wisdom Within the Word by Brent S. Furrow to discover the softer, more subtle miracles and wisdom found deep within Scripture.