Scripture:
Isaiah has spoken of John when he said, “He is a voice shouting in the wilderness: prepare a pathway for the Lord’s coming! make a straight road fro him! Matthew 3:3
Observation:
John the baptist was the forerunner of Jesus’ ministry. Before the coming of the King there is a preparation that must take place. John was the one preparing the hearts of people for the arrival of Jesus. He called people to repentance and fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy that reveals the process of preparation God wants in our lives before the coming of Jesus can be fully experienced. John called people to make a road straight for the coming of the King. People had to put aside their sinful behavior and their religiosity. People had to prove by the way they live that they had really turned from their their sins and turn to God. John’s message came in the wilderness, not in the temple. Why? Maybe because in the wilderness we realize who we truly are and what we truly need.
Application:
Sometimes God will take us to the wilderness to realize what really matters to us. While in the wilderness water takes a more significant value. Shelter from the scorching sun becomes not a commodity but a necessity. In the wilderness we realize our weaknesses and our true colors. Under pressure we can see our level of commitment and endurance as our faith is tested. When God takes our comfort away we can be more honest and our masks start to crack from the inside out. In the wilderness God speaks to us. He says, ”Prepare the way for my arrival.“ God is encouraging us to deal with the issues we will see in the mirror, to repent if we find sin, to endure if we are tested, and to improve if we are lacking. Our preparation is what secures the arrival of the King in our lives. We cannot expect the King setting His throne in our hearts without such preparation. If we need the King of Glory in our lives, we need to prepare our hearts, we need to make the pathways straight, we need to humble ourselves, we need to trust in His ways, and we need to believe that His ways are better than our ways.
Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for reminding me about the importance of being prepared for your arrival in my life. There are so many areas where I need your wise ruling, direction, and majestic power. Please show me how to prepare my heart for your arrival and how to help people to prepare their lives for your arrival. Let us hear your voice in the wilderness times, let us see our hidden sin so we can repent, let us be aware of our weaknesses so we can trust in your grace, and let us see our quitting points so we learn to trust in you and endure until the end. Thank you for being so faithful to me. Let my life be always prepared for your arrival. Amen!
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