¨Prepare the Way for the Lord”
Tools and materials required: Blade screw driver, adjustable wrench, wire cutters, wiring supplies as required by electrical code, step ladder.
Advent is a season of preparation, a time for making ready our hearts and homes for the coming of Christ in the manger. It is a time to sit awhile a listen to the voices of ones crying in the wilderness, a time to hear the voices of old indicate why we need a savior. We need to dwell in a land of deep wanting before we can trying experience the incredible joy of Christmas morning.
Ole lay dying in his bedroom. He began to revive as he smelled the aroma of fresh lefsa wafting through the house. Ole managed to gather is strength and crawled out to the kitchen. Just as he reached for a sample of his loffy Lena's lefsa she slapped his hand and said, "No Ole, don't you know that's a for the funeral"
We make preparations every day. Some days are better than others. We can plan and have the best intentions but still be caught off guard. Some of us are able to “fly by the seat of our pants” while others are more methodical and need to plan every step. The message is clear to us all today, “A voice cries out in the wilderness, prepare the way for the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” Make a pathway for God. When we do this we have the promise that the glory of the Lord shall be revealed!
Whether it is making sure we have all the tools and items necessary to install a light fixture or having all the information necessary to make an important decision we must prepare. Likewise to these texts remind us of the importance of advent - a season of making straight the highway for our God. Many things can crowd that highway - the urgency of shopping, the dashed cleaning to make our homes ready for relatives and friends, the noise of how the world views these holidays - yet our call is to return to the voice crying, the voice declaring that we need to shake off the weight of the world and see the manger, see the advent of our God, the reality and possibility of hope even in this age.
Applying the Text
Prepare the Way of the Lord
(1)
We prepare by diving deep in the Word.
“Here is your God!” “See the Lord comes with might, and his arm rules for him, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. And he will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms...”
“The Lord is not slow about his promise...therefore beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish; and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation.”
“This is the beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.”
(2)
We prepare by crying out the good news.
“Cry out!” “What should I say?” “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.”
There are many arrows pointing to different things during this holiday season. It has become so noisy that often people just get tired and walk away. In this difficult economy stores are screaming that we need to spend when we really should save. Can we hear the voice of the evangelist today? “The on who is more powerful than I is coming after me.” John knew he wasn’t the one - he pointed to the one who was coming after - the promised Messiah.
(3)
We prepare through repentance and forgiveness. “John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized in the river Jordan confessing their sins.”
But this sounds like a Lent theme pastor? When we confess our sins God who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrightousness. Making the pathway clear for the advent of our God involves confession, it involves seeking forgiveness, and it calls us to hear that “our penalty has been paid.”
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