Devotionals

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Lighting the Candle of Light
READER #1: "Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; Let the sea roar, and all its fullness; ¹²Let the field be joyful, and all that is in it. Then all the trees of the woods will rejoice before the Lord. ¹³For He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth. He shall judge the world with righteousness, And the peoples with His truth." (PSALM 96:11-13)

READER #2: The Child has come and lives within our hearts. With this childlike spirit and with His guiding love, we can lift songs of praise and join the heavenly choirs in rejoicing at the Good News that His righteousness and truth have filled the earth with His glory.

READER #1: "But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: ¹¹to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹²This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’ ¹³And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, ¹⁴‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!." (LUKE 2:10-14)

READER #2: "Do not be afraid." These words of blessed assurance ring as true today as they did on that hillside so many years ago. We do not need to fear for our lives. We do not need to be filled with worry or anxiety. God is with us and with His love in our hearts we will come to know a peace that surpasses all understanding. "Do not be afraid."

READER #1: "His authority shall grow continually, for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this." (ISAIAH 9:7)

READER #2: God is in control and His kingdom reigns forevermore. When we look at the world around us, we can see His Light permeating the darkness in amazing ways. This light we carry from this room tonight will show the world that His authority has been established and with it He rules with justice and righteousness for all.

READER #1: "That is the way we should live, because God's grace that can save everyone has come. ¹²It teaches us not to live against God nor to do the evil things the world wants to do. Instead, that grace teaches us to live now in a wise and right way and in a way that shows we serve God." (TITUS 2:11-12)

READER #2: As we light the final candle in the Advent wreath (light candle), The Christ Candle - The Candle of Light, we rejoice in the good news that the Messiah has come. God's promises for us have been fulfilled. We have been transformed by His love. And now, we turn and go out into the world. We carry with us a light into the darkness. The manner in which we chose to live our lives, avoiding evil and choosing right, will show the world God's love and will reveal a pathway to His righteousness.

Closing Prayer:

"Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace:" We sing praises to your glory. Your promises have been fulfilled. We no longer need to be afraid. The Messiah has come and you live within our hearts. Thank you for your love. On this Christmas Eve as we celebrate your birth, we pray that you calm our fears and open our eyes to your blessings. Give us the ability to see your glory in the world around us. When all we see is darkness, we pray for your Light to lead the way. When evil threatens, we pray for your protecting love. When doubt creeps into our hearts, we pray for your amazing peace. But most importantly, as we go back into the world, we pray for your guidance and strength so that we can carry your Light wherever we go. We pray this so we can live our lives in ways that will serve you and bring your love to all we meet. Thank you for this blessed night and may your kingdom reign forevermore. Through, the blessed Child, Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.

FUMC Devotionals

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