Psalm 119:105 Isaiah 40: 1-5 Malachi 3:1-6
I have said it in a previous post, but I am going to say it again- I love when we see foreshadowing in the Bible and in our faith. It truly is God’s little ways that give us hope for the future as if he is giving us blueprints to follow.
When we are talking about preparation during Advent, preparing our hearts, preparing our homes and the Light that we are preparing for- we are not just talking about preparing for Christ’s coming at Christmas. We are also preparing our hearts, homes and lives for the Lord’s second coming.
Psalms 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.
And as we read the Old Testament there are many times that we are called to prepare for the Lord, before He was in the picture. But God was trying to prepare His people’s hearts and homes for the coming of his Son. It is also a call unto us, to prepare our hearts and homes this Christmas to welcome the Lord in, but to also prepare our hearts and homes for his second coming as well. To make sure that we are always ready and vigilant for the Lord.
A voice proclaims:
In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD!
Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God!
Every valley shall be lifted up, every mountain and hill made low;
The rugged land shall be a plain, the rough country, a broad valley.
Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it
together; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.
We need to move all of the mountains in our life and get out of the valleys so that we can see the glory and Light of the Lord when he comes at Christmas. So start digging to fill up those valleys, and start climbing to lower those mountains.
Now I am sending my messenger—
he will prepare the way before me;*
And the lord whom you seek will come suddenly to his temple;
The messenger of the covenant whom you desire—
see, he is coming! says the LORD of hosts.
But who can endure the day of his coming?
Who can stand firm when he appears?
For he will be like a refiner’s fire,
like fullers’ lye. Malachi 3:1-2
So I leave you with this verse from Malachi, I love it because it serves as a reminder for me that I need to be refined for the Lord and by the Lord for his coming. Because if I fail to prepare my heart and home for the Lord will I be able to endure His coming? Will I be ready for His second coming then?
1.What can you do to refine yourself during this Advent season?
2.Have you done everything you can to be prepared not just for the birth of our Lord, but for the days after leading up to his Second coming? Or when He comes are you going to be left behind, unprepared? Why? What should you/could you be doing differently?
This year's study journal is broken into 4 parts.
To view each, please scroll to the middle of the above link.