Advent officially begins December 3. These readings post on Thursdays, so you’ll see a sneak peek of each week’s focus. We have an advent booklet1 on the table that includes a new-to-me definition of advent: arrival. Many people have an advent wreath with a candle for each week. The first candle represents hope. What a great word as we enter the Christmas season.
This season isn’t always “merry” for everybody. That’s why I like these words together, arrival and hope. During this past year reading through 1 Peter, we’ve considered the Bible’s definition of hope more than once.
“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1).
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3).
- Our hope is alive.
- We have seen the arrival of Jesus, God’s Son, into the world.
- We live in the reality of Immanuel—God with us.
“’The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ (which means ‘God with us’)” (Matthew 1:23).
Our hope is in “what we do not see”—the assurance God will continue to be with us.
This morning I spent a moment enjoying Christmas tree lights before daylight. 
The beauty reminded me that Jesus came to be a light in our darkness.
Not only did the prophet Isaiah reassure his people with the promise, but Matthew stated at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry that Jesus was the fulfillment of God’s promise.
“the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned” (Matthew 4:16, Isaiah 9:2).
My hope for you is these simple truths will bring light, joy, and peace—as the British say, a “Happy Christmas”—pleasure and contentment this season with God.
- Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. “Arrival: Preparing to Celebrate Christ’s Birth” Advent Meditations by Billy Graham. (Charlotte, NC: Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, n.d.)