Listen to Devotion

In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’”

When I was a kid, I remember that we got the word that the President of the United States was coming to town. And, somehow or another, we even heard that his motorcade was going to be driving down the street right by my house. We were so excited! Our family waited by the sidewalk, looking down the road with anticipation, and then, sure enough, a procession of vehicles came whizzing by, with the president’s hand (or some unlucky staffer’s) waving to us!

When a president or, in ancient times, a king, comes to town, you need to make preparations. You must get the road ready for his arrival. That is the picture we see in the message of God’s Word we’re looking at for our devotion. A great king is coming to town, and the road needs to be cleared. “Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.”

John’s whole purpose in life was to prepare the world for Jesus. He was the opening act who came onto the scene just before the headliner. And the way he got everyone ready was by preaching to them. He preached God’s Word to them. With that Word of God, he shook them with his call to prepare their hearts.

That call is still applicable to you and me. Our hearts are often filled with things that don’t please God. We prioritize things that don’t really matter. We go our own way rather than listening to God’s Word. But John calls us to repent, to prepare our hearts! Turn away from that sin which so often entices your heart and turn to Jesus who has paid for it with death. Turn your heart to God with joy and see the forgiveness so freely given in our Savior. Ready your heart for Jesus!

Dear Jesus, thank you for taking away my sins. Help me to turn away from my sin each day and turn to you to find forgiveness and peace. Amen.

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All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.