Prepare the Way
If you look around my home, there are many examples of clutter and disorganization. If you announce you’ll be visiting tomorrow, I’ll scramble to get it organized, but chances are good that some of that mess will be hidden in a drawer or a closet… and this is of course amplified during the holidays. What if God announces that he’s visiting tomorrow? I’m pretty sure that none of us has the closet space for all the things cluttering our lives… especially those things we wouldn’t really want Him to see.
But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:8-9
It seems God has announced that he’s visiting tomorrow. Yikes. What a mess we have here. Today’s scriptures suggest that we have a substantial job. We are preparing to meet God face to face. Where do we start?
A message left ringing in my ears often over the last year has been regarding intentionality of action. We need to put God’s purpose behind absolutely everything we do. We are made for the purpose of praising God, so we should strive to consistently act with Godly intentions. Especially during the holidays, we tend to think of Christian charity as donating money or time to those in need. However, the concept of Christian intentionality applies to daily tasks as well. While we are to give in many ways, Godly actions also include freeing ourselves of the clutter we harbor in forms such as stress, worry, and anger.
…[W]hat kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. 2 Peter 3: 11-12, 14
From buying the meal for the person behind you at the drive-through (which is so much fun) to simply letting yourself enjoy a laugh during a stressful moment, there are countless ways to prepare our hearts for Christmas as well as for God’s return. Christ walked in love, and we are to share God’s love in our words and actions.
As we anticipate the birth of Jesus, let us remember to ‘prepare the way for the Lord’ (Isaiah 40:3) and keep Christ not only at the center of Christmas but also at the center of our actions. You’ve heard the saying, “God is coming. Look busy.” Perhaps it should be, “God is coming. Be intentional.”
Natalie Wray
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