Preparing the Way
Devotions from “Between the Ears” ~ Mission Mustang Ministry
“Preparing the Way”
Yesterday, as I was packing and preparing for our annual hunting trip in the Colorado mountains I was a bit overwhelmed. I get this way every year due to the sheer amount of stuff required for such a trip. We have to prepare and pack extra blankets, clothing, coats, coveralls, hats and gloves for extreme weather changes for not only for us but for our horses as well. In addition, we pack enough food, water and toiletries for the entire stay since our camp is usually many, many miles from a town.
While I was loading everything up, God kept placing a thought on my mind about how He had “prepared” the way for me to have eternal life and that I should take the time share this wonderful news with others. In the book of Matthew, John the Baptist fulfills Isaiah’s prophecy by preparing the way for Jesus. “For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight”’” (Matthew 3:3, ESV).
“Through the testimony of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Zechariah, and John the Baptist himself, God makes it clear that this rugged wilderness preacher is the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy. But how did John prepare the way of the Lord and make His paths straight? His nickname—“John the Baptist”—gives us a clue.
John the Baptist beckoned the Jewish people to repent of their sins and be baptized—an act that outwardly demonstrated the inward dedication of their lives to God through immersion in water. Repentance is the inescapable beginning of faith, and baptism represented a new way of doing things for the Jews. As a religious practice, baptism was generally only observed by outsiders (Gentiles) converting to Judaism. To prepare the way of the Lord and make His paths straight, John needed the Jews to understand that their ancestral heritage would not save them. Faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior would require a personal commitment—a turning away from sin and a new life of devotion to God. John’s baptism “called for repentance from sin,” meaning real-life change as well as belief in Jesus Christ (see Acts 19:1–7, NLT).
As John encountered Jesus face to face, he understood that his life mission was to reveal to Israel that Christ was the Son of God and their long-awaited Messiah. He prepared the way of the Lord by introducing Jesus as “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” and “the Chosen One of God” (John 1:29–34, NLT). Because of John’s ministry, multitudes of sinners put their faith in Jesus Christ (John 10:39–42), (GotQuestions.com)”.
I’m am so thankful every day that God “prepared” a way for you and I to have eternal life! I pray that everyone who takes time to read this has asked Jesus into their hearts and repented of their sins so that they are “prepared” for eternity with Jesus! I hope your day is filled with many blessings!
By: Kati Rose
“Preparing the Way”
Yesterday, as I was packing and preparing for our annual hunting trip in the Colorado mountains I was a bit overwhelmed. I get this way every year due to the sheer amount of stuff required for such a trip. We have to prepare and pack extra blankets, clothing, coats, coveralls, hats and gloves for extreme weather changes for not only for us but for our horses as well. In addition, we pack enough food, water and toiletries for the entire stay since our camp is usually many, many miles from a town.
While I was loading everything up, God kept placing a thought on my mind about how He had “prepared” the way for me to have eternal life and that I should take the time share this wonderful news with others. In the book of Matthew, John the Baptist fulfills Isaiah’s prophecy by preparing the way for Jesus. “For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight”’” (Matthew 3:3, ESV).
“Through the testimony of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Zechariah, and John the Baptist himself, God makes it clear that this rugged wilderness preacher is the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy. But how did John prepare the way of the Lord and make His paths straight? His nickname—“John the Baptist”—gives us a clue.
John the Baptist beckoned the Jewish people to repent of their sins and be baptized—an act that outwardly demonstrated the inward dedication of their lives to God through immersion in water. Repentance is the inescapable beginning of faith, and baptism represented a new way of doing things for the Jews. As a religious practice, baptism was generally only observed by outsiders (Gentiles) converting to Judaism. To prepare the way of the Lord and make His paths straight, John needed the Jews to understand that their ancestral heritage would not save them. Faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior would require a personal commitment—a turning away from sin and a new life of devotion to God. John’s baptism “called for repentance from sin,” meaning real-life change as well as belief in Jesus Christ (see Acts 19:1–7, NLT).
As John encountered Jesus face to face, he understood that his life mission was to reveal to Israel that Christ was the Son of God and their long-awaited Messiah. He prepared the way of the Lord by introducing Jesus as “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” and “the Chosen One of God” (John 1:29–34, NLT). Because of John’s ministry, multitudes of sinners put their faith in Jesus Christ (John 10:39–42), (GotQuestions.com)”.
I’m am so thankful every day that God “prepared” a way for you and I to have eternal life! I pray that everyone who takes time to read this has asked Jesus into their hearts and repented of their sins so that they are “prepared” for eternity with Jesus! I hope your day is filled with many blessings!
By: Kati Rose
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