Prepare the way
You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before Him.’ John 3:28
When Jesus stepped into His public ministry after being baptized by John, John announced: He must increase, and I must decrease. John fulfilled mission to the letter: 1. He was a voice crying in the wilderness because that is where he lived. 2. His ministry was to prepare the way of the Lord’s coming, 3. so he made the path straight and clear for Jesus. The people were ready and watching for Him.
So, what does this mean for us today? Since this scripture was fulfilled 2000 years ago, how can we apply it to our lives and world today? Is this just another history lesson, or is there something we can do with it now in our time? The answer is absolutely, yes! Today, we are the voices crying out from the wilderness of the wild world we live in. We are preparing the way for His salvation message to get through to hearts of the people around us. We are walking the straight path in this crooked and perverse realm. All people will see the salvation of God through our witness and through our testimony. We are the forerunner of the return of our Savior, and we are to get this world ready for His return by getting the message spread throughout the whole earth.
How can we do this? By being the hands and feet of Jesus right where we are each day. By reaching out to the hurting and lost people in our neighborhoods and communities. I know this isn’t always easy to do but ask the Lord to open doors and give wisdom and understanding of what will reach individuals. Share what God has done in your life and love people right where they are. Let them know God wants to help them, He loves them and has a way out of every pit they have fallen into. People need to know that all they have to do is call on the name of the Lord and He will save them. (See Romans 10:13)
Today I want to encourage you to prepare the way for the Lord from the wilderness of your world to reach those around you. Ours is not the work to save people, we are only to share the love of God and His great salvation message with them. The Holy Spirit does the work, and He is the One that does the saving. We just need to let those around us know that God is good and has good planned for them. You can back it up by telling them about all His goodness in your own life. Prepare the way of the Lord today and He will show up and rescue people right where they are.
Today’s scripture reading: John 3:22-36
22 After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He remained with them and baptized.
23 Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized.
24 For John had not yet been thrown into prison.
25 Then there arose a dispute between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purification.
26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified—behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!”
27 John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven.
28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before Him.’
29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled.
30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
31 He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all.
32 And what He has seen and heard, that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony.
33 He who has received His testimony has certified that God is true.
34 For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure.
35 The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand.
36 He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”
The Daily Dose 