Advent 2024 - Day 11
Day 11: Wednesday, December 11, 2024
Primary Scripture: Luke 3:4-5
Supporting Scriptures: Isaiah 57:14; Isaiah 62:10
My boyhood friend owned a mobile tackle supply business. Every morning he loaded his van and would drive hundreds of miles from one bait-and-tackle shop to the next. At each stop he'd explain the importance of what he was offering. Some people were interested and others not so much. He never tired and eventually built a very large wholesale business and retired early. Like my friend, John the Baptist understood the value in pressing forward with the message. Not all would listen, but those that did were forever changed.
John's mission was to engage with everyone and have them accept his message and to understand the importance of what he was announcing. "Prepare the way for the Lord!"
God wants to change our hearts. Preparing the way for Jesus means removing anything that hinders His presence in our lives.
The images from Isaiah 57:14 are often more descriptive. He urges us to “build up the highway” and remove every obstacle from God’s people. In Isaiah 62:10, he tells us to prepare the way by clearing a path. These passages challenge us to examine our lives: Are there “mountains” of pride or selfishness that need to be leveled? Are there “crooked paths” of sin that need to be made straight?
Advent is a season of preparation. It’s a time to repent, to clear away distractions, and to focus on making room for Christ. As we reflect on these scriptures, let us invite God to do the work of transformation in our hearts so that we may be ready to receive Him fully.
Let's Pray:
Lord, prepare our hearts for Your coming. Remove the obstacles in our lives that keep us from fully experiencing Your presence. Help us to walk on paths of righteousness and to live in a way that honors You. Transform us, Lord, so that we may reflect Your love and grace to the world.
Amen.
Primary Scripture: Luke 3:4-5
Supporting Scriptures: Isaiah 57:14; Isaiah 62:10
My boyhood friend owned a mobile tackle supply business. Every morning he loaded his van and would drive hundreds of miles from one bait-and-tackle shop to the next. At each stop he'd explain the importance of what he was offering. Some people were interested and others not so much. He never tired and eventually built a very large wholesale business and retired early. Like my friend, John the Baptist understood the value in pressing forward with the message. Not all would listen, but those that did were forever changed.
John's mission was to engage with everyone and have them accept his message and to understand the importance of what he was announcing. "Prepare the way for the Lord!"
God wants to change our hearts. Preparing the way for Jesus means removing anything that hinders His presence in our lives.
The images from Isaiah 57:14 are often more descriptive. He urges us to “build up the highway” and remove every obstacle from God’s people. In Isaiah 62:10, he tells us to prepare the way by clearing a path. These passages challenge us to examine our lives: Are there “mountains” of pride or selfishness that need to be leveled? Are there “crooked paths” of sin that need to be made straight?
Advent is a season of preparation. It’s a time to repent, to clear away distractions, and to focus on making room for Christ. As we reflect on these scriptures, let us invite God to do the work of transformation in our hearts so that we may be ready to receive Him fully.
Let's Pray:
Lord, prepare our hearts for Your coming. Remove the obstacles in our lives that keep us from fully experiencing Your presence. Help us to walk on paths of righteousness and to live in a way that honors You. Transform us, Lord, so that we may reflect Your love and grace to the world.
Amen.
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