We started last week talking about the Advent Season. The tradition of Advent is one of anticipation as well as reflection. As we prepare for the celebration of the birth of Jesus, we reflect on the miracle of God coming to live among us. We also use this time to prepare expectantly for the promised second coming of Jesus.
Last week, we lit the Hope Candle, or the Prophets candle. By doing so, we signify our belief that God is faithful, and our hope is well-placed in Him.
This week, we light the Faith Candle, also called the Bethlehem Candle. This candle is usually purple to symbolize preparation for the coming of the King.
The prophet Micah foretold that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, which was also the birthplace of King David.
My family always reads the Luke 2 account of the birth of Jesus at Christmas. As I hear that familiar story, my mind always goes to that journey that Mary and Joseph took to get to Bethlehem. They probably traveled south along the flatlands of the Jordan River, then west over the hills surrounding Jerusalem, and on into Bethlehem. It was a fairly grueling trip.
Yet by faith, these two made their way into the unknown, trusting that God had a plan.
In Hebrews 11:6, it says, Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Faith in God is at the core of everything we do at Wichita Falls Faith Mission. Whether it is trusting Him for the resources we need to survive or relying on Him to change someone’s life, we believe that He is faithful. Our salvation depends on it and our growth as believers only happens when we fully trust God.
We hope to convey this total dependance on God to our guests that stay at our shelters. We don’t require them to believe like we do to receive our services. But we hope that they can somehow see that by placing our faith in Him, we have found the joy and peace that only He can provide.
It is why we serve, and it is the motivation behind everything we do. So today, we light the faith candle, remembering the miracle of that first Christmas and anticipating His second coming.
