Make sure you are properly prepared!
Mark 1:3b “Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.”
So what will your preparation for Christmas over the next 2 weeks involve? Baking? Shopping? Decorating?
Those are probably just a few of the things which are on your list of things to be completed in the next 14 days. So where is cleaning on that list? Is it something you know you should do, but will do at the last minute? Or will cleaning be something that you’ll give a quick once over to and hope that no one looks to closely?
Our verse for this week encourages us to make cleaning a high priority in our preparation for Christmas – spiritual cleaning that is!
This verse is actually a quotation from the Old Testament book of Isaiah which is looking forward to the work of John the Baptist who went around preaching to people before Jesus came to encourage them to make sure they were ready to welcome him as the Savior.
Even though the words and work of John are from 2000 years ago, they still ring true and speak to us as we prepare for Christmas 2017.
There is nothing wrong with having decorating, baking, shopping etc. as a part of our Christmas preparation. But ask yourself are they are the primary part of your preparation or things which are further down on your list.
Let’s talk about what it really means to prepare the way for the Lord by making “straight paths for him.” Think for a moment about what stands in the way of a straight path between you and the manger.
What obstacles, distractions or roadblocks stand between you and making the celebration of the birth of Jesus the most important part of your Christmas 2017? Are there sins or unresolved differences which are haunting or troubling you? Take them to the cross, find forgiveness and peace and take care of your spiritual house cleaning. Have you gotten so consumed with the worldly celebration of Christmas that the presents, decorations and food have formed a roadblock or wall so you can’t even see the path to the manger. Are you stressed, depressed or grieving so that your heart is troubled and needs to find peace?
Just as John the Baptist encouraged and exhorted the people anticipating the first Christmas to make sure they were prepared and that their spiritual housecleaning was done, his words remind us that we still have time in the next 2 weeks to make sure we have cleared out the obstacles and gotten our hearts ready. In the midst of the craziness and busyness of this time of the year take time to do the most important thing – the spiritual preparation and heart cleaning! Take advantage of chapel services, seasonal Bible readings, Christian Christmas concerts and music and spending time in prayer asking God to help you prepare your heart with no obstacles or distractions.
May God richly bless your next 14 days of spiritual house cleaning and Christmas preparation!