Advent 2025

These daily readings of Scripture highlight the unfolding of God’s plan for His creation.

Creation began with (1) the perfect world as He designed it to be. Giving freewill to

humans was in accord with God’s character and intention. As you are aware, we have

sinned (!), (2) resulting in what is known as the Fall. Very quickly God provided a (3) path

to make restoration possible, first as a shadow (the Old Testament) and then, clearly, and

eternally in Christ (the New Testament). Advent is about preparing for the (4) ultimate

Restoration of all of creation and the Return of Christ to establish His eternal Kingdom.

Advent points to His coming in human flesh at His nativity. These next three and a half

weeks will walk us through this process as we travel from the first Sunday in Advent on

November 30th through Christmas Eve.

The season of Advent is known as the beginning of the Christian Year. In a nutshell, the

first six months are centered on the life and ministry of Jesus Christ from His birth to His

Ascension. The coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost then shifts our attention to the

mission of the Church the other six months. As you can see, each day of the year is

drawing us again and again to living out our lives in the context of the greater m ission of

God and our part in it. The corkscrew image is so descriptive as year by year we grow

deeper and deeper in faith and in our walk with the Lord. The Christian Year is not simply

circular, in which we do the same things over and over, but rather, like the child Jesus,

we “grow in wisdom and knowledge in favor with God and man.” The concept of time

viewed in a linear fashion was unique to the Jews. Other religions at the time viewed the

passing of time as circular, the same thing happening over and over. With Jewish and

biblical thought, there would be a consummation of time when God would make all things

new.

There are references to the observance of Advent as far back as the 5th century. These

days were originally a time of fasting and preparation for baptism, as Epiphany (January

6th) was a primary time for new converts to be baptized. Advent’s connection with the

nativity of Christ came later. It varied in length from three to six weeks depending on the

locality. In some cases, it was a forty-day “little Lent,” as it was called. Purple or blue was

the color of royalty and mourning, hence the purple or blue candles.

May these passages of Scripture, reflection, and prayers each day be helpful in leading

you to hear the Savior’s voice as He speaks through His Word and may your love and

devotion to our Lord and Savior increase. If daily time in the Word in the presence of the

Lord is not part of your regular practice, may these next weeks be the beginning of a life-

long pattern. To God be the glory. Soli Deo Gloria!

The Scriptures are taken from the New Living Translation (NLT), with the exception of the

passage addressed on Christmas Eve, where I used the King James Version.