Prepared Way!

As John the Baptist began preparing the way for the ministry of Jesus (the Messiah) to begin, he continued "proclaiming a baptism of REPENTANCE for the forgiveness of sins." ( Luke 3:3) John's role was a pivotal one of moving minds from the Old to the New under Christ. It was not that God's plan was changing (as He needs no plan B), but that it was being fulfilled as was planned from the beginning. ( 1 Peter 1:19-21; 2 Timothy 1:9) The prophecy of Malachi had exhorted toward renewal of a right relationship with God more than four hundred years before, and how great was the need for lives to get BACK ON COURSE. Now, was the time and John was preparing the way for the path Jesus would open up for us.

As Luke noted John's coming being in the fulfillment of the words of the prophet Isaiah (Is. 40:3-5), we read. . .

"(4) 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. (5) 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, (6) and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.'" ( Luke 3:4-6 ESV)

It was time for lives to be put on a RIGHT PATH. Crooked ways were to be STRAIGHTENED out. Life was to be put ON THE LEVEL with God through finding its paved path in Christ. Is that still not the great need in the world today? So many have dropped to "low levels" of immorality and others are going through life riding high on the arrogance of pride in choosing their own way. Crooked ways are being followed and lives need to be STRAIGHTENED out.

There is still much need in this world for REPENTANCE -- turning the life back around to move in God's direction -- and Jesus came to help put us back on that right path. A PENITENT spirit needs to be retained in our life so that when our life course needs correcting, we will be open to it. May the wisdom of Jesus truly being THE WAY, THE TRUTH, and THE LIFE ( John 14:6) be seen in us so that others may choose that path as well.

Have a great day PURSUING THE PATH THE LORD HAS PAVED!
Carl

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