Matthew 3

In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

John’s theme was repentance.  He wanted people to realize their sinfulness and repent, or turn from it.  This is the first step that is necessary when someone wants to have a relationship with God. 1 John 1:9 promises us that “if we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.”  God doesn’t expect any of us to clean up our act before we come to Him.  He wants us to come to Him just as we are, and He will help us and guide us into all righteousness (right standing with God) through the Holy Spirit. “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come” (‭‭John‬ ‭16‬:‭13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬). Turn towards God in every area of your life today, and experience the abundant life that He has promised!

For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight’” (Isaiah 40:3), ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭3‬:‭3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

John prepared others to welcome Jesus.  His message of repentance was a harsh one, and he was especially harsh with the Pharisees and other religious leaders.  They had gotten sidetracked in their love for God. They followed all sorts of rules, but forgot that our primary purpose, equivalent to loving God, is to love others.  We can prepare others to welcome Jesus also, in whatever way God calls us to do this.  Not many of us will be called to deliver harsh words, i.e. stand on a street corner telling people that they need to repent or they will go to hell.  We do, however, need to look for loving ways to share our faith with others. In this way we can be used by God to prepare the way for the Lord in the lives of the people around us.