Prepare the Way!

“In the fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar,.. the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet,

“’The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
“Prepare the way of the Lord,
    make his paths straight.
Every valley shall be filled,
    and every mountain and hill shall be made low,
and the crooked shall become straight,
    and the rough places shall become level ways,
and all flesh shall see the salvation of God…”’

“As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ, John answered them, ‘I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire…’

“So with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people.” Luke 3:1-6,15-16,18

Announced in the angel’s astounding prophecy to his father Zechariah, John the baptizer had a unique purpose: he would be great, filled with the Spirit of God, and go before the Lord Jesus to prepare a people for Him. Raised with this understanding, he was attuned to the voice of the Lord and ready to obey. When God spoke, he responded. The one prepared for his calling prepared people for Christ’s coming. (Luke 1:5-17)

As the Lord created His world in preparation for mankind, so He goes before us and sets us in time and place to be sanctified and to spread His light. All of God’s children have particular purpose for our season and setting. We are called to be prepared ourselves that we might serve the Lord’s intent of paving the way of life for others with His gospel. (Genesis 1:1-28; Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 17:26-27; Philippians 2:15; 1 Peter 2:9)

John’s first admonition was to repentance, which would lead to forgiveness which leads to gospel hope and living. It is easy in our frenzied days of input and output to neglect this humbling of ourselves in genuine confession and deliberate repentance. When are we taking time to consider God’s holiness and admit where we have fallen short, dishonored Him with worry, procrastination, impatience, selfishness? The power of Christ’s forgiveness is borne out in renouncing that sin and turning from it to energized righteousness. Are we as serious in prayer about earnest, thoughtful, heart-wrenching repentance as we are about reciting our list of needs and wants?

We might block the way of God’s daily preparing of us by packing our schedules with responsibilities and distractions. Where do we push out the Lord by busyness, or willful refusal to align with His guidance and insisting on our own way? What petty or persistent sins litter our lives to make Him unwelcome? If we are resistant to His cleansing and refreshment, we will be of little use for others.

Once emptied of self and filled with His Spirit, how are we spreading His gospel? How are my words, work, and love preaching the good news? Where will I proclaim it today? (John 3:30)

Lord, help me take up Your call to be prepared and to prepare others for the work of Your glorious gospel.