Bible Verse of the Day Sunday December 10th, 2023 (2nd Advent) Faith

Micah 5:2 But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old from ancient times.”

The first Advent candle (Hope) we lit last week is often called the Prophet's Candle (Isaiah waiting in HOPE for our Savior). Today, the Second Sunday of Advent, we light the second candle which symbolizes FAITH. The candle's name originates from the prophet Micah, who prophesied that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem; thus, the second candle is called the Bethlehem Candle. The trustworthy source of Hope, faith, joy, and peace symbolized in the Advent candles is in the wreath! It signifies the infinity of the love God has for all people. This circle of God's endless, eternal love flows into us and through us so that we, as His followers and believers, can express hope, faith, joy, and peace along with His light to this lost, dark, and dying world. 

There is a Hebrew word that embodies love, faithfulness, loyalty, compassion, and tender mercy, God's forgiveness, and healing, which is so broad and deep and so eternal that it essentially defies description! It conveys God's love for us and our loving response to Him. The Hebrew word in its English pronunciation is "Hesed," People sometimes use it for God's covenant love of His people. It could be said the word "Hesed" is the infinity of the Christ Advent wreath. The infinity of the Christmas Wreath symbolizes us becoming the representation of hope, faith, peace, and joy for the part of the world that does not know Christ Jesus as their personal Savior. 

 

The Christmas story revolves around faith. We see the faith of Mary when God informed her through the Angel Gabriel that she would bring forth the child that was the Son of God, the Savior of the world (Luke 1:38). We also recognize the faith of Joesph when he discovered that Mary was divinely pregnant. He chose to marry her when he had every legal right to call off the engagement (Matthew 1:24). There was also the faith of Joesph and Mary together that God would provide for them as they made the dangerous eighty-mile trip to Bethlehem from their home in Nazareth to register for the Census. 

 

If we, as Christians, want to please God in our day, we must give him our faith, love, and obedience in the same manner that Joesph and Mary, as well as the prophets did thousands of years ago. In doing so, if we faithfully and expectantly wait, God will follow through with His promises just as He did at the first coming of the Promised Messiah (Genesis 3:15).