Are You Ready? eBook: Devotions for Advent and Christmas

By Lyle Albrecht

Who was John the Baptist?Discover who John the Baptist was and the hopeful message he preached to God' s people through these 37 short devotions for the Advent and Christmas season. Each easy-to-read devotion includes a Bible passage, a practical life application, and a short prayer.Use these devotions from December 1 through January 6 to prepare your heart for the celebration of Jesus' birth!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Northwestern Publishing House
• Release date: Jul 1, 2001
• ISBN: 9780810024793

Book preview

1

DEC

Therefore this is what I will do to you, Israel, and because I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God, O Israel. (Amos 4:12)

ARE YOU PREPARED TO MEET YOUR GOD?

A blurry flash of red … the squealing sound of rubber against the pavement … a sickening thud … and within a split second it was all over. So unexpected to all who were involved. The driver had never seen a bike on that street before. How was he supposed to know that Jimmy was just trying out a new birthday present? And he wasn’t speeding. Jimmy didn’t expect a car there either. It was a dead-end street, and his was the last house. And the broken-hearted parents. Little did they suspect that they were singing Happy Birthday to their son for the last time, that the last thing they would see him do was to blow out the seven candles that decorated his cake. The whole thing was just so unexpected.

But then, isn’t that the way death so often comes? Death plays no favorites. Being young is no guarantee against death. Nor is coming out of a doctor’s office just after a perfect physical. Or jogging on the treadmill down at the local athletic club. Or even sitting at home in your easy chair. Death comes at all times, in all places, in all situations. And then comes the meeting with God. Then comes the decision as to just where the soul will spend eternity.

It all boils down to one fact—we’ve got to be prepared to meet our God at all times. Whether the Lord comes to us on the earth at the Last Day, or whether we come to him through death, it makes no difference. We’ve got to be ready. We just don’t know when either event will take place.

Now, of course, there is only one way to be prepared to meet God. That one way is through repentance and faith in his Son, Jesus Christ—believing in that sacrifice on the cross, which washes away our sins. It’s as simple, or as difficult, as that. The key is in the word believe. To believe in one’s heart is much different than to know in one’s head. It doesn’t cost a person anything to know Jesus is the Savior, but it costs a person everything to believe it. Because then, if you have true faith, you will live for Christ. Your faith will move you to serve him, to reach out and help others in every way you can.

How did it go with you in the shop today? at the office? out in the field? in the kitchen? over the books? Did you live your faith? Is it going to play a major role in the way you choose to celebrate Christmas this year?

Your appointment with God can come very suddenly and unexpectedly. Are you prepared to meet him? Are you ready for Christmas? Are you ready for Christ to come?

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Amen.

2

DEC

He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:10-13 KJV)

WHAT RECEPTION AWAITS HIM IN YOUR HOMES?

Somehow it just doesn’t seem to make sense, does it? I mean, that the Lord should walk this earth as a stranger. The title just doesn’t seem to fit. Good Shepherd—yes. Lion of Judah—of course. Prince of peace—definitely. King of kings—wouldn’t have it any other way. But stranger"??? Not on your life!

But that’s precisely the way it was. How else are we to understand those terrifying words: He was in the world …, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. Jesus himself admits it—"I was a stranger…" (Matthew 25:35). And, of course, we wonder why. Why did a people who had waited for some four thousand years reject the Promised One when he finally came?

Why was there no room for the King of creation when he came? Why, when a child was born—the Son of God, come into the world on a mission of mercy, to bleed and die on the cross so that the world through him might live—was there no room for him in the inn both literally and figuratively?

A number of answers suggest themselves: Was it because he invited them into his kingdom to become sons of God through belief on his name instead of leading a garrison of guerrillas against the hated Roman despots who controlled the land? Was it because he said, My kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36), while their only concern was with what they could see and feel, taste and touch? Were they afraid of what it would cost them to be members of his kingdom and followers and friends of his? Was the price too high? Is that why they would rather hold him off at arm’s length as a stranger rather than have him at finger’s tips as a friend? Is that why they would sing, "Take my life and let it be, Lord; just let it be"?

And the world has not changed. You know it, and I know it. There is plenty of room for a Christmas tree in our homes, but little room for Jesus in our hearts. There is plenty of room for friends and relatives during the Christmas season, but there is scarce room for him. There is room to spare for gifts and toys and candy and parties and celebrations and decorations, but there is no room for him.

Yes, Jesus walked this earth as a stranger. That’s the way it was. And that’s the way it so often is even today. How few invite the Savior into their home as a friend. They feel just too uncomfortable with him that close. They prefer the coin to the cross, the present to the future, time to eternity. Sure, the price of his friendship is high: If any would be my disciple, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me (Luke 9:23 KJV). But the reward is great. If we have him as a friend on judgment day, the gates of paradise will be opened to us.

The other side of the coin is terrifying. If we stand with him on judgment day as a stranger …

And so we pray:

Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to thee. Take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise. Amen. (CW 469:1)

3

DEC

In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near. (Matthew 3:1,2)

REPENTANCE—THE ONLY PREPARATION ACCEPTABLE TO GOD

Get ready! Christmas is coming! That’s what stores and children urge us shoppers.

Get ready! Christ is coming! That’s what John the Baptist urged a world of sinners. His message? Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.

The central thrust of our entire Advent season is one of repentance. It reflects John the Baptist’s call to repent, to prepare the way of the Lord,