By Jen Quinnelly, Bulletin Editor
The Christmas season was always an exciting time when I was growing up. I was just like any other kid, always eager to open gifts, but my excitement was not limited to that pastime alone. I actually enjoyed the anticipation of the whole season—the family being together, vacation from school, singing Christmas carols, eating lots of food, playing in the snow, and celebrating the birth of Christ. I loved the sense of preparation and expectation that seemed to permeate everyone and everything.
That is what Advent is all about—the anticipation and expectation of Christ’s birth and the hope of Christ’s second coming. Advent literally means, “arrival” or “coming” in Latin, and is a time to focus our attention on the hope, faith, peace, joy, and love Jesus provides through His birth, life, death, and resurrection. These components are most often symbolized by the lighting of five separate candles and typically, Advent begins four Sundays prior to Christmas Eve. So…today marks the first day of Advent and the celebration of the hope of salvation that Jesus’ birth brings.
In celebrating the hope of Christ’s birth, it is a good idea to define what hope is. Merriam-Webster states that it is, “to cherish a desire with anticipation,” but it can also mean, “to expect with confidence: trust.” The Old Testament saints cherished with anticipation the hope of the coming of the Messiah, the salvation of mankind. Many boldly prophesied His birth.
Isaiah 7:14 (NIV)
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
Isaiah 40:3-5 (NIV)
A voice of one calling: “In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”
They also expected with confidence that God would keep His promise. We today, know with certainty that God did keep His promise and provided a way of salvation. We can also have full confidence that Christ will return for us and take us to be with Him for all eternity.
1 Thessalonians 4:17
After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
I encourage you and your family to spend a little time each day focusing on the reason we celebrate Christmas. Spend this first week concentrating on the hope and anticipation of Christ’s birthday. Take the following weeks to study the faith, peace, joy, and love we experience in Christ. Feel free to use the enclosed Advent Guide for ideas and/or a daily family devotional. I challenge you to be intentional about placing Christ in the center of your celebrations. He is the reason for our very existence.