Advent Week 1: Hope
Author:
November 30, 2023
It’s truly the most wonderful time of the year, and it is FINALLY here! The family traditions, taking time to slow down and enjoy the beauty of the season, the feeling of excitement.
This week kicks off the Christmas season by beginning a time of Advent. The word “Advent” comes from the Latin word “adventus”, meaning arrival. In this season of Christmas, we celebrate the baby boy that made his arrival and changed the course of history forever. The first week of advent is “Hope”, and I love that this is how we begin the four weeks leading up to Christmas!
Romans 8:24-25 says, “For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” This scripture makes me think of the joy, the awe, and the unseen beauty of the Christmas season.
When I think of hope, I think of being a little girl, feeling so excited because Christmastime was finally here. I also think of sweet Mary, with all of the feelings of hope, and fear, and excitement, and anxiety that came from the anticipation of Jesus’ arrival.
This first week of December is always filled with Hope! The hope of getting that one gift we want, the hope of making beautiful memories, and for the Israelites, the hope that would come out of 400 years of silence. They hoped for the things that were unseen, with an incredible amount of patience and anticipation.
The candle that represents the first week of Advent is referred to as “the prophecy candle” and is a reminder that God will do what He says He will. That He is trustworthy to stand on His promises. We are reminded that despite 400 years of waiting, the people of God knew that He would fulfill his promise to send the Messiah.
Isaiah 9 says, “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. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.”
What an incredible description about the coming of our precious savior. I think of all of God’s people anxiously awaiting this prophecy, anxiously hoping for the salvation that would cure them of the uncertainty of 400 years, not knowing how or when it would happen, but hopeful nonetheless. Praise the Lord, He’s on His way.
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