Matthew 3:1 – In those days John the Baptist came to the Judean wilderness and began preaching. His message was, 2 “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” 3 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!’”

4 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. 5 People from Jerusalem and from all of Judea and all over the Jordan Valley went out to see and hear John.

6 And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River. (NLT)

I’ve always found John the Baptist to be an interesting character.  I picture him as an ancient Middle Eastern mountain man!  Living as he did, and dressed as he was, he must have been a sight to behold.  His message, however, is what truly makes him interesting.  Today, I’ve chosen the New Living Translation because I like the way John’s message reads. 

He tells the people to prepare the way for Lord, and then he says something that really catches my attention: “Clear the road for him!”

First – prepare the way – our theme in 2020 was walking in the way. It is, indeed, a biblical theme.  We want to be people of the way. We want our lives to reflect the way of Jesus.  But to do this – to walk in the way – we’ve got to clear away those things that would keep us from walking in the way. 

Then note what John the Baptist says – clear the road for him!  Clear the road speaks to me.  It speaks to me of the clutter that we so often let take over our lives.  It speaks to me of the things that we let come between us and our relationship with God. 

Later, in this passage, John speaks of Jesus baptizing with the Holy Spirit.  We all need the Holy Spirit in our lives, for the Spirit directs us our steps.  We can never be led by the Holy Spirit, however, if we allow the clutter of life keep us from focusing on Godly things. We literally need to clear the road!

What are those things that are preventing us from living life guided by God’s Holy Spirit?  Today, let’s take some time to consider those things that are taking us away from the fullness of a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. 

Posted by Ramón Torres