Hearts Prepared

And he [John the Baptizer]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.’” Luke 3:3-6

            John’s life purpose, as prophesied in Luke 1, was to prepare the peoples’ hearts for the arrival of the Messiah. He came to reveal the crookedness of their life-paths, the emptiness in their souls, the obstacles of their lifestyle, the coarseness of their attitudes so that they could receive the Christ and the message of redemption, forgiveness, mercy and grace.

            It is true that Christ accepts us “just as I am” – but unless we truly can acknowledge and admit our need for a Savior, and our willingness to submit to a radically different way of thinking and living, we will never be able to completely embrace what He brings. Consider the bent pathways, the roadblocks, the coarse attitudes of your life today. Look deep into your soul – where does the Savior need to fill in, level out, straightened up, or smooth over? Acknowledge it, admit it, and submit to the Father’s loving, cleansing, healing, and yes purging Hand. Don’t settle for surface grace today!

Let’s Do Something About It

·      Set aside some time today to truly look at the pathway your life is on. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the valleys, the mountains, the coarseness, and/or the curving, twisting roads of your life.

·      Sincerely acknowledge the truth of the condition of your life and ask God to begin the work of filling the emptiness, leveling the obstacles, untying the knots, and smoothing the rough places in your life, your relationships, your attitudes, in every area of your being.

·      Consider jotting down the key points that God shows you as a reminder and encouragement as this process unfolds in your life.