Preparing the Way for Our King

Text: Luke 3:1-19 Theme: John prepared the hearts and minds of people for Jesus’ coming. Key verses: “…the word of God came to John…in the desert. He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. As it is written in…Isaiah…’A voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. And all mankind will see God’s salvation.'” (v. 2-6) “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.'” (v. 8) “I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” (v. 16) “And with many other words John exhorted the people and preached the good news to them…But when he rebuked Herod…he locked John up in prison.” (v. 18-19) What God said to me: Dwayne, people’s hearts and intellects need to be prepared before they are ready to receive me. Like good soil needs tilling to be most fruitful, people need to be given time and attention and care. John was rough and tough and bold and blunt. That is what those people needed to hear to help shake them up and scrape away their years of pride and comfortably sinful lifestyles. John was simply being obedient to me, letting the chips fall as they would. He even rebuked Herod, despite the resulting inevitable fallout for John. John was clearing the spiritual and moral roads and knocking down the mountainous obstacles that the people of his day had built up in their hearts and minds. I expect you to do the same today. True, the Holy Spirit will do the actual heart surgeries. But He may use you to speak through in order to plant His message in them. Dwayne, you lack boldness and zeal when it comes to witnessing. You are too afraid you will offend someone, or you are too busy or embarrassed to say what I need you to say. Look for opportunities to use the pick of my Word to clear away the debris in someone’s understanding. Be bold. Be deligent. Be faithful. Be full of love and determination. Let me take care of the outcome – both to them and to you. What I said to God: Lord, I certainly didn’t see this convicting message coming today. I have never seen myself as an “earth-mover” for you in people’s hearts. I confess that I am not nearly bold enough or passionate enough over the lost. They are going to hell, and I rarely give any thought to it. Oh God, what an indictment! I get so distracted doing my busy ministry things that I fail to see the purpose of my ministry. Help me be on ready to share Your good news with someone this week, no matter what anyone thinks or says of me.