29 September MATTHEW 3

Prepare the way for the Lord’s comingMatthew 3:13(NLT)

In those days John the Baptist came to the Judean wilderness and began preaching. His message was, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” The prophet Isaiah was speaking about John when he said, “He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the LORD’s coming! Clear the road for him!’"Isaiah 40:3(NLT) Listen! It’s the voice of someone shouting, “Clear the way through the wilderness for the LORD! Make a straight highway through the wasteland for our God!To prepare the way is to make it conducive or favourable for the Lord to come and operate in our lives. John the Baptist was commissioned for this very purpose: to herald the coming of Jesus Christ.Luke 3:3-6(NLT) Then John went from place to place on both sides of the Jordan River, preaching that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God for forgiveness. Isaiah had spoken of John when he said, “He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming! Clear the road for him! The valleys will be filled, and the mountains and hills made level. The curves will be straightened, and the rough places made smooth. And then all people will see the salvation sent from God.'"This preparation involves straightening highways, elevating valleys, levelling mountains, and smoothing rough terrains. At its core, this preparation starts in our hearts. God saw David as a man after His own heart, not because David was flawless, but because he earnestly sought after God. 1 Samuel 13:14(NIV) But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him ruler of his people, because you have not kept the LORD’s command.We ready our hearts by drawing near to God, trusting Him, and loving Him deeply. James 4:8(NLT) Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. Psalm 51:10(NLT) Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.In conclusion, preparing for the coming day of the Lord is a continuous journey. It's a cycle of dying to our old selves and being reborn, turning from sin and moving towards God, and continually shaping our minds and hearts in the likeness of Christ.