Matthew 2:1-12

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?  We saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”

When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.  When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born.  “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

“But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.”

Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared.  He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and make a careful search for the child.  As soon as you find Him, report to me so that I too may go and worship Him.”

After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.  When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.  On coming to the house, they saw the child with His mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped Him.  Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold, and of incense, and of myrrh.  And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

The fourth candle of Advent symbolizes Love.  God’s love is so powerfully illustrated in the gift of His Son Jesus Christ.  His love is so vivid in the humility of Christ to leave glory to come in flesh to save the world.  His love is so deep in knowing that He came as a baby not to live only, but to die as a sacrifice for our sin.  As the Magi are remembered for bringing gifts to Jesus, let us never forget that the real gift of Christmas is the loving gift of Jesus.

Advent Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Forgive us for seeking to remove Your presence and influence from our lives today.  We confess our rebellion against Your absolute sovereign lordship, and ask that You would create instead a deep desire for You to rule over us.  Enable us to delight in this little child who is now the King of kings, and to show our love for Him through our obedience.  Through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Bible Readings

These daily Bible readings are for you to use at home as you prepare your heart for the coming Messiah.  Set aside some of the hectic business of the holiday season, and quietly reflect on the promise of the baby born in Bethlehem.

Monday, December 21, 2009
Luke 1:39-56—Elizabeth and Mary

Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Luke 2:1-20—The Birth of Jesus

Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Luke 2:21-38—Presentation in the Temple

Thursday, December 24, 2009
Colossians 1:15-23—The Pre-eminent Christ

Friday, December 25, 2009
Revelation 5:1-14—Worthy Is the Lamb

Saturday, December 26, 2009
Revelation 21:1-7—The New Heaven and New Earth

Luke 2:8-20

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.  An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.  This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.  When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.  But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.  The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

The third candle of Advent is traditionally Pink or Rose, and symbolizes Joy at the Advent of the Christ.  Joy is a non-circumstantial reality in the life of the believer.  It is based in our hope in Jesus Christ.  That joy is never more real than in our remembrance of Christ’s coming as a baby to “seek and save the lost,” and in the hope of His ever present return to take his people home to glory.

Advent Prayer

Dear Lord Jesus,

There is a lot about Your birth and life we do not understand, but we understand enough to be amazed just as the shepherds were.  Forgive us for not marveling more at such a gift; for not pondering this great message in our hearts.  Help us to remember You.  And help us to notice somebody who needs to be told about Your love today.  Give us the courage to spread the Word.  For the sake of Christ’s kingdom we pray.  Amen.

Bible Readings

These daily Bible readings are for you to use at home as you prepare your heart for the coming Messiah.  Set aside some of the hectic business of the holiday season, and quietly reflect on the promise of the baby born in Bethlehem.

Monday, December 14, 2009
Jeremiah 23:5-6—A Righteous Branch

Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Micah 5:2—A Ruler over Israel

Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Zechariah 9:9-10—Your King is Coming

Thursday, December 17, 2009
Malachi 3:1—The Messenger is Sent

Friday, December 18, 2009
Luke 1:1-25—The Birth of John Foretold

Saturday, December 19, 2009
Luke 1:26-38—The Announcement to Mary

Matthew 1:18-25

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.  Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus because he will save his people from their sins.”

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:   “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”—which means “God with us.”

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.  But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son.

Luke 2:1-7

In those days, Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.  (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)  And everyone went to his own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David because he belonged to the house and line of David.  He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.  While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son.  She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn.

The second candle of Advent, while it may be associated with different aspects of the Advent story in different churches, or even in different years, is focused on Peace.  We recognize this morning that the light of the world is Jesus, and He is our peace in the midst of everything.  His coming into the world as an infant and His coming return as King both usher in ultimate peace for the heart of man.   The Scripture readings, prayers, lighting of the candle, the participation of worshippers in the service, all are geared to telling the story of redemption through God’s grace in the Incarnation and His second coming.

Advent Prayer

Almighty God,

You are the Author of history.  You created the heavens and the earth, all that is seen and unseen.  In the fullness of time, Your

Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth.  Open our eyes, so that we cannot overlook the coming of Your only-begotten Son.  Purify our hearts as we await His coming in glory.  Through Your Son we pray.  Amen

Bible Readings

These daily Bible readings are for you to use at home as you prepare your heart for the coming Messiah.  Set aside some of the hectic business of the holiday season, and quietly reflect on the promise of the baby born in Bethlehem

Monday, December 7, 2009
Isaiah 19:19-25—A Savior and Deliverer

Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Isaiah 40:9-11—The Sovereign Lord Comes

Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Isaiah 42:1-4—Behold My Chosen One

Thursday, December 10, 2009
Isaiah 49:1-7—A Servant Brings Salvation

Friday, December 11, 2009
Isaiah 53:1-12—A Man of Sorrows

Saturday, December 12, 2009
Isaiah 61:1-3—God’s Spirit Is Upon Him

Isaiah 9:2-6

The people walking in darkness

Have seen a great light;

On those living in the land of the shadow of death

A light has dawned…

For to us a child is born,

To us a son is given,

And the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

The first candle is traditionally the candle of Expectation or Hope (or in some traditions, Prophecy).  This draws attention to the anticipation of the coming of a Messiah, which weaves its way like a golden thread through Old Testament history.  As God’s people were abused by power-hungry kings, led astray by self-centered prophets, and lulled into apathy by half-hearted religious leaders, there arose a longing among some for God to raise up a new king who could show them how to be God’s people.  They yearned for a return of God’s dynamic presence in their midst.  And so, God revealed to some of the prophets that indeed He would not leave His people without a true Shepherd.  While they expected a new earthly king, their expectations fell far short of God’s revelation of Himself in Christ.  And yet, the world is not yet fully redeemed.  So, we again with expectation, with hope, await God’s new work in history, the second Advent, in which He will again reveal Himself to the world.

And we understand in a profound sense that the best, the highest of our expectations will fall far short of what our Lord’s Second Advent will reveal!

Advent Prayer

Lord Jesus,

We thank You for being our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.  As we enter the Christmas season, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness.  As You sent Your messengers the prophets to prepare the way of salvation, may we prepare traditions that nurture our spiritual lives and celebrate the dawning of Your everlasting light.  In Your name we pray.  Amen

Bible Readings

The weeks of Advent remind us to set aside some of the hectic business of the holiday season, and to quietly reflect on the promise of the baby born in Bethlehem 2000 years ago.  Each week, we will provide daily Bible readings for you to use at home as you prepare your heart for the coming Messiah.

Monday, November 30, 2009
Genesis 1:26-31–The Creator of Man

Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Genesis 3:1-24—The Fall of Man

Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Genesis 3:15—Promise of Redemption

Thursday, December 3, 2009
Deuteronomy 18:15-19—A Prophet Will Come

Friday, December 4, 2009
Isaiah 7:10-14—A Virgin With Child

Saturday, December 5, 2009
Isaiah 11:1-5—A Righteous Judge

The circle of the wreath reminds us of God Himself, His eternity, and endless mercy, which have no beginning or end. The green of the wreath speaks of the hope that we have in God, the hope of newness, of renewal, of eternal life. Candles symbolize the light of God coming into the world through the birth of His Son. The four outer candles represent the period of waiting during the four Sundays of Advent, which themselves symbolize the four centuries of waiting between the prophet Malachi and the birth of Christ. The light of the candles itself becomes an important symbol of the season. The light reminds us that Jesus is the light of the world, which comes into the darkness of our lives to bring newness, life, and hope. The progression in the lighting of the candles symbolizes the various aspects of our waiting experience. The lighting of the candles during the four-week period also symbolizes the darkness of fear and hopelessness receding, and the shadows of sin falling away as more and more light is shed into the world. The flame of each new candle reminds the worshippers that something is happening, and that more is yet to come. Finally, the light that has come into the world is plainly visible as the Christ candle is lighted on Christmas Eve, and worshippers rejoice that the promise of long ago has been realized.

The word Advent comes from the Latin word adventus and means “coming” or “arrival.” The focus of the entire season is the celebration of the birth of Jesus the Christ in His First Advent, and the anticipation of the return of Christ the King in His Second Advent. Thus, Advent is far more than simply marking a 2,000-year- old event in history. It is celebrating a truth about God, the revelation of God in Christ whereby all creation might be reconciled to God. That is a process in which we now participate, and the consummation of which we anticipate. Because the season emphasizes Christ’s comings and not merely His birth, it is not enough to use the season merely as a preparation for Christmas. Instead, the time is appropriate for preparation for the second coming of Christ and the inward soul searching that should mark that preparation.

In this double focus on past and future, Advent also symbolizes the spiritual journey of individuals and a congregation as they affirm that Christ has come, that He is present in the world today, and that He will come again in power. That acknowledgment provides a basis for Kingdom ethics, for holy living arising from a profound sense that we live “between the times” and are called to be faithful stewards of what is entrusted to us as God’s people. So, as the church celebrates God’s “in-breaking” into history in the Incarnation, and anticipates a future consummation to that history for which “all creation is groaning, awaiting its redemption,” it also confesses its own responsibility as a people commissioned to “love the Lord your God with all your heart” and to “love your neighbor as yourself.”

Advent is a season full of promise and rejoicing in the comings of the King, but it is also a time that marks the coming of judgment. This judgment will come first on the house of God and then on the world. So, while there is great promise in the Advent, there is also a somber tone as the theme of threat is added to the theme of promise. This is reflected in some of the readings for Advent, in which there is a strong prophetic tone of accountability and judgment on sin. But this is also faithful to the role of the Coming King, who comes to rule, save, and judge the world.

The spirit of Advent is expressed well in the parable of the bridesmaids who are anxiously awaiting the coming of the Bridegroom. There is profound joy at the Bridegroom’s expected coming. And yet a warning of the need for preparation echoes through the parable. But, even then, the prayer of Advent is still:
Come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel!