O Lord, who shall sojourn in your tent? Who shall dwell on your holy hill? Psalm 15:1
We are in the season of Advent- a season of preparing. Not so much preparing what to buy for friends and family, or what to make for Christmas dinner, or what delicious dish to bring to the holiday office party or church potluck that will have everybody’s mouths salivating. Not so much decking the halls and decorating the house. All of that is well and good.
It is a season to remind us to prepare the way of the Lord – into our lives, into our hearts and into our souls. The Psalmist asks who can go into the house of the Lord? His answer is in the rest of the psalm. It is a list worth reviewing- a list worth checking twice to find out if you are naughty or nice. But basically, in today’s vernacular, he is saying to check your attitude at the door.
God can’t be in the presence of a sinful heart. That is why the blood of His Son, who came to earth wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger, was shed to cover it. To come into God’s presence, we must be humbled and purified. We must confess our wrong doings, our bad thoughts, and the guilty naggings that whisper in our ears so loud we can not hear His voice. Whatever is blocking us from truly communing with our Lord and receiving His blessing must be wiped off on the mat before we enter through the door.
According to ancient Hebrew law, only the purified priest could enter into the Holy of Holies and seek an audience with God. Today, because of the babe that came to bring peace on earth and good will to men, we all can. What will you do in the next few weeks to receive him? What will you do today?
