Make Room

PREPARATION
Every year we make room in our home for our Christmas tree.  This annual experience is preparation for the season.  It’s quite the event really.  We like to start by working together to get the house picked-up & clean.  Then we turn on a steller Christmas playlist to let joy fill the room.  I love watching our children decorate our house with smiles and laughter.

The first arrival of Jesus, the first Advent, was a moment of grace.  God had prepared it all, and the stage was set to redeem the world.  Everything down to the finest detail had been made ready for the Christ child.  God was making room for us when it seemed Rome didn’t have room for another king to jump on the scene.  Mary, that unexpected girl whose heart bent toward God would carry in her womb the promised Messiah.  Just like he promised, the king of all kings was born in Bethlehem, the city of David.   Isaiah told us about it, Christ would be called Immanuel, meaning God with us. (Isaiah 7:14)  They would call him Jesus, because he would save his people from their sins. Jesus, the true light, entered the darkness of our broken world to make room for us at God’s great banquet table.

What grace!  What joy!  How loving of God to come to where we are so we could be where he is!
I love how the Apostle John wrote about the incarnation. “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)

Jesus was and is the most truthful and gracious man to walk the earth.  He came to us and for us.  “He moved into the neighborhood…generous inside and out from start to finish.” (The Message)

I want to make room in my heart, my schedule, my family, my work, and my rest for Christ.  He is Emmanuel, meaning God with us.  He is standing there full of grace and truth. So, let’s start today, and welcome Jesus along the way, right where we live, work, and play.

JOY TO THE WORLD
Verse 1

Joy to the world, the Lord is come
Let Earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare Him room
And Heaven and nature sing
And Heaven and nature sing
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing

Jonathan Johnson

2 Comments


Mandi Johnson - November 30th, 2023 at 3:50pm

♥️

Chad Graves - December 9th, 2023 at 6:56am

Love the good words of encouragement. Merry Christmas to the Johnsons and the Compass family in Mtn View