The Season of Preparation

Last night I read from Isaiah 40 again. (NIV)Isaiah 40:1-5
"Comfort, comfort my people," says your God. [2] Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins. [3] A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord ; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. [4] Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. [5] And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

As I read this, I am reminded of the season we are in, waiting for Christmas, which should directly relate to our waiting for His second coming. We celebrate His first coming, and wait in joyful anticipation for His second coming. The ministry of John the Baptist fulfilled this prophecy literally. The work of preparation for the coming of the Lord was initiated by his ministry in the wilderness. He called the people to repentance, and remembrance, and preparation.

I love the season of Advent which some churches celebrate as a season of watchfulness and waiting and preparation before Christmas. It is right and good for us to remember what we are celebrating and what we are looking towards. Our culture has made this season all about gifts and family, and shopping and parties, but the real reason for the season is to call us to remembrance and repentance, preparing the way for the Lord's second coming.

David Guzik wrote the following commentary on these verses: ii. The idea of preparing the way of the LORD is a word picture, because the real preparation must take place in our hearts. Building a road is very much like the preparation God must do in our hearts. They are both expensive, they both must deal with many different problems and environments, and they both take an expert engineer.

Lord, I know that so often my thoughts don't go anywhere near these thoughts during this season. I am often more concerned about what gift I need to purchase than I am with what changes I might need to make in my heart. Lord, I pray that You will help me embrace this season of preparation and help me to call to remembrance the real reason for this season. Help me to prepare myself for Your coming!