This is the second week of the Advent candle. This will be another purple candle. As you can see, it is the Candle of Preparation or the Bethlehem Candle.
Last week, we talked about the Prophecy Candle or the Candle of Hope. It reminds us that even when things look hopeless, GOD is faithfully keeping His promises in His time.
This week, we are reminded to prepare for the Christ child…especially in our hearts. The Scripture for this week is the following:
He (John the Baptist) went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet:
“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.
Every valley shall be filled in,
every mountain and hill made low.
The crooked roads shall become straight,
the rough ways smooth.
And all people will see God’s salvation.’”Luke 3:3-6
So, it looks like the way we prepare our hearts is to repent and come to GOD for forgiveness. We need to change the direction we are going and bow before GOD realizing our salvation comes from Him, not from our good works.
This week, we light our Preparation candle and in the process, we repent of going our way and turn to Christ…accepting the salvation He has provided for us freely as a gift.
Is your heart prepared for Christ in the way He describes? Instead of focusing on gifts and all the preoccupations of this season, we may need to pause for time to prepare our hearts for Christ’s rule.
And I’m definitely a purple and magenta person. SO to see these lovely candles were a real catchy photo. Made me grin! Thank you.
i’m with you Joanne N. colors alway catch my eye…and lift my spirits. the advent colors definitely aren’t what we consider to be “christmas” colors are they?
Huh, Huh… you just made me laugh. NO… not enough of “my” colors, BUT able to add and add similarly.. I’m not very “white” so that’s my only concern in heaven… is that the only color we ever wear? I expect the Lord has a nicer mix, but can’t complain when I’m with Him and my many dear ones. 😉
joanne N. i’ve been concerned about the whiteness of heaven in my life and am certain it won’t all be white for sure? why would the One who created color in the first place to say nothing of the variety of flowers, the stunning colors in nature of birds and animals? i’m sure it won’t be only white! but it will be light with His brightness…which will show off the color even better than anything here on earth. it’s going to be stunning!
YOU just made me laugh! And the “white” now is the snow outside… and I’m hitting the roads in about an hour and will be going about 550 miles by tomorrow. Don’t like the white on the highways and the side streets, but oh, well.. Anyhow… one basic love is the white of the pearls on my special ring and the white-ish that is my diamond wedding ring. Guess I can’t complain. But am so glad that the Lord has the world filled with color from creation. Bless you…
Martha, this is a beautiful piece, a gentle and wise teaching. Thank you for sharing Advent with us … I am blessed to meet you this Sabbath morn!
glad you dropped by linda:) glad the words touched you. Blessings to you on this gray, cold rainy day (for us). I’m guessing your weather is much worse!
I’m inside with a very miserable “cold” that i have been fighting off for a week. it is starting to win:( ugh!
am glad this truth transcends this misery:)
Thank you for the reminder to bow my heart in preparation for Him this morning. Beautiful! I visited from The Sunday Community.
Have a blessed Sunday,
Joanne
thanks for stopping by joanne V. glad you found my words helpful:) blessings.