The Christ Candle

      The first four candles of Advent represent hope, peace, joy, and love.  The fifth candle is the Christ candle, underlining the fact that Christ has already come into this world.  When He came, He brought with him all the attributes of the Godhead and made them available to us. 

It is in Christ that we have HOPE for the future.  Ephesians 2:14 is speaking of Christ when it says,  "For he himself is our PEACE." 

Nehemiah 8:10 tells us that it is the JOY of the Lord that is our strength.  Romans 5:15b says,  "God has poured out his LOVE into our hearts by the Holy spirit, whom he has given us."  God has given us power to be victorious over sin in our lives and evil in the world. 

Ephesians 1:19b-20 states, "That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms." 

Colossians 2:9-10 sums up these thought by saying,  "For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority."

      When we are born into this world, we come fully equipped with everything we need to live a physical life.  However, a baby must learn to use its hands and legs and feet and must develop strength and coordination.  When we are born spiritually, we are given everything we need to live the spiritual life in Christ, but we need to develop the attributes we have at our disposal.

      The lighting of the Advent candles reminds us that Jesus is the Light of this old dark world, and as we allow Him to live His life and express His attributes in and through us, we will also be lights that lead others to Him, and, through Him, to hope, peace, joy, and love.

Father, thank You that when we have Christ we have everything we need to live godly lives.  May we allow Your Holy Spirit to cause the attributes of Deity to shine through us.  Amen.