The 2nd Candle, The Candle of Peace
Scripture:
Romans 1 : 2-4
…the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.

Thoughts:
The promises that are ours today were unfolded through centuries of prophets who were given parts of the message. Some of the promises seemed to take a very long time to come to pass. And that is how it usually seems to us, doesn’t it? It is hard to have patience when time ticks by and something promised seems “delayed”. We want everything right away, we want to open the mystery, and get everything all at once. But a promise has its own timing. It isn’t given all at once in some cases.

Think about the case of Joseph in the Old Testament. He was very young when the dreams given him promised him a position of importance, when his potential seemed to promise a fast track to success. But the story of his life was one of a series of delays that would cause many people give up. Joseph just kept faithful in whatever circumstance he found himself in, and eventually he saw the greater purpose of promises come to pass… and it was far beyond what he could have ever imagined. He became a type of Christ who was to come… a Savior of his people.

Today the Candle is to remember Christ came as our Peace, and it is also know as the Candle of Prophecy. The prophetic ministry sometimes through promises, and sometimes through chastisement and correction, pointed to reconciliation with God. The Prince of Peace is come, the promises are ours, and God is our friend. We have so much to meditate on and be thankful for this season. Our response should be one of making efforts at peace with our fellow man…seeing how God has graciously offered peace to each of us. What gift can we offer Christ? Might we be a Joseph, faithfully enduring disappointment, hoping in God’s faithfulness, and beleiving that our success is not in immediate results, but in a faithful life that stays true to our convictions.

And remember, that sometimes promises take time to come to pass – don’t give up the promises given to you.

Carol: O Come All Ye Faithful

Ornament: Joseph’s Coat Make one of your own by purchasing a small amount of striped fabric, cut out a simple coat shape in two pieces with a cardboard insert of the same shape. Glue the fabric to either side of the cardboard coat shape. use paper punch to make small hole and string through with ribbon to hang on your tree.