| 1:39 min read |

Matthew 3:1-2 “In those days John the Baptist began preaching in the Judean wilderness. His message was, ‘Turn from your sins and turn to God, because the Kingdom of Heaven is near.’”

If you met him once, you would never forget him. His appearance was a bit unusual, and his message straightforward. He was a no-nonsense kind of guy—a man on a mission. His name? John the Baptist.

John had a unique calling from God. He was given the task of preparing Israel for the coming ministry of Jesus Christ. He confronted spiritual hypocrisy and hardness, instructing people to confess their sins and return to God. He prepared the way for the Lord.

As we think of Christmas, we can’t help but think of preparations. Getting ready for the holidays usually involves putting up decorations, purchasing gifts, making meal plans, scheduling travel—all kinds of preparations. Unfortunately, in the midst of the hustle and bustle of such natural preparations, we sometimes forget about the most important preparation. We fail to spiritually prepare.

Let this Christmas season be a time of preparing the way for the Lord in your life. Set aside some time to take a spiritual inventory, to account for your sins and to return with a renewed passion to Jesus Christ. Get ready for the good things God has planned for your future.

PRAYER

Lord, in the midst of all the busyness of our holiday preparations, we ask that you help us find moments of quietness and reflection. Help us to take the time to prepare our hearts before you. Show us how we need to get ready for the good things you have planned for our future. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Pastor Dale