"a voice of
one calling in the wilderness,
'Prepare the way
for the Lord,
make straight
paths for him.' " (Mark 1:3)
Are we each not called to be like John the
Baptist? Perhaps not in the same scope or fashion, but in essence similar, in
that, our very lives become a “voice in
the wilderness” calling people in their next step in faith.
To “prepare.”
To make ready. To cultivate the ground.
That, with the Holy Spirit, our actions and
interactions and preparations would assist in preparing people to experience “the Lord” in new and meaningful ways.
Shouldn’t all preaching in some way “prepare the way” and “make straight paths for him”?
What if everything we did – our entire lives
were seen from this perspective? All tasks, even the seemingly smallest, would
suddenly become a component of a larger picture.
- · When I set up chairs for a gathering or class; I prepare the way.
- · When I study for a sermon; I prepare the way.
- · When I greet someone new with joy and care; I prepare the way.
- · When I stand up and communicate God’s Word; I prepare the way and make straight the paths….
God, may I engage
others with the same level of intentionality as John. May I see everything I
do, simply as a part of the larger picture of what you are doing in our community
and within individual life. May I never dismiss a task, no matter how small,
nor forget that it very well could be a part of preparing the way for You…
