Our scripture this morning is Isaiah 40:3 (NKJV).
The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord; Make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”
I have a personal connection to this scripture – it is part of the text for the opening tenor solo of “The Messiah” that I have sung many times. The full passage speaks of God’s care and comfort for His people and our responsibility to “prepare the way of the Lord”. God loved us so much He sent His Son, a part of Himself, to be with us and show us the way to salvation.
This scripture was written to a people who had suffered the loss of their land and their freedom to a foreign oppressor. God was still with them and promised there would be a Savior to redeem them. While the Lord works on His own timeline, His word is our ultimate security.
Our call is no different than it was to the people centuries ago: “make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” Jesus came to save us and make us part of the kingdom work. In Matthew 5:14 He tells us we are “the light of the world.” Let us go in His name with the light of our faith burning brightly!
Gracious God, we are humbled and amazed that You call us to be part of what You are doing in creation. Bless us to be light bearers in a dark world that desperately needs Your love. Amen.
