John the Baptist said in Matthew 3: 3, for this he was spoken by the prophet Isaiah when he said, The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. John earned his name ‘the Baptist’ by his work of baptism because he showed dedication to his ordained work. 1 Corinthians 10:31 says so, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
What God wants of us
Some of us feel shy of what God has ordained for us. Unfortunately, it is through those jobs that God will glorify his name. God always gives us a humble start so we may learn humility before he exalts us. Those who blossom overnight wither by the same speed because they have no firm roots. Jesus had a very humble beginning until God exalted him after thirty years of life. His ministry lasted for only three years yet his works are incomparable. The same was with Apostle Paul, Peter, Abraham, David, Joseph, Moses, Elijah just to mention a few. Wealth or power should not dictate our calling but God’s will.
The people said in Matthew 13: 55; Mark 6: 3, is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas and not his sisters here with us?
James 4: 6 says God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. James 4: 10 also says humble yourselves before the Lord and he will exalt you. We cannot know better than God whose plan for our lives always end in expected future. 1 Peter 5: 6 says humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that in due time he may exalt you. John the Baptist loved his work yet some of us reject God’s choice for us because we feel too proud.
What steps must we take?
As the first step towards knowing God’s will for our lives, we must acquire knowledge of what God wants of us. Proverbs 22: 12 says the eyes of the Lord keep watch over knowledge, but he overthrows the words of the faithless. Also Ecclesiastes 2: 26 says for to the man who please him God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he gives the work of gathering and heaping, only to give to one who pleases God. We must empty our hearts, study his word, acquire biblical knowledge, be prayerful, and live a godly and righteous life based on biblical instructions and at the direction of the Holy Spirit.
Second, upon acquiring divine knowledge of God’s purpose for us, we must discharge that duty with dedication, faithfulness and enthusiasm. 2 John 1: 8 says look to yourselves, that you may not lose what you have worked for, but may win full reward. Unless God guides us to what he wants us to do, we will most likely always moan and be never stable. Revelation 2:10 says be faithful unto death, and I (Christ Jesus) will give us the crown of life. In whatever job we do, God must be first.
Third, we must not compare ourselves to others but rather strive to excel in our career. We were born individually and separately not as rivals but in God’s image of love and care. We shall give account separately and individually to God based on God’s assigned vocations as a calling. 1 Peter 4: 5 says they (all of us) will give account to him (Jesus Christ) who is ready to judge the living and the dead. The parable of the talents in Matthew 25: 13-30 where God will expect each of us to individually render account for our different talents must be a stack warning to us (paraphrased). When shall we stop chasing the wind and be content with God’s gifts and talents to us?
Fourth, we must be submissive to God in prayer for knowledge, direction and wisdom. Romans 8: 7 says for the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, indeed it cannot. It is not what we say or do that matters but the state of our hearts before the all-knowing God. Do we want to know and to obey God’s will and purpose for our lives? If yes, then let us start with a humble beginning as John the Baptist did and God will see us through.
The voice in the wilderness
John said in Matthew 3: 3; Mark 1:3; Luke 3: 4; John 1: 23 says the voice of one crying in the wilderness: prepare the way of the Lord, make his path straight. The voice instructed three things, first the cry of awakening; second, to prepare the Lord’s way; and three, to make the Lord’s path a straight one.
First: Crying in the wilderness is an awakening call away from hopelessness. Christ who was born in a manger and grew up as a carpenter was believed to have nothing too spectacular to show in Nazareth. Nathaniel said to Philip about Jesus Christ in John 1: 46 can anything good come out of Nazareth? Yet Christ Jesus gave hope to the world for all those who wanted a hope and a future. Matthew 4: 16 says the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned. Jesus is the light of the world. Christ epitomizes hope so fear not.
Second: To prepare the Lord’s way meant to prepare the hearts of men to receive the gospel of Jesus Christ as the savior of the world. The way of the Lord is righteousness through repentance and faith in Christ Jesus. We are called today to prepare the way of the Lord by our words, our thoughts, and our deeds all based on the gospel. We only prepare the way but Christ Jesus gives the passage. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 3:6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. Are we preparing God’s way?
Third: To make his path straight means we must be examples of righteous living by which others would follow without being obstructive. 1 Timothy 5:20 says for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear. 2 Timothy 4:2 says preach the word, be urgent in season and out of season, convince, rebuke, and exhort, be unfailing in patience and in teaching. We must not give heed to myths or to commands of men who reject the truth. Are we straight with God?
Christ must increase
John the Baptist said in John 3:30 he (Christ Jesus) must increase but I (John) must decrease. John the Baptist humbly acknowledged the superiority of Christ over him who was a servant of Christ. He prayed for Jesus’ superiority in authority, power and dominion to increase above all. He did not count himself equal or superior to Jesus Christ because he knew that age nor when he started work or how he arrogates power or rivalry have no place in divine matters but what God has ordained.
John’s heart was joyful for who Jesus was. Are our hearts equally joyful when others excel above us? How often do we pray that Christ should increase in our lives so we may be humble even to those who are younger or subordinate to us? Do we pray that those below us should excel beyond us or we see them as threats to us? Our fears and basis for rivalry and hate are not worthy of God. Philippians 2: 3 says do nothing from selfishness or conceit, but in humility count others better than yourselves. We must focus on how Christ can increase in our lives to his glory in his holy name.
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus Christ, we come to you as sinners yearning for your salvation of our souls. We have heard your cry from the wilderness of sin and gloom. We have heard your caution against hopelessness and are ready to prepare hearts to receive you, and straighten our path through righteousness by the Holy Spirit. Humble us to accept your plan for our lives while you wash and save us in your blood in your holy name, Amen!!
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