The Love That Crowns Advent
Scripture: “And they shall call his name Immanuel (which means, God with us)” (Matthew 1.23)
MAIN POINT: God’s love doesn’t wait for our permission; it acts for our salvation.
As we light the fourth Advent candle—the Love Candle—we complete the journey through Hope, Peace, and Joy. But this love is different from what we typically imagine. We prefer love that’s comfortable and controllable. God offers something greater: love that invades our chaos without asking, love that disrupts our plans, love that writes us into a story much bigger than ourselves.
Joseph discovered this love when an angel shattered his quiet plans. Mary experienced it when the Holy Spirit overshadowed her. The world encountered it when God became flesh. This is Emmanuel—God with us—not as a distant observer but as an active participant in our messy lives.
The Love Candle testifies: God didn’t wait for you to get your life together. He simply came, in love, to be with you and for you.
Reflection: God’s love is not sentimental affirmation but sovereign action for our redemption. Where are you waiting to “get things under control” before trusting God? How might God already be at work in your chaos?
Prayer: Loving Father, thank You for not waiting until I had everything figured out. You came into my mess, my uncertainty, my lack of control. Help me see Your love at work even when life feels chaotic. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Responses