Make a Way for Christ’s Coming

by Annie Yorty ©2021

Advent is the time of year when we focus on the coming of Christ. This month we have considered how to Anticipate Christ’s Coming (Advent Part 1) and how to Prepare for Christ’s Coming (Advent Part 2). This week we will think about the condition of the infrastructure of our lives. How can we make a way for Christ’s coming into every part of our lives?

A couple months ago I took a road trip. The ride from Pennsylvania to Kentucky was long but pleasant. I navigated from one highway to the next without incident until we reached our destination. The way home was another matter altogether. A few hours into the drive, a serious accident abruptly stopped traffic and the police closed the highway. I had to find another way home. After a little four-wheeling across the median ditch, I turned around and found another road to double back toward home.

The other road was. . . let’s say. . . scenic West Virginia. Winding up and around mountains with hairpin curves, I cut my speed to a small fraction of my highway drive. We encountered various other obstacles such as wildlife, road construction, fallen rocks, and slow-moving trucks. Getting off the highway turned what was supposed to be a tolerably long eight-hour drive into an arduous eleven-hour travel odyssey.

If only I had a forerunner to check and clear the path for me before I began my trek into the unknown.

That was John the Baptist’s job for Jesus. Miraculously born to his mother, Elizabeth, in her old age, John was a prophet with a message from God. In the Old Testament, Isaiah said this of John:

Listen! It’s the voice of someone shouting, “Clear the way through the wilderness for the Lord! Make a straight highway through the wasteland for our God! Fill in the valleys, and level the mountains and hills. Straighten the curves, and smooth out the rough places. Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. The Lord has spoken!” (Isaiah 40:3-5 NLT)

This passage of Scripture indicates another Advent contrast.

Straight vs. Crooked Roads

I’ve heard that back in Bible times, road conditions were often unreliable. (Some things never change! 😊 ) When someone very important, like a king, embarked on a long journey, servants were sent out on the route prior to his departure to ensure that the paths were accessible. If there were any roadblocks or difficulties, the servants would clear them to make way for their master. Likewise, in Matthew 3, John the Baptist spiritually cleared the way for his Master, Jesus.

Christ the King is coming to us. How accessible are our lives?

Is every area of my life wide open to Jesus? Have I cleared a straight highway for Christ to freely move and govern me? Or does He need to slow to a crawl to negotiate crooked paths and roadblocks? Can I identify any of the following crumbling infrastructure impeding Christ’s work and will?

Washed out roads = my stuff

Broken bridges = my activities

Mudslides = my plans

My stuff

It’s been said that everything you own owns you. We should think about this idea whenever we acquire possessions. The Bible does not discourage ownership of property, or even affluence, but we are cautioned about wealth.

The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced (Matthew 13:22 NLT, emphasis added).

Money and possessions often distract us from hearing and following God, washing out the road to parts of our lives where Jesus needs to enter.

My Activities

Our activities can damage bridges Christ might use to cross into new territories in our lives. Perhaps the activities are opposed to Christ’s character. Or the pursuits may be good but not God’s best for you. Sometimes we are simply too busy, crowding out Christ.

My Plans

Finally, devising and following our own plans rather than God’s plans shakes our foundation and triggers mudslides over the roadway of life. Christ’s work in us is impeded by the wreckage.

I know, Lord, that our lives are not our own. We are not able to plan our own course. So correct me, Lord, but please be gentle. Do not correct me in anger, for I would die (Jeremiah 10:23-24 NLT).

Will we surrender our stuff, our activities, and our plans to God and make a way for Christ’s coming?

With God’s help, we can straighten the highway for Jesus to take charge of every part of life.

Is my life a straight highway to Christ for others?

There’s one other way to look at the idea of making a way for Christ’s coming.

In John 14:6, Jesus said, “I am the way . . .” People should not need to wonder what’s around the bend in our lives, and where we are heading. Instead, our lives should be clear highways with neon signs pointing others in the direction of Christ.

Allowing Christ complete access to every area of our lives will naturally provide a roadmap to Him for others.

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 removing roadblocks and allowing Christ access to every area of life. 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 discuss spiritual obstacles.

Obstacle Course Challenge—a family activity to make a way for Christ’s coming

Lay out an obstacle course in the yard or in the house, depending on weather. If inside, use chairs, move furniture, boxes, toys, etc. to make sure there is no easy path. Outdoors you can use lawn furniture, bikes, toys, etc. If your kids are old enough, let them design the course on paper and then create it. Time each person as they run through the course. Give awards or prizes. Then discuss how the obstacles slowed them down and relate it to how to make a way for Christ’s coming.

Verses for memory and discussion:

1 John 2:15 NLT

Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you.

Discussion: Is there anything you really love? How does it compare to your love for God?

Luke 12:15 NLT

Then he [Jesus] said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”

Discussion: What are some ways you measure happiness and satisfaction in life? What is an accurate measure?

Matthew 6:19-2 NLT

Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

Discussion: What are some possessions that last through this life and into heaven?

Ephesians 5:15-17 NLT

So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.

Discussion: How can you choose activities the Lord wants you to do? How is Jesus working in your life through these activities?

1 Corinthians 10:31 NLT

So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

Discussion: How have you seen God glorified through your daily activities?

Proverbs 16:3 NLT

Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.

Discussion: Have you ever made plans without considering God’s will? How can you offer your plans to God?

Proverbs 19:21 NLT

You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.

Discussion: What good are your plans if they only accomplish earthly good? What are some eternal purposes God may have for your life?

Join the conversation:

What are you doing to make a way for Christ’s coming into your life this Christmas?

I welcome your comments!