Prepare for The Good News
Sitting here, staring at this screen… overwhelmed at the mightiness of my Lord. How do you even begin to write about One whose sandals you are not worthy to tie?
I will never forget the very last day of my senior year in college, I laid out on the floor of my little log cabin absolutely immovable and in terrible pain. Pulling out all of my Christmas decorations instead of tackling that last final paper of my college LIFE seemed completely logical. I mean, it was Christmas. I was living in a for real LOG CABIN and my college life was just hours from being over. Basically, I was home for the holidays and DONE. But, really not quite.
In all the tinsel slinging and garland hanging I bent over funny, grabbing and picking, it clicked or snapped or something. Whatever it was that happened, I was left breathless on the floor crawling to the phone for help. My family came to the rescue, praise the Lord! Totally confused at the situation they had walked in to but honestly, not really surprised…
Bless them, the following 24 hours, they rolled me, loved me, massaged me, carried me, called my professors, maneuvered me back and forth, and finished writing one amazing final paper for me. My dad even drove an hour to my college and hand-delivered the final himself. Seriously. It was a mess and wild and well… normal and expected. See, preparation has never been my strong suit. I’m a last minute, winging life kinda gal and this was one of many situations where it did not serve me well.
So, as I read the scriptures here in Mark, I can’t help but think of the importance placed on John preparing the people for purpose. Not only did John get them ready for Christ to come on to the scene, but the people themselves prepared for the awaited Messiah. See, before Christ had even shown up, they were preparing! There they were out by the Jordan confessing their sins and being baptized! They were prepared for an event that had been promised to them down through the generations. They knew what was headed there way and they wanted to be found ready. I can’t help but consider the confusion that could have taken place had their hearts and minds not been set to His coming.
“I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way”
“a voice of one calling in the wilderness, Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’”
4 And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. 6 John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” Mark 1:1-8
Join us this month as we read through scripture together preparing for purpose and keeping a fierce focus on Christ. If you are just jumping in, no worries friend! Download the plan below and keep a copy in your Bible, on your fridge or at work. Just join us ~ I am not one to do things alone!
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