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Advent Wreath Resolutions: Peace

The end of January is in sight. How are you doing with your Advent Resolutions? This week we come to the fourth candle of the Advent Wreath. The third blue candle of the Wreath has traditionally represented peace. We find the mention of God’s peace throughout scripture. In the King James Version, the word “peace” is used 311 times in the Old Testament and 109 times in the New Testament.

Image used under creative commons license available at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Between the multitude of meanings of our English word peace and the 400 scriptural references to peace, I came to the immediate conclusion that one posting will not be sufficient to do justice to the concept of peace and our New Year’s Resolution related to the Advent Wreath. In this first peace posting, I will deal with just three phrases that use the word peace. They are “Prince of Peace,” “peace of God,” and “peace with God.” In future postings I will attempt to deal with at least eight more concepts associated with the word “peace.” The majority of those concepts are directly referenced in scriptures, while some are only alluded to in the KJV version and some are even more tangential.

The one and only mention in the KJV of the phrase “Prince of Peace” is from the prophet Isaiah:

5 For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire. 6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. 8 The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Israel. (Isaiah 9: 5-8, JKV)

This passage is obviously a Messianic reference. It begins with a reference to a warrior and a fierce battle. However, it switches immediately to talk about a baby, that will eventually rule all nations. The Hebrew people held onto this promise for hundreds of years, looking forward to a visit from God in human form, who would save them from their trials and tribulations. They were looking for a savior that would provide peace from human wars and injustice, peace and freedom in their souls from the stress and strains of everyday human life, and the peace of mind that comes from knowledge and the light.  When the angels appeared to the shepherds, the shepherds knew the significance of the angels’ message. The Savior, the Prince of Peace, had finally come. They had to go to Bethlehem immediately to see and worship this baby who would be their Messiah and future King.

This image is entitled “The Angels Appear.” It is from “The Prince of Peace” by Isabella Macdonald Alden c. 1890 Author Unsigned. It is in the Public Domain in the United States.
from Presenter Media
from Presenter Media
from Presenter Media

The phrase “peace of God” is generally associated with the personal peace given to individuals by God to face the turmoils of their daily lives. These storms can be minor or major squabbles within families, churches and work relationships.

The storms can be real storms or calamities that can cause great physical and environment damage as well as inflict real bodily and psychological harm.  Remember Hurrican Katrina, miracle of U.S. Air flight 1549 landing on the Hudson river, and the Fukushima earthquake, tsunami and nuclear power plant disaster,

Damaged church on Florida Avenue in flood devastated section of the Upper 9th Ward of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina in 2006. In this area waters from the Industrial Canal smashed many buildings. Photo by Infrogmation, April 2006. Image presented under Creative Commons license 3.0
Passengers on the wings of the Airbus 320 in January 2009, after Captain Chesley Sullenberger made an emergency landing of U.S. Airways flight 1549 on the Hudson river in January 2009. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.
Damage to the Dai Ichi power plant in Fukushima, Japan after the 2011Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. This picture is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.

How can some people survive such terrible disasters while others do not? The world usually attributes it to “Luck.” The world says “Some people are in the wrong place at the wrong time, while others are in the right place at the wrong time.”  God’s answer is found in Psalm 29.

1 Give unto the Lord, O ye mighty, give unto the Lord glory and strength. 2 Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. 3 The voice of the Lord is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the Lord is upon many waters. 4 The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty. 5 The voice of the Lord breaketh the cedars; yea, the Lord breaketh the cedars of Lebanon. 6 He maketh them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn. 7 The voice of the Lord divideth the flames of fire. 8 The voice of the Lord shaketh the wilderness; the Lord shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh. 9 The voice of the Lord maketh the hinds to calve, and discovereth the forests: and in his temple doth every one speak of his glory. 10 The Lord sitteth upon the flood; yea, the Lord sitteth King for ever. 11 The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace. (Psalm 29: 1 – 11, JKV)

What can we give a God who owns everything? The word translated “give” in the first two verses of Psalm 29 is actually the Hebrew word yahab (יָהַב) which is translated “ascribe” ( which means to accredit or impute) in other places. Thus this verse is telling us to acknowledge God as all-powerful and the most glorious.  In verse 3, this all powerful God speaks out of the midst of the storm. We should be able to hear it if we are listening. If we do listen and obey Him, then He will give us strength to weather the storm and bless us with peace. God will place us in the center of His Peace, a place of rest and spiritual well-being. This is the peace of God. Paul reminds us that “… the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7, KJV)

Paul also provides us the completest treatise on the concept of peace with God in Romans, chapter 5.

1Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. 6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. 12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: 13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. 15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. 16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. (Romans 5: 1 – 16, KJV)

In verse 1, Paul tells us that we can obtain peace with God through Christ. In verse 2, we see that we have access to peace with God through faith by God’s grace. This peace has at least five different aspects. Verse 9 details our justification by Christ’s blood and thereby saved from His wrath. Verse 10 speaks to our reconciliation with God by Christ’s death and salvation through His life. Verse 11 encourages us to rejoice in God’s atonement through Jesus Christ. Verses 12 through 16 is a delineation of God’s free gift through Christ which is an escape from God’s judgment to condemnation. 

In John 14, just prior to his crucifixion, Jesus spoke with His disciples about what He was leaving them.   26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. 27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (John 14: 26 & 27, KJV)

How are you doing with your Advent Wreath resolutions? Have you made the Prince of Peace the King of your life? Are you living in the peace of God? Have you made your peace with God?

 

 

 

 

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Advent Wreath Lesson Three: Joy

Can you believe we’re more than halfway through January and more than 5% of 2017 is already in the books? How are you doing with your Advent Wreath Resolution? Are you still reflecting on the Advent Wreath Lessons? This week we’ve come to the third candle lit during Advent, which is the pink “Joy” candle. What is the significance of this candle?

Image used under creative commons license available at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

When many people think of Christmas joy, the first two things that come to their minds are the angelic greeting given to the shepherds and some very familiar Christmas music.

By Govert Flinck, 17th Century Dutch painter; Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=480149In terms of

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.  

In terms of Christmas music, possibly the second best known Christmas carol is “Joy to the World” written by Isaac Watts. This is ironic since Watts didn’t write this piece to be an Advent hymn. Watts claimed Psalm 98 as his inspiration for this hymn.

The Last Judgment by Jean Cousin the Younger, also called Jehan Cousin Le Jeune (lived c. 1522–1595). – Blunt, Anthony. Art and Architecture in France: 1500–1700. New Haven (CT): Yale University Press, [1957] 1999 edition. ISBN 0300077483. Page 99., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2874303

O sing unto the Lord a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.  The Lord hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen. He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise. Sing unto the Lord with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm. With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the Lord, the King. Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together. Before the Lord; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity. (Psalm 98: 1-9; KJV)

With the possible exception of the first verse Watts was obviously not celebrating the Messiah’s nativity, or first coming to earth, but rather His triumphant return to judge and reign.

Verse 1

Joy to the world! The Lord is come;
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare him room,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.

Verse 2

Joy to the earth! the savior reigns;
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

Verse 3

No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make his blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.

Verse 4

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of his righteousness,
And wonders of his love,
And wonders of his love,
And wonders, wonders, of his love.

(Lyrics by Isaac Watts, published in 1719; copyright status is public domain.)

In 1739, Charles Wesley wrote a Christmas poem based on the angelic message of joy to the shepherds. To use it as a Christmas hymn, the words were put to the same music as his Easter hymn, “Christ the Lord is Risen Today.” Wesley’s version begins with the lines “HARK how all the Welkin rings. Glory to the King of Kings” In 1751, George Whitefield tweaked the lines closer to what we sing today: “Hark the herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King!” Over the next century, a chorus of sorts was added to the end of each verse, repeating Whitefield’s opening lines, “Hark the herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King!” In 1840, William Cummings adapted music from a Mendelssohn cantata. This is music with which we are most familiar today. Because “Christ the Lord is Risen Today” uses the same meter, we sometimes sing that tune to the Mendelssohn music.

Hark the herald angels sing
“Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled”
Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim:
“Christ is born in Bethlehem”
Hark! The herald angels sing
“Glory to the newborn King!”

Christ by highest heav’n adored
Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of a Virgin’s womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hark! The herald angels sing
“Glory to the newborn King!”

Hail the heav’n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris’n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing
“Glory to the newborn King!”

As we wind down the month of January, are you preparing your heart to receive the heaven-born prince when He comes as King to judge and reign over this world? Are you spreading this message of joy to everyone with whom you come into contact?

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Advent Wreath Lesson Two: Love

As we approach the end of the second week and the beginning of the third week of 2017, in the spirit of my New Year’s Resolution post A Different Kind of New Year’s Resolution: Instead of Packing Away the Advent Wreath for Another Year, Reflect on Its Lessons During All of 2017, it’s time to consider the second blue candle of the Advent Wreath.

Image used under creative commons license available at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

In many Christian traditions that use the Advent Wreath, the second blue candle represents love. Advent and Christmas tell the story of God’s unfailing love for mankind. From the dawn of creation, mankind has held a special place in God’s world.

So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so. And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day. (Genesis 1:27 – 31, KJV)

Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons; originally published in 1906 a Bible card published 1906 as a Bible Card Illustration by the Providence Lithograph Company

God looked and saw that everything He had created was good. He enjoyed His creation. Genesis 3 seems to imply that God would visit his Creation and spend time in the Garden. During these visits, it seems that God spent time visiting and talking with Adam and Eve.

And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden. And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? (Genesis 3: 8 & 9, KJV)

Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons; Adam and Eve hiding from God and covering their nakedness in the Garden of Eden. Etching by J.E. Ridinger after himself, c. 1750. In Public Domain

By disobeying one simple command “Don’t eat of the fruit of one specified tree!” Adam and Eve separated themselves from fellowship with God and participation in the benefits of God’s mercy and love.

And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. (Genesis 3: 2 & 3, KJV)

Image by Ludela (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Because of their sin of disobeying God and eating of the forbidden fruit, Adam and Eve were driven from the Garden of Eden. Because of one man’s sin, all men became separated from God. The expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden is a picture of the expulsion of all sinful men from the presence of God.

Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, under open content license. Illustration from Bible Picture by Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld, with brief descriptions by Charles Foster, published in 1897

A holy, righteous God could not condone sin. However, because of His love for creation, He had a plan to redeem mankind.

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:  By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;  And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.  Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:  (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.  Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.  (Romans 5: 1-21, KJV)

One major step in this plan was the Advent, the appearance of Jesus Christ as a sinless baby, born of a virgin.

Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons under open content license. It is a photograph of the painting Madonna with child and angels is a picture painted in the 17th century by Giovanni Battista Salvi da Sassoferrato and kept at Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Antica di Palazzo Corsini.

Christ, coming to earth in human form was not enough to satisfy the penalty of sin that all men are under. Jesus had to die on the cross as a sacrifice for our sin, and then be resurrected in glory.

Image from Biblical illustrations by Jim Padgett, courtesy of Sweet Publishing, Ft. Worth, TX, and Gospel Light, Ventura, CA. Copyright 1984. Released under new license, CC-BY-SA 3.0

The death and resurrection of Christ satisfied the punishment for our sin and sealed our pardon from God. With such a great show of love from God, we should be willing to show our love for God by obeying Him and telling others about this wonderful love gift. Philip in the middle of an evangelistic crusade was willing to drop everything and go to the Judean desert where he wasn’t sure who he would possibly run into. But God had a plan for him that would eventually lead to millions of people coming to know and accept God’s great love gift.

And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:  In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.  (Acts 8: 30-38, KJV)

Philip and the eunuch, from Biblical illustrations by Jim Padgett, courtesy of Sweet Publishing, Ft. Worth, TX, and Gospel Light, Ventura, CA. Copyright 1984. Released under new license, CC-BY-SA 3.0

During 2017, are you under the conviction of God’s love? Are you ready to be a Philip and run to the side of any seeker and explain the gospel message?

 

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Advent Wreath Lesson One: Hope

 

As we approach the end of the first week and the beginning of the second week of 2017, in the spirit of my New Year’s Resolution post A Different Kind of New Year’s Resolution: Instead of Packing Away the Advent Wreath for Another Year, Reflect on Its Lessons During All of 2017, let’s consider the first blue candle of the Advent Wreath.

Image used under creative commons license available at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

In many Christian traditions that use the Advent Wreath, the first blue candle represents hope. In modern English, the word hope has become a wishy-washy word of desire and uncertainty. It implies the desire of a specific result but uncertainty as to whether it will occur.  In the English Bible, the word “hope” is used both as a verb and a noun. Used as a verb the word “hope” means to trust in someone or something or to expectantly wait for a beneficial result. The Hebrew word that is translated most often as “hope” in the King James Version is yachal  ( יָחַל).  This word and its variations occur 40 times in the Old Testament and are translated 27 times as “hope.”  In the other 13 occasions, the words are translated as variations of “wait” and “trust.” In the Old Testament time “hope” carried the connotation of resting securely in the certain knowledge that an event will occur.  

In the King James New Testament, the word “hope” is used as a noun or a verb. Most of these occurrences were derived from the Greek noun elpis (ἐλπίς) or its verb relative elpizo (ἐλπίζω). In total, elpis and elpizo or their variants occur 84 times in the Greek New Testament. Of the 11 times that “hope” appears as a verb in the KJV, all of them were variations of elpizo. Of the 20 times elpizo is not translated “hope” it is translated with a variation of the verb “trust.” Thus, we see in the NT the same message as we saw in the OT. Whether it is used as a noun or a verb, “hope” carries the connotation of assured expectation of fulfillment.

In Scripture, according to the Hebrew and Greek words translated by the word “hope” and according to the biblical usage, hope is an indication of certainty. “Hope” in Scripture means “a strong and confident expectation.” This use of the word “hope” is generally archaic today.

“Hope” as a noun refers to the activity of hoping, or to the object hoped for—the content of one’s hope. By its very nature, hope stresses two things: (a) a time yet to come, and (b) something not yet seen. It deals with things we can’t see or haven’t received or both.

For centuries the world looked forward with a steadfast hope for the coming Messiah. The following passages speak of that unwavering trust without using the terms “hope” or “trust.”

But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law..” (Galatians 4:4, KJV).

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14, KJV)

Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. The Annuciation by Salomon Koninck, 1655. In public domain.

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. (Micah 5:2, KJV)

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for He shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. (Matthew 1:21-23),

When it was time for Mary and Joseph to present Jesus at the Temple in Jerusalem to be presented to the Lord, they were met by an elderly man, who was kept alive by the hope of the coming of the Messiah.

Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. Simeon in the Temple by Rembrandt, 1631. In public domain

And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.  And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. (Luke 2:25 -32, KJV)

Jesus during his ministry raised up a small band of disciples who were convinced that He was the Messiah, the anointed one. They were dismayed and heartbroken when He was arrested and crucified. Even though He had told them that He would have to suffer and die, they didn’t understand this part of His message. Even when He appeared to them after the resurrection, they were still looking for an earthly kingdom. They didn’t know what to do or believe when He ascended into heaven right in front of their eyes. Angels which had announced His first coming reassured His disciples that He would be coming again. The disciples and the rest of the world had to settle back into the sure hope of His second coming.

 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?  And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.  And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.  And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. (Acts 1: 6-11, KJV)

Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. Jesus ascending to heaven by John Singleton Copley, 1775. In public domain

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,  (I Peter 1:3-4, KJV)

In this Christmas season, are you reflecting the light of Christ’s salvation to a world trapped in darkness? Are you spreading the gospel of hope of God’s salvation?

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A Different Kind of New Year’s Resolution: Instead of Packing Away the Advent Wreath for Another Year, Reflect on Its Lessons During All of 2017

from Presenter Media

As soon as Christmas is over many people begin working on two projects. The first is the practice of writing and polishing up one’s New Year’s Resolutions. They are full of good intentions and want the New Year to fulfill all of the promises with which it comes.

The second project is packing away the holiday decorations until next year. Since the Advent Wreath centers on the time leading up to the Nativity, it is usually one of the first articles to be put away. Perhaps this year we need to refocus our thinking. The five candles of the Advent Wreath teach lessons which should not be seasonal or time dependent. They are appropriate for Christians to concentrate on all year long. If you are into New Year’s Resolutions, I would suggest that an excellent candidate for the top of your list would be the practice of reflecting on and living out the Advent lessons throughout the entire 2017 year.

Image used under creative commons license available at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

The typical Advent Wreath begins with a circular ring of evergreens. The ring and the evergreens represent the eternal nature of God. Around the wreaths four colored candles are equally spaced, circling a larger, white candle in the center of the wreath. Although there are variations, it is common for three of the outer candles to be blue or violet, while the fourth colored candle is rose or pink. The four outer candles represent four virtues or messages that Jesus brings us. Four Sundays before Advent, the first blue candle representing hope or expectation is lit. The word “hope” is used both as a verb and a noun. In the Bible, the verb hope means to trust in someone or something, to expectantly wait for a beneficial result.

On the third Sunday before Advent, the first blue candle is lit again, while a second blue candle representing God’s love is lit. The word “love” is also used as a verb and a noun. God’s love is complete and perfect. It is given, and not earned. On the second Sunday before Advent, the pink candle representing joy, along with the previously lit blue candles, are lit. God’s joy is his delight and pleasure. It is what he experiences and what he gives. On the last Sunday before Advent, all four outer candles are lit. The third blue candle represents peace. God’s peace has two aspects. The first is peace with God. The second is the peace of God. More on the meaning of these candles will follow in subsequent posts.

On Christmas Eve the central white candle, also called the Christ Candle, is lit. It represents Christ, the light of the world. In this Christmas season that just passed, did you reflect the light of Christ to a world trapped in darkness? Are you planning to spread His gospel of hope, peace, love and joy to a lost world throughout this coming year? I plan to do five more posts in this series, suggesting how we should reflect on and encourage others with the message of God’s hope, peace, love and joy, and Christ as the light of the world.

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Is the United States a Christian nation? A Tale of Three Thanksgiving Proclamations

The question of whether the United States is or was founded as a Christian nation has been fiercely debated since at least the middle of the 20th Century. Some historians believe that many of the founding fathers of the colonies were Christians or heavily influenced by Christian traditions. Other historians have argued that the predominant influence among the founding fathers was that of deism. One of the seemingly strongest arguments against the Christian nation premise is the first amendment to the Constitution:  Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. Does this, as some have suggested, build an impenetrable wall of separation between the federal government and religion? 

In order to help answer this thorny question, I thought it would be helpful to reflect on the official history of Thanksgiving in the United States. Thanksgiving is an official U.S. holiday, although for many, it is essentially a religious celebration.The unofficial history of Thanksgiving traces its roots back to the first settlers of this new world in the early seventeenth century. The first official national Thanksgiving celebration occurred almost 2 centuries later in 1789, as a result of a proclamation by George Washington, the first president of the United States.

Thanksgiving Proclamation

Issued by President George Washington, at the request of Congress, on October 3, 1789
By the President of the United States of America, a Proclamation.
Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and—Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me “to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:”
Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favor, able interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquillity, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted; for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.
And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations, and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally, to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.
Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.
Go. Washington

 

Among the next 14 presidents, only Adams and Madison followed Washington’s example and issued proclamations declaring a day of Thanksgiving. It wasn’t until October 3, 1863, in honor of Congress’ establishment of an annual National Day of Thanksgiving, that President Abraham Lincoln declared the last Thursday of November would be a national day of Thanksgiving for our bountiful blessings.

Washington, D.C.
October 3, 1863

By the President of the United States of America.

A Proclamation.

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequalled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the United States the Eighty-eighth.

By the President: Abraham Lincoln

William H. Seward,
Secretary of State

SInce LIncoln’s 1863 Proclamation, every one of his successors have issued a Thanksgiving Day Proclamation. The content of these proclamations have varied greatly. However, almost every one of the proclamations implores  citizenry to humbly express gratitude to a superior being for all of his gifts to this great land.  One recent proclamation seems to be a break in this tradition.

WASHINGTON — THANKSGIVING DAY , 2009

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, A PROCLAMATION

What began as a harvest celebration between European settlers and indigenous communities nearly four centuries ago has become our cherished tradition of Thanksgiving. This day’s roots are intertwined with those of our Nation, and its history traces the American narrative.

Today, we recall President George Washington , who proclaimed our first national day of public thanksgiving to be observed “by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God,” and President Abraham Lincoln , who established our annual Thanksgiving Day to help mend a fractured Nation in the midst of civil war. We also recognize the contributions of Native Americans, who helped the early colonists survive their first harsh winter and continue to strengthen our Nation. From our earliest days of independence, and in times of tragedy and triumph, Americans have come together to celebrate Thanksgiving.

As Americans, we hail from every part of the world. While we observe traditions from every culture, Thanksgiving Day is a unique national tradition we all share. Its spirit binds us together as one people, each of us thankful for our common blessings.

As we gather once again among loved ones, let us also reach out to our neighbors and fellow citizens in need of a helping hand. This is a time for us to renew our bonds with one another, and we can fulfill that commitment by serving our communities and our Nation throughout the year. In doing so, we pay tribute to our country’s men and women in uniform who set an example of service that inspires us all. Let us be guided by the legacy of those who have fought for the freedoms for which we give thanks, and be worthy heirs to the noble tradition of goodwill shown on this day.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA , President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States , do hereby proclaim Thursday, November 26, 2009, as a National Day of Thanksgiving. I encourage all the people of the United States to come together, whether in our homes, places of worship, community centers, or any place where family, friends and neighbors may gather, with gratitude for all we have received in the past year; to express appreciation to those whose lives enrich our own; and to share our bounty with others.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twentieth day of November, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth.

– Barack Obama

I encourage my readers to take some time this holiday season to reflect on their own concept of Thanksgiving. Look around you. Do you not see the handiwork of a creator and sustainer all around? Look at all your possessions and all you have done. Can you claim any of that is truly your own doing?