“Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming! Clear the road for him!”
(Matthew 3:3b, NLT)
The words of John the Baptist seem to resound even more this time of year. His very words are taken from the Old Testament book of 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, NLT)
Preparation, in this instance, means to clear the way. I have been trying to clear the way by setting time aside each day to think about Christmas and Christmas carols and familiar words.
My mind has been drawn the last several days to the fact that Scripture tells us to “clear the way through the wilderness for the Lord!” My Advent reading shares this insight:
“If you find yourself in a spiritual wilderness this Advent season, consider for a moment how God might show up in the midst of it. Perhaps He hasn’t cast you out into the wilderness at all. Maybe the wilderness is a place where distractions are stripped away and He can speak tenderly to you.”
(from “Unexpected Jesus” by Anna Robbins, page 16)
It is in the wilderness that John the Baptist shouted to make the preparations:
- “make a straight highway”
- “fill in the valleys”
- “level the mountains”
- “straighten the curves”
- “smooth out the rough places”
Preparation takes time and effort and energy. Preparation takes sacrifice.
We can easily overlook those words – We cannot prepare ourselves by ourselves.
He comes alongside of us and enables us to prepare our hearts. It is all by His doing. He makes us ready, prepared, for the Lord, and for the day of His coming.
All these days of listening to Christmas music, reading Scriptures telling of the story of His birth – all of it, this entire time …
He Himself is preparing us for our part in His story, His work.
“John the Baptist prepared the way for the Lord. His timing and preparation paved the way for Jesus. John’s work took place in the wilderness. His dreaming and preaching began in an unlikely place, but his part of God’s story was essential.”
(from “The Advent Narrative” by Mary Geisen, page 18)
Seeing as He does all things well, our hearts can rest assured, in this unlikely Advent season we find ourselves, He is preparing us for the days ahead.
If we truly believe this time is for preparation, may we humbly bow low and wait, as we ask Him to show us exactly for what are we being prepared.
John the Baptist prepared the way, also knowing his role in God’s grand story. He knew he was not to be the one recognized, but also knew he had a calling:
” ”˜I am not the Messiah. I am only here to prepare the way for him.’ It is the bridegroom who marries the bride, and the bridegroom’s friend is simply glad to stand with him and hear his vows. Therefore, I am filled with joy at his success. He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.” (John 3:28-30, NLT)
As we prepare our hearts, making room for Him and Him alone,
we will see the glory of the Lord revealed.
And we will find our part in His story.
Photo by Laura Baker on Unsplash
Today I am joining …
We cannot prepare ourselves by ourselves. Wow! Thank you, Joanne. That is convicting (and comforting- He stands ready to help us!) Happy advent to you!
Joanne, this is such a beautiful post. I haven’t thought about “clearing the way for the Lord” before. This got me thinking about what in my life, in my heart, needs to be cleared to make way for Jesus to have His way in my life.