Preparing the Way of the Lord!
Monday, November 29, 2004
My Prayer Today
Heavenly Father, Thank You for sending prophets down through the ages who have proclaimed Your truth and prepared Your people for what You were sending next! Thank You for giving Isaiah the message of the coming of John the Baptist. Open my heart and mind to understand the words of the Old Testament, and to see how often You fulfill them in the New Testament. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
God’s Word Today
Matthew 3:1-12
1In those days John the Baptist began preaching in the Judean wilderness. His message was, 2“Turn from your sins and turn to God, because the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” 3Isaiah had 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 for him!’”
4John’s clothes were woven from camel hair, and he wore a leather belt; his food was locusts and wild honey. 5People from Jerusalem and from every section of Judea and from all over the Jordan Valley went out to the wilderness to hear him preach. 6And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River.
7But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to be baptized, he denounced them. “You brood of snakes!” he exclaimed. “Who warned you to flee God’s coming judgment? 8Prove by the way you live that you have really turned from your sins and turned to God. 9Don’t just say, ‘We’re safe—we’re the descendants of Abraham.’ That proves nothing. God can change these stones here into children of Abraham. 10Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever your roots. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.
11“I baptize with water those who turn from their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is far greater than I am—so much greater that I am not even worthy to be his slave. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 12He is ready to separate the chaff from the grain with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, storing the grain in his barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire.”
Reflecting on God's Word
What promise that you find in the Bible, which has not yet been fulfilled, do you most desire to see become a reality?
A Deeper Exploration of God's Word
What does the quote from Isaiah tell us about John the Baptist’s “ministry description?” (3:3)
Look at Isaiah 40:3 in your Bible, an see the context from which Matthew took the quote about John.
Understanding God's Word
How do you think Matthew realized that Isaiah 40:3 was a prophecy of the coming of John the Baptist?
Why do you suppose John’s ministry started in the wilderness?
Applying God's Word to Our Lives
What can you do today, to help someone be prepared for receiving Jesus into his or her heart?
Thoughts...Preparing a Pathway...
Matthew’s quote form Isaiah 40:3 is taken from a much larger passage of promise to the people of Israel that God would send a messenger to prepare the way for the Lord’s (Messiah’s) coming. In the passage, Isaiah uses imagery of the preparation that was done in those days to prepare the “highways” for the coming of the king. Valleys would be filled in and high places leveled off, to make the king’s journey easier. In our day, our preparing a pathway for Jesus may consistent of many different activities. The first, and most important aspect of preparing the pathway for Jesus in others’ lives is to live our lives with a joy and faithful obedience that everyone can see. Nothing prepares the way for Jesus better than a faithful witness whose words and actions reflect Jesus’ life within. In our day, we hear a lot about the hypocrisy of the church, meaning that Christians don’t practice what we preach. The only way to counter that charge is to live fully and faithfully for Jesus. Otherwise, we must plead guilty as charged! Let’s make sure as we go about this day that we are preparing the way for Jesus by living “sold out” lives for Him!