I’ve been posting an Advent Series using Old and New Testament scripture and beloved hymns that tell the Christmas story of God’s love for the last month. Advent is the time before Christmas that many Christians use to reset their focus toward Christ through His Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. And, just maybe, let at least some of the hustle and bustle of the traditional holiday season settle for a little while each week.

Symbols of God’s love in the Advent wreath

Let’s revisit the original construction of the wreath to see how its design embodies God’s plan and promises.

• The shape, a continuous ring, represents God’s unending love.
• Evergreens signify the promise of everlasting life through eternity in heaven.
• Red berries point to Jesus’ sacrificial love through His death and shed blood for our salvation.
• Pinecones symbolize redemption (Biblegateway.com) resurrection and regeneration (Petersen, Biblegateway.com, 2020).
• Candles represent the Light of the world. Each week one candle is lit for Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love.

 “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:4-5).

In many ways, the Advent wreath announces the coming Messiah. The announcement builds week over week as we read and pray scriptures of the Christmas story pointing to the birth of Christ and, ultimately, the great love God has for His children.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. –John 3:16-17

Friends, God loves you so much that He gave us the perfect model of love in Jesus so that we would know how to love others. So, this season, let loving others be our announcement of Christ in us and God with us.

Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.– 1 John 4:11-12 (NIV)

Lord, strengthen and equip us to extend your love to others in this season and all year through.

I participate in the following linkups–Check them out: Grace & Truth, Five Minute Friday, Inspire Me Mondays, #Tell His Story

Photo by Preethi Viswanathan on Unsplash

Petersen, Jonathan. “Video: God’s Redemption Seen in a Pine Cone.” Bible Gateway Blog, August 11, 2020. https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2020/01/video-gods-redemption-seen-in-a-pine-cone/.

Click the Advent Series link to see other posts in this series. Merry Christmas!

Celebrating the Season of Advent – O Come, O Come, Immanuel

Visit the Joyology 101 Series to learn more about experiencing joy in the Lord. Click here to find it.