Now that we are actually in week 2 of what the Christian world at large celebrates as Advent, we light the candle of Love. There are different interpretations about what each candle means, but they all generally mean the same things and end up in the same place, the birth of our precious Lord.

Candle #2 symbolizes Love. Love is one of those terms that is hard to describe, but you know it when you know it in your head and feel it in your heart simultaneously.

It’s a decision, a sacrifice to give to another what one wants, but knows another needs it more. The result may not always feel good, comfortable or natural. But one thing is for sure, the God of Heaven smiles on such Love. For He is Love, and is in every act of Love.

It’s a small symbol of what He did for humanity when he gave his only beloved, His Son, to humanity. He walked around dusty roads, made friends, received many petitions for healing, was argued with, and finally died a convict’s death being convicted of one thing, of having proclaimed humbly that He was God, and that He came to save humanity from the scourge of sin and how to be right with God.

He came as we do. A baby, helpless were it not for his parents to help him with all of his needs. But he also came unlike us. His birth was predicted for centuries prior.

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
    though you are small among the clansof Judah,
out of you will come for me
    one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
    from ancient times.” –Micah 5:2/NIV

Bethlehem was to be the place of his birth. It was the place where Joseph’s family was from and returning for the census ordered by Publius Sulpicius Quirinius who was the Roman governor of Syria.

“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place whileQuirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register.” –Luke 2:1-3/NIV

Love came into the world in flesh and blood in the form of a baby. A baby who would dedicate his ministry to bringing us, humanity, to Heaven with Him. Heaven was created for humans and He still calls today to those who want to live in Heaven and bring it to earth as He did.

Amazing!