Devotion Booklets for Seasons of the Church Year 2016 | Page 23

Monday—December 12th

Prepare the Way!
Isaiah 40:3-5
Living in Atlanta, I pay attention to the news, particularly traffic reports. Traffic is awful here,
especially when there are events downtown. When the US President paid a visit, the radio
announcer warned, “Stay away from downtown!” because the secret service had blocked
roads so the President’s ride from the airport was unobstructed.

A long, long time ago, kings would send messengers to tell the people, “Prepare the way for
the king!” People would then grab shovels and buckets to level rough patches in the road.
Isaiah the prophet predicted something similar. “A messenger will come to tell you the king is
coming!” God kept that promise and, 700 years later, sent John the Baptist, “the voice in the
desert.” John preached, “Repair the roads!” - but he wasn’t talking about potholes. He wanted
them to repair their hearts to receive Jesus as their Savior King.
Did you know that Isaiah was also predicting your pastor, parents, and everyone else who
shares the Word of God with you? God sends them to say to you, “Prepare the way! The king
is coming!” I need to hear this message as I prepare for Jesus’ arrival - not just in Bethlehem,
but also as King on the Last Day. The King is coming to take us to his kingdom in heaven!
I need to hear this message because my heart often makes the road to welcome Jesus
impassable. My sinful attitudes build mountains when I think, “I don’t really need to sit down
with God’s Word today. I have so much to do. There’s the party to plan, the house to decorate
(I want to win the subdivision Christmas contest this year!), the gifts to purchase and wrap, the
project at work to finish before the end of the month. Besides, I’ve heard the Word before.”
Only Jesus can bulldoze those mountains away... and he does. When we hear the call to
repent (from Isaiah, John, pastor, teacher, parent) then we will turn from those sinful attitudes
toward the cradle and cross and empty tomb. We will turn to water and word, to bread and
wine, body and blood, and know we will hear and receive God’s promise, “Your sins are
forgiven.” There we see our Savior King, whose sacrifice plows down the mountains of your
sin, whose blood fills in the potholes of your guilt and whose perfect life levels the roads of
your hearts. He prepares your hearts to receive him as your king.
PRAYER:
Dear Jesus, as I prepare for you to arrive as my King, remove all of the obs tacles that distract
me from my focus on you. Bless the messengers you send with faithfulness. Amen.
ACTIVITY:

Find a map of your town/city. Locate the nearest airport and map the easiest route (without
using Google) for someone important to travel from the airport to your home.

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