Note: This is the fifth in a series of Advent devotions called, “Make Room for Christmas.”
A voice is crying out:
“Clear the Lord’s way in the desert!
Make a level highway in the wilderness for our God!
Every valley will be raised up,
and every mountain and hill will be flattened.
Uneven ground will become level,
and rough terrain a valley plain.
The Lord’s glory will appear,
and all humanity will see it together;
the Lord’s mouth has commanded it.” —Isaiah 40:3-5, CEB
While preparing for Christmas, many of us move things around to make room.
The furniture is rearranged to make a place for the Christmas tree. Knick-knacks on a hearth or living room table are cleared to accommodate the Nativity set. Wall hangings are shuffled to provide a spot to display the Christmas cards we receive.
The contents of the pantry, refrigerator and freezer are consolidated so there will be room for ingredients and special Christmas food. We clean out the extra bedroom to offer our guests. We may even prune some trees in the yard and clean the gutters to make space for Christmas decorations.
Advent is a time when we are comfortable moving things around to make room in our homes for Christmas.
This makes sense. Christmas is about the birth of a child, and every parent knows what it is like to lovingly prepare their homes for the day the child arrives and changes their lives.
How will things be moved around in your home this Christmas? What needs to be rearranged in your life to make room for the Christ child? What changes will you make to carry Christ with you every day?
How will you make room for love this Christmas?
Prayer: O God, show me how I can share the hope, peace, joy and love of Christmas with others. Amen.
*Joe Iovino works for UMC.org at United Methodist Communications. Contact him by email or at 615-312-3733.
This devotion published December 20, 2018.
