Make a Pathway for the Lord

Scripture Reading: Mark 1:1-11, Isaiah 40:3-5

Today's Treasure: "'In the desert prepare a way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it'" (Isaiah 40:3-5).

John the Baptist proclaimed, "prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him" (Luke 3:4). He was a fulfillment of Isaiah 40:3-5 as he called on Israel to repent of their sins and be baptized so they would be ready for the coming of the Messiah.

The original Greek word for "paths" is the word tribos, which means "a beaten pathway." In a personal way God wants us to prepare a path for Him to come and do a powerful work in our lives.

When I was growing up in Arkadelphia, Arkansas my family lived on a hill. My best buddy lived at the bottom of the hill and between our homes were many pine trees. We visited each other so much that we beat a path through the trees and grass.

I believe God's word to us is, Make a beaten pathway. Come to Me. Make it your practice to approach me over and over again, so that when I am ready to pour out a fresh work, the way will be made clear. Do you have debris standing in the way of God doing a powerful work in your life? In exactly the situation you're in, in exactly the state of health you may be in, whatever your circumstances may be, God wants to work powerfully. In John 5:17, Jesus tells us that His father is always at work, and He too is working with Him.

Once we have made a pathway in our lives for the work of God, we can expect a visitation from the One and Only. After John the Baptist completed his task of making a path for Jesus, he received an unexpected visitation from Jesus. Matthew tells us Jesus came to the Jordan to be baptized by John. "But John tried to deter him, saying, 'I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?' Jesus replied, 'Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.' Then John consented. And as soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him" (Matt. 3:14-16).

Beloved, lets ask God to show us if our paths are being made straight or if they are becoming overgrown with obstacles. What is abundant life more than having an encounter with the very One we were made to worship? Don't miss out on God's holy visitation because you never made a path for Him in your life.

Lord, I pray that the path between us would become clearer by the day. Ready me for Your powerful works, that I may be a display of Your splendor. Praise be to Your name! Amen.

Adapted from Jesus the One and Only, pages 57-58. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2002. Used by permission.