Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (Php 1:2). Amen.
What is your favorite Advent decoration? Perhaps that is a strange question. We don’t often talk that way this time of the year. We use the adjective “Christmas” in front of that word. Christmas decoration—whether it is a tree or an ornament or a stocking.
But it is still Advent. And we do have at least one decoration for this stretch of four Sundays. The Advent wreath. One candle for each week, indicating Jesus who is the light of the world (Jn 8:12). A green circle, symbolizing life, eternal life. That shape is also significant, signaling victory like the crown placed on the heads of the winners of a contest or conquest.
We light another candle every week. It is the third Sunday in Advent. So we get a bit ahead of ourselves. But under the apostle Paul’s direction, we will ignite them all. Light four Advent candles—joy, gentleness, prayer, and peace. We read from …
Philippians 4:4-7
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus, whose coming we continue to consider,
There are various suggestions as to the meaning of the four candles.
Option #1: the prophecy candle, Bethlehem candle, shepherds’ candle, and angles’ candle.
Option #2: They stand for hope, peace, joy, and love.
Since there is no standard explanation, we are free to create our own. (I don’t mean to insult any artist, but it is kind of like abstract art. If it is not a landscape or stick man, you can come up with your own interpretation.)
We can take our cue from Paul’s four verses in Philippians.
Light Four Advent Candles
1. Joy (4)
2. Gentleness (5)
3. Prayer (6)
4. Peace (7)
1. Joy (4)
It is no secret. This is a dark time of the year. The sun goes down around 4:30 PM. That makes light from any source welcome. It is that way with our wreath. Light an Advent candle of joy.
That is what Paul leads off with: “Rejoice” (Php 4:4). But it is not a matter of: “Be happy. Be glad. ’Tis the season to be jolly.” And it is not something that we have to work up on our own or work through by ourselves. Because that can be shallow and short—a fake smile or a phony grin for one month. That doesn’t last.
Where does true joy come from? It is not from outward circumstances—like a pile of presents under a tree, but from inward sureties—like a place in paradise with our God. That is what Paul points to: “Rejoice in the Lord” (Php 4:4)—in the sphere of, in the circle the Lord. That produces ongoing and unending joy—cemented to him and surrounded by him.
Add to that an adverb. “Rejoice in the Lord always” (Php 4:4). Yes, at all times and on every occasion. What a minute. Perhaps Paul has gone too far now. Rejoice when there are problems and pains? Those are real and they hurt. Rejoice when there are difficulties and death? Those are relevant and are hard. But, yes: “Rejoice in the Lord always” (Php 4:4).
And in case we missed it, Paul mentions: “I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Php 4:4). The repetition is because of importance. Paul had not lost touch with reality. He is not writing to his dear friends in Philippi from a sandy beach, but under house arrest. He didn’t yet know of his outcome of his trial in Rome. That is because joy is not based on what is going on around us, but built on what is inside us. The prophet Zephaniah is helpful with his reasons:
“The LORD has taken away your punishment” (Zeph 3:15). There is joy in Jesus’ manger, cross, and tomb. He was the One that was pure and perfect in our place and then punished and pierced for our sins (Is 53:5). He was raised from the dead and he returned to life. And so the psalmist had us sing: “With you there is forgiveness” (Ps 130:4). That was the “good news” that John the Baptist proclaimed to the people who came to him along the Jordan River when he preached repentance—turning from their sin and turning to their Savior.
“He has turned back your enemy” (Zeph 3:15). With death defeated and the devil destroyed, our guilt is gone and heaven is our home.
“The LORD, the King of Israel, is with you” (Zeph 3:15). The Lord is on our side and by our side. Jesus is Immanuel, “God with us” (Is 7:14; Mt 1:21).
Light an Advent candle of joy—joy in Jesus.
2. Gentleness (5)
You can’t hide light—natural like from the fiery orb in the sky or artificial like from the bulbs on an evergreen. We can’t conceal our joy. It is evident in our actions. Light an Advent candle of gentleness.
“Let your gentleness be evident to all” (Php 4:5). That is the way that our joy shows itself—with gentleness. It might be along the lines of “bigheartedness.” But it goes beyond generous. It has the idea of not demanding one’s rights loudly, but yielding them quietly—a willingness to suffer wrong rather than inflict it. That is not that easy, is it? Someone grabs the last item in the store as you are out and about shopping. “Let your gentleness be evident to all” (Php 4:5). Hardly. And that is in public. What about in private? We have some growing to do. But like John the Baptist encouraged the various individuals who came out to him: “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance” (Lk 3:8)—fruit relative to their roles in life. That exterior fruit for them and us is evidence of interior faith. It is clear in our dealings with others.
Forgiven through Jesus of a lack of being kind or considerate, we model our life after Jesus who was always gentle with everyone with whom he came into contact—helping and healing the sick, absolving and assuring the guilty (2 Co 10:1). And that embraces us. That is not a demonstration of weakness, but a display of strength.
And then follows the reminder: “The Lord is near” (Php 4:5). That is what Advent is about—Jesus’ coming, the first time or the second time. That is what Paul has us ponder. Jesus will come back one day to confer on us our eternal home. We wait like a child staring at the neatly and nicely wrapped gifts, knowing that it won’t be long now. Or like a watchman anticipating the morning (Ps 130:6). “Come, Lord Jesus” (Re 22:20).
Light an Advent candle of gentleness—gentleness through Jesus.
3. Prayer (6)
It is likely that there is a statement, or even a shout, that sounds like this: “I wish that there was more light.” That is the case as we look at a third. Light an Advent candle of prayer.
Paul goes on with a something that we need to hear, not just now when there might be high stress about getting everything done for next week—with the prospect of company to the purchase of gifts, but anytime there is heavy strain. “Do not be anxious about anything” (Php 4:6). He is definite: not at all.
That really is an echo of Jesus’ words when he taught his disciples on a hillside: “Do not worry about your life” (Mt 6:25ff.). That is not an encouragement not to think about something. It is an emphasis not to worry about it. That is a lack of trust in an all-powerful and almighty God who gave us Jesus and will give us all things (Ro 8:31). We can’t hear that too often, can we?
And it is not that we sweat the small stuff and surrender the big stuff to the Lord. (I don’t know how to make the distinction. If it is critical to us, it is a concern to God.) We “cast all our anxiety on him because he cares for us” (1 Pe 5:7). “But in everything … present your requests to God” (Php 4:6). We make known to him what is on our heart and in our head (Ps 50:15). And those talks with our God incorporate …
“prayer” (Php 4:6). That is a general conversation with the Lord.
“petition” (Php 4:6). We include a plea for a specific need like for recovery or therapy.
“thanksgiving” (Php 4:6). We express our gratitude for his willingness to listen and his readiness to act. We entrust ourselves and others into his loving hands.
Of course, that is not a substitute for planning ahead and pushing forward. But in every effort, we don’t fail to communicate with our God, awaiting his blessing.
Light an Advent candle of prayer—prayer to Jesus.
4. Peace (7)
The desire is that all go well for Christmas. No one wants plans to fall flat in failure. Paul has something bigger and better than a successful string of lights on a tree. Light an Advent candle of peace.
Paul closes with a promise: “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Php 4:7). Again, with Jesus encircling us, all is good, right with God. We are at peace through the “Prince of Peace” (Is 9:6). That is what he came to give and that is what continues to grant (Jn 14:27)—peace. That goes way beyond our ability to understand, but not our capacity to appreciate. Because peace is ours—from God and for us. It protects where we think and what we think like a sentry took his post at the city gates. That picture was not lost on the Philippians because many of them were retired Roman soldiers. That peace keeps us safe and still.
Light an Advent candle of peace—peace from Jesus.
Call it what you will—a Christmas wreath or an Advent one. Come up with four recommendations for each of the candles. We don’t go wrong if we pick the four thoughts that Paul presents. Light Advent candles—joy, gentleness, prayer, and peace. And like the circle of the garland, they are all connected. We have joy which causes gentleness which leads to prayer and results in peace. Let those shine brightly in Advent and in your life. Happy Advent. Amen.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen (Php 4:23).
December 16, 2018
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