Prepare the Way
“I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way—
a voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him."
And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” -Mark 8:1-8
In his book, "The Seeking Heart," Fenelon writes "I am inspired by John the Baptist who completely forgot himself that he might think only of Christ. He pointed to Christ with his whole life. What an example he sets before you!"
John the Baptist's ministry was all about preparing the way for Jesus. In almost any crowd, John the Baptist would be called unique. He wore odd clothes, ate strange food, and preached an unusual message. He would not have agreed with the habit we have of evaluating people by how the dress-or by how they act. He would have insisted that we listen to what he had to say. What John wanted to do more than anything was to obey God, and he wasn't afraid to ask others to do the same. John realized he had a special role to play in the world. His job was to tell the world that the Savior was about to arrive, and John was totally committed to this purpose. John's message still applies to us today, in that not only do we need to "Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is near!" but we need to be like him in preparing the way for others to do the same. Maybe we should be more like the disciples and John the Baptist in our churches. Preparing the way instead of getting in the way, clearing the way instead of throwing more of the world in front of lost people. This is why we need to be different. Live our lives that shows that Jesus, and not to ourselves or what we did, but what Jesus did in us. We can't blend in with the world, how will lost people find us if we blend in?
We need to be showing people the right way to live. The scripture above says that he was the voice in the wilderness calling out, "Prepare the way of the Lord!" Many of us are in a wilderness experience, are you going to be that voice which says, "The Lord is coming to rescue prepare a way for Him!" How do we prepare for Him? I believe there are two main things, 1. Prayer, and 2. Teaching and living His Word. John was fleshing out Jesus, we need to be Jesus skin. God does not guarantee an easy or safe life to those who serve Him, but we are guaranteed to suffer, that's all in the Bible. Doing what God desires is the greatest possible life investment even if it does mean suffering. But thank the Lord that for the Christian we aren't staying here long, great is our reward in Heaven. In the meantime standing for the TRUTH is more important than life itself. John 8:32 says, "You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." I know that to be true, and again as of recently.
What are some ways you can clear and prepare the way so that people you encounter in your life will encounter Jesus? Are you standing out from the world? Are you telling the world about Jesus? Are you bearing fruit? Have you repented? The Kingdom of Heaven is near! Be a John the Baptist! Humble yourself before Him.
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