Read Zephaniah 3:14-20
In this obscure passage from Zephaniah, God made an incredible promise to His people when He said: “I will bring you home.” He was referring to the days of King Josiah in Judah. But if we will allow them, they can give us a fresh promise for today.
“Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem!” There will come a day when there is no more fear, no more hunger and want. God will gather His people around Him again, and all will be well. What more could we want?
The thought of going home stirs up all kinds of feelings, and sadly for many, they are not all good. Home for them was not what it should have been, and certainly not what God intended. For others, the journey over the hills and through the woods is filled with joy and anticipation of seeing family and friends, and smelling that aroma of home. No doubt, many of you will be going to that place you call “home” today. Safe Travels! One day we all will be “going home” to be with the Lord, forever. Maybe even today!
Isaiah 52:7-10 says, “How beautiful … are the feet of the messenger who announces peace” (Isaiah 52:7). But this peace is not the absence of conflict; this is the peace that God promised to those who would believe in and receive Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. And on this Christmas Eve, we join those who are living in the darkness of sin, thanking God for giving us this light, and we pray for the day when “all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.”
(Christmas Eve night)
The Lighting of The Christ Candle – (white) – John 1:29
Our waiting is over – Christmas Day is here. As we relight the three purple candles, and the pink candle, we now celebrate the birth of Christ our Savior and Lord.
- The first purple candle was the Prophecy candle, the candle of hope.
- The second purple candle was the Bethlehem candle, the candle of peace.
- The third candle, which is pink, was the Shepherd’s candle, the candle of joy.
- The fourth candle, the last purple one, was the Angel candle, the candle of love.
- Today, we light the fifth candle, the white one, which is the candle of Christ. Jesus Christ, the light of the world, has come into our hearts and we rejoice in knowing our sins are forgiven and we are assured of heaven.
As we light the center candle, may we joyously celebrate the good news of Christ’s birth, as well as the joy that filled our hearts, when He was “born again” in us.
- Read Micah 5:1-5
- Read Luke 2:1-20
- Read Psalm 145:1-3
We light this candle with great joy and celebration because Christ is born in Bethlehem. God’s Son has come into the world to be our Savior! And he will come again in glory.
Prayer of Joy and Adoration
Dear God, as we light this candle, we rejoice in the birth of your Son. May we worship Him, welcome Him, and make room for Him in our hearts. O come, let us adore Him! Amen!