Monday Thought – September 7, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

"Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. And all mankind will see God's salvation." (Luke 3:4-6)

This prophetic word from Isaiah that Luke is fulfilled in John the Baptist. Isaiah described what John would do -- make a smooth path for the Messiah to come. There are some amazing ways God used him to do that.

John preached a message of repentance, calling those who came to hear him to a renewed relationship with the Lord. Multitudes came to hear John. There was something about John that attracted people to him and his message. It was not John's charisma -- it was the authenticity of his faith and message. Jesus drew His first disciples from those whose hearts were touched by John's message. John prepared the way for Jesus.

John baptized Jesus and confirmed His identity by testifying to the miracles that surrounded His baptism. Jesus' baptism was the first act of His public ministry and His introduction to many who would become His followers. The dove alighting on Jesus and the voice of God were the signs that John saw and heard. They confirmed in John's heart that Jesus was the Messiah ... a confirmation he would pass on to others.

Shortly after His baptism, Jesus walked toward John again and John pointed to Jesus and marked Him as "the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world." (John 1:29) John's disciples standing near heard John and they began to follow Jesus. John prepared the way for Jesus by delivering some of his disciples to Jesus.

John was an odd man ... with an obscure role ... a temporary assignment ... and he willingly accepted what God called him to do and was used in mighty ways. Your assignment may be less significant than John's. It may be more obscure. It may be more out of the limelight than John's. Let John's faithfulness to his assignment be a challenge to be faithful to yours.

His, by Grace, Steve