Today’s Reading: John 1:19-28, Luke 3:1-18
God sent a man, John the Baptist, to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. – John 1:6-8
GOD HAD A PLAN FOR JOHN — A VERY SPECIFIC PURPOSE FOR HIS LIFE.
John’s decision to walk in God’s plan for his life made a difference in the lives of many people. His obedience impacted the ways in which those around him accepted Jesus when he arrived. John knew God’s purpose, knew what God had called him to do. He didn’t know every detail or the timing of God’s plan. He still had questions but he placed his trust in the sovereignty of God’s plan without demanding an explanation from God. He accepted this calling on his life with great humility, even when those around him desired for him to be more than who he was.
This was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Temple assistants from Jerusalem to ask John, “Who are you?” He came right out and said, “I am not the Messiah.”
“Well then, who are you?” they asked. “Are you Elijah?”
“No,” he replied.
“Are you the Prophet we are expecting?”
“No.”
“Then who are you? We need an answer for those who sent us. What do you have to say about yourself?”
John replied in the words of the prophet Isaiah: “I am the voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Clear the way for the Lord’s coming!’” – John 1:19-23
In those days, when a king or man of great importance was going to visit an area of the kingdom, they would send men out ahead of him to prepare the way. There were no nicely paved roads like we have now, so they would take time to travel the path and clear the road of any rocks or fallen trees, perhaps trimming back branches that would hinder a chariot or horse. Their purpose was to make sure there was nothing blocking the way of this man of great importance.
John the Baptist had a similar role — to clear the way for the Lord’s coming or make straight the way of the Lord. His responsibility was to make sure there was nothing blocking the way of this man of great importance. His calling became his identity as he quoted the prophet Isaiah.
Listen! It’s the voice of someone shouting,
“Clear the way through the wilderness for the Lord!
Make a straight highway through the wasteland for our God!
Fill in the valleys, and level the mountains and hills.
Straighten the curves, and smooth out the rough places.
Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed,
and all people will see it together.
The Lord has spoken!” – Isaiah 40:3-5
We do a similar “clearing” here at our house when we know that company is coming. When it is just us, we become comfortable. Then there is that moment when we look around and see our home through the eyes of someone else. When company is coming, we notice the pair of shoes in the living room and the couch cushions that need straightening. We push the chairs back under the table, close the shower curtains and open the blinds. We scramble around the house, clearing the clutter and preparing for our special guests.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. – Hebrews 12:1-2a
God challenges us to take a look at our life through His eyes — to honestly look and see if there is some clearing we need to do. Are there things in my life that are blocking the way of what God wants to accomplish? Are there attitudes I need Jesus to shine His light on and expose? Is there anything in my life that is not clearly a sin but hindering someone else’s walk? Is there a possibility that the conditions of my life will cause someone else to stumble? Perhaps what I need to give up for this next year is more than just chocolate or coffee, but something bigger that is cluttering my walk with Jesus.
Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
Point out anything in me that offends you,
and lead me along the path of everlasting life. – Psalm 139:23-24
GOD HAS A PLAN FOR MY LIFE AND HE HAS A PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE.
I want to obediently and humbly walk in that plan, just as John did. Lord, shine your light on my life and show me what I need to clear away. I do not want to hold tightly to anything that might block your way or hinder someone else’s walk. As we begin a new year, strengthen my hands to take a new grip on you instead of holding onto something I need to let go of. Strengthen my weak knees and mark out a straight path for my feet. Amen.
So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong. – Hebrews 12:12-13