Sunday morning marks the start of the 2022 Advent season. Born from the Latin word adventus , Advent refers to the coming or arrival of Jesus Christ, the long awaited Messiah. The Greek word for advent is parousia and means presence, arrival, or official visit. Once, God’s people, the Israelites, waited for the Messiah—God’s promised King to come and establish His kingdom on the Earth. That promise was fulfilled by the birth of Jesus Christ. God’s incarnation changed the course of humanity forever.
Today, Christians await the return of Christ—His Second Coming.After His death and resurrection, believers—-followers of Jesus—-began to observe and celebrate Advent in the fourth and fifth centuries in anticipation of Jesus’ return.
so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.
Hebrews 9:28 (New Living Translation)
Advent is a season of preparation, prayer, and expectance. It is typically marked by a purple candle being lit each of the four weeks of Advent leading up to Christmas. On Christmas Day, a white candle—-called the Christ candle—-is lit. This liturgical ritual is done as both a remembrance of God’s fulfilled promise in the past and in anticipation of God’s promise yet to be fulfilled—-Christ’s return.
Four key themes of Advent are love, joy, hope, and peace. These focal points help prepare our hearts. To have a relationship with Christ means to fully experience love, joy, hope, and peace. In Jesus, you and I can experience love. We can know joy. We have hope and we can find peace.
Over the next few weeks ahead of Christmas, set your heart on the future. Jesus is coming back.
May your soul rise up to meet the Lord, our Creator as the day rises to meet the sun.
Blessings,
Rainer Bantau
The Devotional Guy™
#bgbg2#BibleGateway#Advent
The Devotional Guy™ 
Amen, the King is returning. Praise God.
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Thank you for sharing the background information about advent. I grew up Southern Baptist and we didn’t necessarily follow the liturgical year.
The emphasis on faith, hope, love, and peace, and how they apply to the incarnation of Christ, is fascinating.
I look forward to your posts about advent, brother.
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I love the advent season. I remember when I was a child and we attended a Methodist church they would light the candles each week. I would like to do that someday in my home as well. Over the past few years I have tried to find an advent related devotional to help me keep the focus on Jesus. Thank you for sharing this with us. I eagerly await Jesus’ return!! ✝️🙌🙏
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Thanks, David. I have recently become more interested in liturgy and have begun to gain a new appreciation for these practices and observances passed down over the generations.
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Amen
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Thanks, Bridget. My Oma used to send me an Advent calendar each year when I was a little boy. It stopped when I guess she thought I’d outgrown it. There are some Advent devos on the Bible app, I believe. But maybe we can just write our own?
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Last year I had a series of blog posts that went through the book of Luke. This year I will not be doing that but do look forward to other blogs with advent related posts. And I am sorry if my comment didn’t come out right. I was just trying to share traditionally how I celebrated the season and focused on Jesus.
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I thought your comment was insightful, Bridget. I have seen interest in Advent rekindled over the past few years—perhaps our recent experience navigating our way out of the pandemic has stirred something within us to yearn for some of those traditions we once cherished.
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Very good point! 🙌
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