Download FREE our new IFA Advent devotional. 

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. (Mic 5:2)

View Comments (0)

Advent means coming. Christmas is the Christian celebration of Christ’s coming to earth. He came as a baby in a manager, He comes into the hearts of believers today, and He is coming again to take us to heaven.

On the four Sundays before Christmas, and on Christmas morning, our spiritual preparation for Christ’s coming can be enriched as we gather for family devotions and prayers. An Advent wreath includes four candles, one for each Sunday prior to Christmas and a center candle for Christmas Day. The four candles represent promise, light, love, and hope. The fifth center candle represents Jesus Christ. These devotions can be enjoyed with or without a wreath, however. Have your family participate in the reading of the Scriptures, devotions, and lighting of the candles.

Every Friday this month we will include an advent devotional in The Informer.

First Week of Advent / Lighting of the First Candle: JESUS CHRIST CAME AS PROMISED

Isaiah 9:6 – The first candle of PROMISE reminds us that God promised to send His son Jesus. (Isaiah 7:14 and 49:13; Micah 5:2; Luke 1:26-33, 1:76-77, 2:11, and 2:25-32)

Devotion: The promise of the coming of Christ begins in Genesis when it is said that someday Satan would cause Christ to suffer, but Christ would destroy Satan. Fourteen hundred years before Jesus was born, Moses promised that God would raise up a prophet like Moses. Even though Isaiah prophesied about 700 years before Christ was born, he describes some of the details of the life of Christ. More about the person and work of Christ is found here than in any other book of the Old Testament. The miracle of Christmas includes the many years that men and women waited for the fulfillment of God’s promise. The miracle is God becoming man. He is Immanuel: “God with us.”

Devotional Hymn: Joy to the World

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we thank you and rejoice that Christ came on our behalf; help us to make this Christmas season and every day an offering of praise to You.