Christmas preparation

​12/19/20
Today's devotion for today is based on John 1:24-27: "Now the Pharisees who had been sent questioned [John], "Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?" "I baptize with water," John replied, "but among you stands one you do not know. He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie."
The Lord knows all about preparing. Over and over in the Old Testament, he prepared his people for the eventual arrival of their deliverer—the one he would send to rescue them from their sins and restore their relationship with their Maker. Just before Jesus began preaching and teaching, the Lord sent a special man to prepare people for Jesus' arrival on the scene. We know this man as John the Baptist.
The reason John was such an expert at preparing people for Jesus is that John had a proper perspective on things. John knew exactly where he stood with God and knew he had offended God with his sins. John knew that he desperately needed someone to rescue him from those sins. So, when Jesus arrived, John was relieved and thankful and thrilled.
Do you want to be properly prepared to celebrate Christmas? See yourself as I do, as an unworthy sinner. See your Savior as the one who loves you still. Then, like John, you will be relieved, thankful, and thrilled when you see your Savior arrive.
Please pray with me the prayer for today: Dear Jesus, I know that, like John, I am not worthy even to untie your sandals. But I also understand that this is why you were born in Bethlehem. I know that through your perfect life and innocent death, you have washed away my sins and made me worthy in God's sight. Thank you. Amen.