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.