Day 9 – Prepare The Way

We’ve spent the first 8 days of this Advent devotional looking into the promises and covenant of the coming King. We’ve been able to see Christ as one who will crush the head of the enemy, who will make sons of many people from all over the world, who will be wounded but ultimately be victorious and who will be the hope of all the earth. This is the King that the Jewish people had waited for.

Now as we transition from the Old Testament to the New Testament we see that the King has come to earth. He comes to earth in an unexpected fashion to a lowly family from a nowhere sort of town. It is this that King has come and now His servant John is preparing the way for Him.

In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said,
“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
   make his paths straight.’”  ~ Matthew 3:1-3

John came to the nation of Israel with the good news of the Messiah’s coming in advance of the teaching and ministry of Jesus. John was preparing the people for their true King who had come to them to bring light and life. God’s gracious plan was to not leave His people unprepared, but that His people know who their Savior is and why He had come.

As we count down the days to December 25 we have the same opportunity. In this season of Advent, don’t find yourself unprepared for the coming of the Lord. Take some practical steps to prepare your heart for Christmas and the celebration of the King who has come to us.

First, is to see your need of a Savior. Every single one of us is in desperate need of a Savior because of our sin (Romans 3:23). Apart from Christ I cannot do a thing to save myself. I am completely helpless to pull myself out of my sin soaked situation. Only when I see the need of a Savior do I truly appreciate His coming.

Second, I need to repent of my sin. As John, calls the people of Israel to repent of their sins, we must do the same. Ask God to search your heart for any sort of sin in your life (Psalm 139:23-24). Then as He reveals these sins to you, seek to put to death the deeds of the flesh through the power of the Spirit (Romans 8:13).

Lastly, let there be excitement and anticipation about the arrival of the Messiah. If we cannot get excited about the Advent of Jesus, our faith is dead. The King has come to take away the sins of the world!! Praise God for our great and glorious King!

Prayer

Take time to pray over the three points we talked about. Pray to see your need for the gospel, pray that God would expose your sin and pray God would bring the joy of your salvation to the forefront of your heart.