Anticipating Christmas 1 (John Piper)

As we anticipate Christmas, it is good to look at His story, "a collection of monumental moments that remind us that Christ cared enough to experience life with us. Christmas is the time to remember that Christ not only came, but he stayed, he lived, he cared." ~ Max Lucado, introduction from Celebrating Christmas with Jesus, An Advent Devotional

He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared. Luke 1:16-17

What John the Baptist did for Israel, Advent can do for us. Don't let Christmas find you unprepared. I mean spiritually unprepared.

That you might be prepared...

First, meditate on the fact that we need a Savior... 

Second, engage in sober self-examination...

Third, build God-centered anticipation and expectancy and excitement into your home - especially for the children...

Fourth, be much in the Scriptures, and memorize the great passages...

~ John Piper in an excerpt from Good News of Great Joy Daily Readings for Advent, December 3