It's the first Sunday in Advent and many churches around the world lit the first candle on their Advent wreaths. The circular evergreen branches of the Advent wreath symbolize eternity. Five candles are typically arranged on the wreath. The four outer candles are lit sequentially during the four Sundays in Advent; the fifth candle in the center is the Christ candle and it is lit on Christmas Eve. Each Sunday in Advent a different aspect of the Christmas story is emphasized: first week- hope/expectation, second week- love/Jesus' lowly birth, third week- joy/the shepherds, and fourth week- peace/the angels' message. I write an Advent devotional for our congregation each year and this year I combined the usual Bible readings with the stories behind some of our well-known and best-loved Christmas carols. Some of you asked if I would post them here so I'm including today's portion for you. You are not obligated to read this! But if you do, thanks!!
John and Charles Wesley were born in to a devout Christian home. In spite of being two of the younger siblings of 19 (!!) children, Susanna, their mother, made sure she spent individual time with each child for spiritual instruction. To say she was methodical in her approach would be quite appropriate! The personal time studying God's Word became the foundation of John and Charles' faith and eventually the denomination that became associated with their names. Even into adulthood Charles relied on his mother's insight and practical approach to living out the Christian faith. While his older brother John became a prominent figure in the Great Awakening, it was Charles' hymns which became its greatest legacy.
Like many hymn writers, Charles incorporated his own life experiences and interaction with God's Word into the lines of each stanza of this beautiful song. Although "Come Thou Long Expected Jesus" is usually sung as an Advent hymn, it is actually written about the Second Coming of Christ. In October of 1735, Charles and his brother had sailed to the colony of Georgia. Each was to take a position in the government there. But both were really more interested in bringing the Gospel to the colonists and Native Americans. However, when Charles arrived in Fort Frederica on St. Simon's Island in March of 1736, he was basically rejected by the settlers and returned to England later that same year. While in the colonies Charles was introduced to the oppressive brand of American slavery and was abhorred by the conditions slaves endured. In a disturbing entry of his journal Charles describes the torment of a slave; the evil of which nearly caused him to have a nervous breakdown. With the weariness of the sin and darkness of this world on his mind and knowing that all people long to be free in some fashion, Charles penned the beautiful opening words of this hymn, "Come Thou long expected Jesus...".
Waiting is one of the great undercurrents of Scripture. From the moment God pronounced judgment upon Adam and Eve for their disobedience and promises a "Seed" who will come to rectify the consequences of that sin, to the pronouncement of the angel to Zacharias that he would become a father, God's people have been waiting. Adam and Eve waited to see if their own child would be that promised deliverer, but it was not to be. And each subsequent generation waited to see if the deliverer would rise from them. But it was not to be. Slavery in Egypt, dispersion in the Exile, a return to land which lay in ruin, and oppression under foreign rulers did not dim the expectation, although it certainly fostered doubt in many an Israelite heart. Hundreds of years of waiting are mixed in Zacharias' response to the promise of a son to a barren couple. "How shall I know this for certain?" questions Zacharias.
Is it any different today? Even though consumerism and easy credit have given us the false impression that we can have everything we want and have it now, we still find ourselves waiting for something better and always wanting something more. There is a false satisfaction in thinking that "stuff" will fulfill that yearning inside. The vacuum which demands to be filled but is never full enough cannot be satisfied with earthly things. It is that yearning which Wesley captures so beautifully in these words. There is only one Source of true freedom. The child born to Elizabeth and Zacharias would be the one to point hearts to Him. And now we wait for the Deliverer's return.
"Born Thy people to deliver; born a child, and yet a King.
Born to reign in us forever; now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own Eternal Spirit rule in all our hearts alone,
By Thine own sufficient merit; raise us to Thy glorious throne.
If you want to read more about the story of Zacharias and Elizabeth you can find it in the Bible in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 1, verses 57-79.
Thanks so much for taking the time to read my devotional. If you have any questions or want to make a personal comment to me, please feel free to email me at Olivetreeann@yahoo.com and put 365/Advent in the subject line so I know that your email is not spam!
@pandorasecho Thank you so much Dixie! I truly appreciate your opinion as you a fine writer yourself! I grew up in a church that used red candles on the outer ring and a white candle in the center, so that is what I like most- but the symbols were the same. I've always had a soft spot for the shepherds and also for Mary and even though I love the red candles, I've grown to appreciate these colors as well, not to mention the fact that this Advent wreath is just pretty!
very pretty shot and a great devotional! We used to light our advent as kids and then i continued it as my own kids grew up. Haven't done it since the kids left home. maybe this year I should get it going again
@libertylady Thank you Alice! That sounds like a great plan! @vickisfotos Thank you Vicki! I've been doing the wreath even as a personal devotion but sure would love it if my grandchildren were closer and I could share it with them. Still it's a beautiful way to remember the Christmas story and what it means to us.
@salza Thank you Sally! @alia_801 Thank you Alia! @sangwann Thank you Dione! @digitalrn Thank you Rick! @cimes1 Thank you Carole! And thank you so much for the fav! @dakotaburns Thank you Donald! @daisy Thank you Kathryn! @archaeofrog Thank you Katie! @vickisfotos Thank you Vicki! Yes, I did mail them one of the copies printed for our church. It also includes things for families to do and a brief "service" to light the wreath at home with. I send them one each year as well as an Advent calendar.
This is such a lovely capture of a very beautiful Advent wreath, especially with the candle for the first week of Advent lit! What a wonderfully symbolic capture of the building anticipation and growing preparation for Christmas. And do we spy one of your festive bows from a later shot? How neat! You're such a good writer, and I really enjoyed your narrative!
December 9th, 2013
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@homeschoolmom Thank you Lisa!
@bkbinthecity @maggiemae @jesperani @alia_801 @pandorasecho @bruni
Just tagging you folks since you'd expressed an interest in reading about the hymns. Hope you like it!
Thank you Nicole!
Thank you Timothy!
Thank you Kerri!
@bruni Thank you Bruni! Glad you liked it!
@vickisfotos Thank you Vicki! I've been doing the wreath even as a personal devotion but sure would love it if my grandchildren were closer and I could share it with them. Still it's a beautiful way to remember the Christmas story and what it means to us.
@alia_801 Thank you Alia!
@sangwann Thank you Dione!
@digitalrn Thank you Rick!
@cimes1 Thank you Carole! And thank you so much for the fav!
@dakotaburns Thank you Donald!
@daisy Thank you Kathryn!
@archaeofrog Thank you Katie!
@vickisfotos Thank you Vicki! Yes, I did mail them one of the copies printed for our church. It also includes things for families to do and a brief "service" to light the wreath at home with. I send them one each year as well as an Advent calendar.