Emphasis Preaching Journal
Advent is a time for looking ahead...
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Advent is a time for looking ahead, a time to plan for the future, just like Malachi plans for the coming of the Lord (v. 1). Looking ahead, planning, preparing, and working for the better day that by God's goodness and grace lies ahead is one of the best, healthiest things we human beings can do. Martin Luther says that this kind of preparing for the future is a clearing out of the way whatever will be an obstruction. In short, we need to get ourselves out of the way, because more often than not we are the chief obstacles to the new thing God plans for the future (Luther's Works, Vol.