Celebrate the Second Week of Advent

SECOND WEEK OF ADVENT: HOPE

We light a second purple candle on the second Sunday of Advent to represent the hope of Christ coming to the world.

The word "hope" has two meanings in the Bible. The first, tiqvah, contains the sense of eager anticipation or waiting. The second, elpis. depicts a sense of confident expectation based on certainty. Biblical hope is secured by God's faithfulness to His promises. For the Old Testament leaders, their hope was in the Messiah's arrival. For us, it is the hope of the Messiah's return.

God's plan for humanity unfolded in the town of Bethlehem, the birthplace of the Messiah, joyously fulfilling a long-awaited promise. Today we confidently wait for the Messiah's triumphant return.

DAY ONE: HUMBLE BEGINNINGS

"But you, Bethlehem, only a small village in Judah, yet a ruler of Israel will come from you, one whose origins are from a distant past ... And He will stand to lead His flock with the Lord's strength ... Then His people will live undisturbed, for He will be highly honored all around the world. And He will be the source of our peace." (Micah 5:2-5CloseMicah 5:2-5 *But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,  are only a small village among all the people of Judah.Yet a ruler of Israel will come from you,  one whose origins are from the distant past. The people of Israel will be abandoned to their enemies  until the woman in labor gives birth.Then at last his fellow countrymen  will return from exile to their own land. And he will stand to lead his flock with the LORD's strength,  in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God.Then his people will live there undisturbed,  for he will be highly honored around the world.   And he will be the source of peace.When the Assyrians invade our land  and break through our defenses,we will appoint seven rulers to watch over us,  eight princes to lead us. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) )

This is one of the most powerful messianic passages because Bethlehem is pinpointed as the birthplace of the Messiah. Written 750 years before Christ, Micah tells of the honor which will belong to Bethlehem. Christ's deity and humanity are shown here -- He is a shepherd, leading with the strength of God, bringing peace to His people.

The precision of God's promises proclaimed and fulfilled inspire us continually to hope in God. The hope of Christians is not wishful thinking, but based on the historical facts of Christ's birth, death and resurrection, and in the confidence of His eagerly anticipated return.

Heavenly Father, You are the source of all hope and we know our hope is in You -- You will not disappoint us. Teach us this week to anchor our hope in Jesus. Help us to persevere with You when we feel like giving up. We eagerly wait for Your return. Amen.

This Devotion is an excerpt from Advent: Making Christmas about Christ with permission.