"prepare ye"
"I am sure of this much: that He Who has begun the good work in you will carry it through to completion, right up to the day of Christ Jesus." —Philippians 1:6
The effects of Jesus' Christmas coming are inexpressible and unimaginable (see Eph 3:20; 1 Cor 2:9). Even the preparations for His coming are of colossal proportions. "Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be leveled. The windings shall be made straight and the rough ways smooth" (Lk 3:5). "For God has commanded that every lofty mountain be made low, and that the age-old depths and gorges be filled to level ground" (Bar 5:7). After such mountain-moving preliminaries, Jesus' Christmas coming will effect a heart-moving response, "and all mankind shall see the salvation of God" (Lk 3:6).
Do you believe that the Lord's coming this Christmas will be as life-changing and world-transforming as the Advent Scriptures seem to indicate? If you do, you should throw yourself into this Advent, fill in valleys by repentance, move mountains by faith (Mt 17:20), straighten the crooked ways by healing, and smooth the rough ways by forgiveness. "Make ready the way of the Lord, clear Him a straight path" (Lk 3:4).
Prayer: "My prayer is that your love may more and more abound, both in understanding and wealth of experience, so that with a clear conscience and blameless conduct you may learn to value the things that really matter, up to the very day of Christ" (Phil 1:9-10).
Promise: "Take off your robe of mourning and misery; put on the splendor of glory from God forever." —Bar 5:1
Praise: Alleluia! Praise the risen Jesus, Who baptizes us in the Holy Spirit!
Reference: (You may wish to order our booklet, Life-Changing Prayers from the Bible, as an aid to praying or our tape How to Pray the Bible on audio AV82-3 or video V-82.)
Rescript: †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, June 27, 2012
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