so lately i’ve been on this idea of preparation. i’ve been asking over and over, “how is God using this to prepare me for something later?”
i’ve not been just asking it about me and my personal life and walk with Jesus, but also about ministry and as the body of Christ.
i feel like as we’ve moved in to the advent season i’ve been thinking about it in a totally new way this year.
advent is traditionally the time when christians look back to celebrate the coming of the Messiah. we focus on Jesus being born to Mary and there being no room at the inn. a lot of time we add extra characters in there like the little drummer boy who played for Jesus or even santa or rudolph.
what i feel like is new this year is that as i look back on Jesus’ birth it propels me forward and prompts me to think of His return. i’m not generally one to stand on street corners with a sign that says “THE END IS NIGH” or anything, but seriously…advent should remind us that we are to be preparing for Jesus return to earth for the second time. to be letting His Spirit move in us to mold us into the “light of the world” and the image-barers of Him that we are intended to be.
i LOVE the story in luke 2…the shepherds and the whole host of angels…totally awesome! but this year the story in Luke 1:39-45 has been on my mind more, it was even preached on today at church. one of the things that so stands out to me in this story is Elizabeth’s preparation and hospitality to Mary. Elizabeth is pregnant (with John the baptist) and Mary has become pregnant with Jesus. Mary goes to visit her cousin Elizabeth. it doesn’t say in the Word, but i think by E’s response this visit was a spontaneous one. Elizabeth wasn’t really LOOKING for Mary to show up at her door, but Elizabeth was prepared for a visitor, or at least she seems to be.
Think about it. if you don’t have everything in order and guests show up to stay for 3 months you’re going to be freaking out and running around to get everything in place. maybe there aren’t sheets on the guest bed, or you haven’t been to the store in a month. but elizabeth wasn’t freaking out…instead, she was so prepared and overjoyed at Mary’s visit that she was able to hear from God through the Holy Spirit as He filled her spirit up. She knew exactly what the Spirit was saying to her as baby john the baptist leaped for joy in her womb. and think how encouraging this word of confirmation must’ve been to Mary who was just doing all she could to be faithful to the Word God had recently spoken to her through the angel gabriel.
Elizabeth was prepared for the coming of her Lord. everything was in order and she was available to not only accept the joy given her from God, but she was able to be a blessing to Mary as well…
Lord, teach me to be prepared for You whenever You move in my life, or call me to move. Let me be available to hear as You speak.
