Prepare for Christ’s Coming

by Annie Yorty ©2021

In this second week of Advent, we find another contrast early in the book of Matthew that gives us a clue about how to properly prepare for Christ’s coming.

But first, a true confession.

I can always find something I’d rather do than clean my house. Dusting, vacuuming, and mopping are way down on my list of priorities.

But I do enjoy extending hospitality. When someone is coming to stay with us, I want them to be comfortable. I want them to have everything they need. Consequently, I prepare.

I purchase and cook special food I think my guests will enjoy. I make the bed with fresh sheets and blankets. I plan fun activities. And, yes, I even clean. It’s a running joke in my house that I need to have guests often to motivate me to clean. Please don’t judge me too harshly. 😊

In Matthew 3, John the Baptist declared someone important was coming to earth.

The prophet Isaiah was speaking about John when he said, “He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming! Clear the road for him!’” (Matthew 3:3 NLT)

John’s message drew people from far and wide. In my blog, Anticipate Christ’s Coming, you can read more about how John’s words on the coming Kingdom of Heaven were like refreshing water for desperately thirsty souls.

As we delve further into the biblical text, though, we will discover how people responded to John’s announcement. Through their responses, we can learn how to do what John shouted—prepare for Christ’s coming.

Repentance

“Repent of your sins and turn to God,” John admonished (Matthew 3:2 NLT). And that’s exactly what some of the audience did. And when they confessed their sins, [John] baptized them in the Jordan River (Matthew 3:6 NLT).

But others in the crowds following John must have had a different response. In verse seven, there is an unpleasant exchange between John and some of the religious leaders. These Pharisees and Sadducees had also come for baptism.

John’s response? “You brood of snakes!” he exclaimed (Matthew 3:7 NLT). Well, that wasn’t exactly tactful. Couldn’t John have been more sensitive?

But John, God’s prophet, was responding to insight straight from the Spirit of God. He discerned that the hearts of these Jews were far from God. That they wanted the outward ritual of baptism to add to their pedigree as ancestors of Abraham (Matthew 3:9). They saw no need to truly repent.

This scenario sets up another Advent contrast.

Godly sorrow vs. worldly sorrow

For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death (2 Corinthians 7:10 NLT).

According to this verse, there are two types of sorrow, each leading to a certain result.

The difference can be summed up with this question:

Are you sorry about the sin or are you sorry about the consequence?

Godly sorrow is humbly recognizing your failure to live up to God’s standard. It leads to a desperate cry for undeserved grace and acceptance of consequences. In the parable of the lost son found in Luke 15:11-32, the prodigal son returns to his father with this type of sorrow. His true repentance led to restoration and joy.

Worldly sorrow, on the other hand, is rooted in pride. While there may be some acknowledgement of sin, there may also be excuses and attempts to rectify the wrongs outside the grace of God.

Penance or repentance?

That is often called penance—trying to make up or overcome sin by some positive works. Penance is Satan’s poor substitute for repentance. Because of its one hundred percent failure rate, it hardens hearts, cementing every nook and cranny with bitterness and anger.

John sensed this false repentance and self-reliance in the Pharisees and Sadducees who came for baptism. That is why he rebuked them with harsh words:

Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones (Matthew 3:8-9NLT).

John wasn’t being mean or judgmental to the religious leaders. He knew where their worldly sorrow would lead—death. John’s demand to prove their repentance by their actions should have prompted them to examine themselves and turn to God.

But the Pharisees and Sadducees did not heed John’s warning.

How do we prepare for Christ’s coming?

Today, as Christmas approaches, how will we prepare our hearts for Christ’s coming? Do we want Jesus to be comfortable residing there?

If so, we will allow God to search our hearts for any sin, either overt or lurking in the shadows. When God brings it to our attention, we must choose how to respond.

I don’t think God is too worried about my lackadaisical standard for keeping house, but He is passionate about the standard of cleanliness in my heart. Though Christ’s first resting place on earth was a filthy feed box, I don’t want to offer Him a filthy heart.

While I never ask my guests to clean my house, I do ask Jesus to scour my heart. That was His holy rescue mission for coming to earth.

For this week of Advent, let’s prepare for Christ’s coming by cleaning up through repentance.

Practical Ideas

To help you prepare for Christ’s coming, I created an Advent Acronym for you to download to repost on social media. The acronym helps us to celebrate the Advent season and anticipate Christ’s coming.

For this week, I also suggest some family activities to focus on repentance. Each day have a family discussion on one of the Bible verses I have provided. Memorize a verse over the course of the week. Use the family activity to better understand how sin affects us.

Carry the Weight—a family activity with a surprising twist

Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and he will again send you Jesus, your appointed Messiah (Acts 3:19-20 NLT).

Find some heavy weights or a very heavy object. (You could buy a bag of rock salt or landscape stones from the home improvement store.) It should be something that everyone can hold, but not for long. Have a contest to see how long each family member can hold the weight. Write their names and note how long each one held it. If someone wants to try for a better time, allow it. If anyone says their muscles hurt, give a little back or arm rub. After everyone has tried to hold the weight, announce a winner. The winner is the one who held it for the shortest time.

Discuss how sin is like the heavy weight. We may be able to carry it for a while, but exhausts us. Let everyone say how they felt holding the weight. Then talk about how it felt to drop the weight. Discuss how God refreshes us, renewing our strength. What can we do with the energy God gives us?

Bible Verses and Discussion

James 4:8 NLT

Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.

Discussion: How can you move closer to God? What steps do you take to purify your heart?

Psalm 51:10 NLT

Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.

Discussion: How does holding sin in your heart pull you away from God? How does a heart free from sin renew loyalty to God?

Proverbs 28:13

People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy.

Discussion: Why does it feel so shameful to reveal sin? If you can recall the promise of God’s mercy, how does it become easier?

2 Peter 3:9 NLT

The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.

Discussion: Is there any area of your life where you are testing God’s patience? Take time to pray over it.

1 John 1:9 NLT

But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

Discussion: Share about a time when God forgave you and tell how it made you feel.

Join the conversation:

What is your go-to Bible verse or prayer to reveal hidden sin?

How has God been faithful to help you clean your spiritual house?

I welcome your comments!