For the past few weeks I have been preparing for my daughters’ high school graduation party, which happened this past Saturday. There was lots of preparation inside and outside of my house that needed to be done. Thankfully I had the wonderful talents of my mother to assist me in this endeavor. There was lots of cleaning, planning, and purchasing in order to be prepared for 50+ people coming by to congratulate my daughter on a Saturday afternoon.
I was relieved after the party. Everything went well and everyone enjoyed themselves. And, I was left with a clean, decorated, and newly put together home. The preparation was hard work, but I got to enjoy the fruits of my labor well after everyone had left.
In today’s reading, Matthew 3 and 4, we read of John who was sent to prepare the way for Jesus.
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!”
Matthew 3:3
John the Baptist was a man sent from God. He was a prophet, a voice crying in the wilderness. He was aware of his call and he separated himself unto this call of God. His food and his dress was different.
John’s clothes were woven from coarse camel hair, and he wore a leather belt around his waist. For food he ate locusts and wild honey.
Matthew 3:4
John fasted and prayed and waited on God for all the details of his call and the work ahead of him. All the people came to him to listen and to obey the message from God. His message was so powerful and convicting, they did not even consider his strange dress or rough appearance. They knew he was a man of boldness.
Can you imagine spending your life preparing the way for Jesus? John the Baptist had one purpose: to prepare people to know Jesus and God’s Son, the Christ. John lived his life to let Jesus have the spotlight.
I put so much effort into preparing and planning for my party. It sure makes me question how much time I spend preparing and planning for Jesus.
John prepared himself daily by waiting upon God and getting his instructions from Him, so that He could prepare the people for Jesus. This should be our main focus above all else, to help prepare people to Know Jesus as Lord. Graduation to Heaven will be the culmination of our lives lived here on earth. We need to focus on preparing the way for ourselves and all around us every single day! We don’t know the appointed time for our graduation day to Heaven so we need to prepare daily.
Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 28:19