12月22日
标 题：预见神的降临
经 节：正如先知以赛亚书上所记的话，说：在旷野有人声喊著说：预备主的道，修直祂的路！……凡有血气的，都要见神的救恩！（路加福音三章4、6节）
如果想拥有神大能的同在，我们一定要预备自己。施洗约翰是神所差的信使，帮助人们接受人类救主。约翰坚定地传道，说：“天国近了，你们当悔改！”（马太福音三：2）当耶稣来到时，那些听到约翰的信息、预备好自己生命的人认出耶稣，并且离开去跟随耶稣。这对门徒来说是特别真实的，因为他们的心已经被神预备好了（马太福音十六：17）。人必须要在神出现之前预备好！
神对人心预备的指示是很明确的：悔改！这包括人的心灵、意志和行为完全的改变，转向祂。祂是主，你的生命一定要预备好接纳祂为你的主。稍有保留就是不足。有些人显然尚未预备好跟随耶稣，而错失了机会（路加福音九：57—62）。在耶稣时代，大部分的宗教领袖并没有预备好面对祂的降临。他们知道弥赛亚要来，甚至知道祂要降生于何处（马太福音二：4—6）。然而，当他们听到救主已经降临，却没有加入祂，他们更喜欢自己的宗教仪式。
如果你尚未预备好，你也会错失经历耶稣的机会。你可能经常参加宗教活动，但是你会错过神。尽管其他人在敬拜中遇见神，你不会为之所动。当其他人得到神的光照时，你的体验是一片黑暗的寂静。宗教活动永远不能代替一颗在神面前纯洁的心。纯洁是由悔改而来。让我们像诗人一样如此祈祷，求神鉴察我们的心，让我们知道自己是否有任何恶行需要悔改（诗篇一三九：23—24）。
Preparing
for the Presence of God
“Prepare
the way of the LORD; Make His paths straight…And all flesh shall see the salvation
of God.” (Luke 3:4, 6)
If
we are to receive the powerful presence of God, we must prepare ourselves. John
the Baptist was God’s messenger to help people prepare to receive the Savior of
the world. John preached unwaveringly: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven at
hand!” (Matt. 3:2). Those who heard John’s message and prepared their lives
recognized Jesus when He came, and they left all to follow Him. This was
especially true of the disciples, whose hearts God Himself prepared (Matt.
16:17). Preparation must precede God’s presence!
God’s
instruction for preparation is specific: repentance! This involves a complete
change of mind, heart, will, and behavior toward Him. He is Lord, and your life
must be prepared to receive Him as your Lord. Anything less is inadequate. Some
were obviously unprepared to follow Jesus and missed the opportunity (Luke
9:57–62). The religious leaders of Jesus’ day were largely unprepared for His
arrival. They knew the Messiah was coming. They even knew where He would be born
(Matt. 2:4–6). Yet when word came that the Savior had been born, they made no
effort to join Him, preferring instead their religious ritual.
If
you are unprepared, you, too, will miss the opportunity to experience Jesus.
You may practice religion, but you will miss God. While others encounter the
Lord personally in worship, your heart will remain unmoved. As others receive a
fresh word from God, you will experience a painful silence. Religious activity
can never substitute for a heart that is pure before Him. Purity comes only
through repentance. Pray, as the Psalmist did, that God will examine your heart
and reveal your need to repent of your sin (Ps. 139:23–24).
