March 18

Prepare the Way
Luke 3:4-6

Prepare the Way
It is a clear fact that our Lord will not force himself upon anyone.  Neither at the time when you first come to know him, nor as you walk in the Christian walk, will he use force to bring you to his way.  The persuasion of your circumstance, the pleading of family and friends, the Scripture itself, conscience - all these will press on you.  But Jesus is the lover of your soul, and he will not force himself upon you.  Therefore, He must be welcomed, or He will not come.  You must prepare the way for him to come to you.
How?
Every Valley
When we think of the "valleys" in our life, we think of those times when we are at our lowest. 

  • There is the valley of doubt.  This we must fill in with the mountain moved by faith.
  • There is the valley of despair.  Can Jesus love one like me?  Over and over he whispers, "I can - and I do."
Every Mountain
The mountain is a high point, a point of exaltation in our lives.  In one sense, this may be understood as pride.  If we spend our lives looking down on others, how can we look up to God?  If you will sacrifice your pride and humble yourself, he will come to you.  There is another sense:  the mountain top experience.  The spiritual exaltation of one moment sometimes blinds us to the call of our Lord in day to day living.  Come down from that mountain.
The Crooked Straight
Jesus only once told someone to be born again;  but "repent, and sin no more" came to sinners often.  If you will not try to cast the sin out of your life, how can the Holy One come in?
The Rough Places Made Smooth
Pride, envy, greed - and so much more, all of our sins - are the rough places of our lives.  We must try to smooth them out.  Why?  Because we walk by faith, not by sight.  If you will not walk by sight, you must walk as if blindfold.  If you are to walk blindfold for any distance, the path must be smooth indeed.
The voice is calling in the desert, prepare the way for the Lord.  Will you prepare that way for him?