DECEMBER 20 – 4th Sunday of Advent
December 20 – 4th Sunday of Advent – We get to light all the candles on the outside ring today. A great reminder that the coming of Jesus is getting near – not just the celebration of His birth, but His coming again for us.
It doesn’t just happen at the end of time. A dear friend of Partners in Hope who was very helpful to us at various times died this week after a long battle. Jesus has come for Freddy and taken him home. It’ll be Freddy’s best Christmas yet!!
But for the rest of us, we wait in anticipation and open our hearts to the love God wants to pour into us. Today’s candle represents “love” and we pray with others around the world today who open their hearts to be filled with God’s love.
Heavenly Father, The whole meaning of Christmas can be explained in one little four letter word…LOVE. You sent your gift of pure love to us that first Christmas. Love descended from heaven to be born of a virgin. Love lay in the scratchy hay of a manger in a meager barn in Bethlehem. All of your love, God, was robed in the delicate skin of a baby and wrapped in swaddling clothes. This final week of Advent, help us to reflect on the magnitude of love that was made manifest in Jesus.
Your word became flesh and you made your dwelling among us when Jesus was born. You set aside all of the glory and splendor of heaven and chose the most humble way to enter into your kingdom. Beneath the stars, surrounded by all of the hosts of heaven, Love came. Welcomed by an earthly mother and father, shepherds and wise men, Love came.
You are King and King and Lord of Lords, Messiah and Ruler of All, yet you came not as a lion but as a lamb. You came as an innocent baby whose purpose was walk this earth in complete love, and then to sacrificially give his life as an atonement for the sins of His children. Emmanuel. God with us. Love in the form of a man.
There is no greater gift then this, that a man should lay down his life for his friends. You willingly gave the gift of your life because of your love. Your righteous blood covered our sin. You redeem and restore us when we confess you as Lord and Savior of our life. In that moment you give us the gift of your love for all eternity. We receive grace upon grace and mercy upon mercy in that moment.
The greatest gift of all came that first Christmas. It wasn’t wrapped in a beautiful package and set under a decorated tree. The greatest gift came wrapped in the flesh of baby Jesus and laid in the rough wood of a manger. Our perfect gift would later be rewrapped in the scars of our sin and nailed to the rugged wood of a cross on Calvary, all because of love.
Father, this final week of Advent, fill our hearts and minds with the significance of that truth.
Father all powerful God, your eternal Word took flesh on our earth when the Mary placed her life at the service of your plan. Lift our minds in watchful hope to hear the voice which announces Your glory and open our minds to receive the Spirit who prepares us for Your coming as we celebrate Christ's birth and anticipate His coming again in glory.
Come, O Holy One, as the beloved child, Emmanuel!
Soften our hearts and open our arms for your coming
that we may make this a place worthy and warm,
kindly and safe for all your children,
in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Infant Jesus, you came to us as a sign of God's faithfulness and a person in need our our love. May we respond to every baby as Mary and Joseph came to embrace you May babies and their parents always find support and help in our families and communities of faith. Amen
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