Preparation Produces Hope: Get Prepared!

Preparation Produces Hope

As the hectic hustle and bustle of the holidays is now underway, take some time every day to reflect on the importance of this time of waiting and preparation. In a time when our world seems to be spinning out of control, we must remember that everything God does, or allows, is according to His purpose and plan.

Our purpose in celebrating Advent (the four week season of preparation prior to Christmas day) is three-fold:

1) To remember how God has graciously revealed Himself to man since the beginning of time,
2) To keep us centered on Jesus during this busy holiday time, and
3) To trust that God is sovereign over all things.

During the second week of Advent, we remember how God has graciously revealed Himself to man since the beginning of time and how we can prepare our hearts to trust Him.

Throughout the Old Testament we read of God preparing His people to receive His gift of grace—the coming of Jesus into the world.  From the calling of Abraham to Isaac’s obedience, from Jacob’s surrender to the words of the prophets, we read of God building-up and preparing a nation to be His people.  They were chosen by God, not because they were special, and not because they were capable, but because they were to be the people through whom God would reveal His plan of redemption and fulfill His promise to send a Rescuer to save man from His sin (Genesis 3:15) .

In God’s mercy and grace the nation of Israel was blessed and sustained by their God.   The nation grew in their knowledge and understanding of God and of His will and ways.  God desires the same for all who are called by His name.  In our journey of sanctification (from the moment we were saved until the time God takes us home to Heaven), we are to participate in preparing ourselves to be more and more like Jesus. While it is God who conforms us (Romans 8:29) and it is His Word that transforms us (Romans 12:2), we are to participate by focusing our thoughts and our time on knowing God better and enjoying Him more.  This is done by reading and studying the Holy Bible, by prayerful communion with God and by having fellowship with other believers.

Pause and Prepare

As you make preparations for Christmas celebrations, make time to pause and prepare your heart.  Do this by looking for Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).

In addition to the prophets, God also revealed Himself through types and patterns.  Every type and pattern found in the Bible whispers the name of Jesus and reveals God’s prophetic plan.  The types and patterns point to the Person and works of Jesus, the Messiah of Israel, the Saviour of man.

The purpose of the types and patterns recorded in the Old Testament  was to further prepare God’s people to recognize and receive their Messiah.  In our time, these types and patterns help us to “see” Jesus better.  “Seeing” Jesus helps us to focus on Him and to let His Holy Spirit direct our thoughts and actions.

Make time to read the Bible every day.  Look for Jesus on every page.  He’s there in types and patterns that reveal all of His wonderful attributes and works.

Take a minute to read, “See Jesus on every page of the Bible.” 

It will help you get started in looking for Jesus on every page of the Bible.  Select a couple of the types or patterns and do some further study.  Read the Scripture verses, passages or even the books, as a way to prepare your heart for the celebration of Jesus’ birth.

See Jesus On Every Page of the Bible! More than 200 glimpses of Jesus in types and patterns!

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