“A voice of one calling: ‘In the desert prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God.’” Isaiah 40:3
When I looked up the word prepare, in the concordance, I noticed scriptures that refer to God doing the preparing and scriptures that refer to us doing the preparing. In Psalm 23, God “prepare(s) a table before me in the presence of my enemies.” This is God’s provision for us. “On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples….” (Isa. 25:6). Again, we see God’s provision. In Ephesians we see God’s provision in the church, His body. “To prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body may be built up…” (Eph. 4:12). Jesus, Himself, reminded us of God’s provision when He said, “In My Father’s house there are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you may also be where I am.” (John 14:2-3).
But, perhaps the most important preparation the Father did was to prepare the way for the coming of His Son. “’See, I will send My messenger, who will prepare the way before Me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to His temple; the Messenger of the covenant Whom you desire, will come’ says the Lord Almighty.” (Mal. 3:1). God sent angels to prepare the world for the coming of His Son on that day of days. “Suddenly a great company of heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God, and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace to men on whom His favor rests.’” (Luke 2:13-14). God sent John to herald the coming of the Lord Jesus’ ministry on earth. “And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for Him, to give His people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins…” (Luke 1:76-77). God had been preparing the nation of Israel for years through all of their prophets.
Now that Jesus has come and has died for the forgiveness of our sins, we must prepare for Him to dwell in our hearts. It’s not enough to just believe that Jesus came, we must believe (adhere to, trust, abide) in Him We must prepare the way in our own lives for Him to have the preeminence, the rightful place He deserves in our hearts and lives because He purchased our lives from the hand of the enemy. He bought us back from sin and disgrace!
So, at this Christmas season, prepare your heart, again, to receive the Lord Jesus.
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