(Audio)
Prepare the way of the Lord,
make straight his paths.
We are called out into the desert, away from distractions. We are called, once there, to find out what obstacles exist within our own hearts. In the desert we discover it is not just those things which surround us that block God's way. Even when the circumstances don't conspire against us we have mountains and valleys within that make it harder for God to reach us. It is time to examine the roadblocks God encounters on his way to love us and to tear them down.
Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance.
And do not presume to say to yourselves,
'We have Abraham as our father.'
For I tell you,
God can raise up children to Abraham from these stones.
We are complacent. These are the valleys wherein we refuse to work and to endure by the grace God gives us. They often take the name of self-pity or despair. Or maybe we struggle because we try to solve the worlds problems through our own laborious climbing of mountains. But the LORD longs to meet us on level ground. He gives us the grace to move forward.
I am baptizing you with water, for repentance,
but the one who is coming after me is mightier than I.
I am not worthy to carry his sandals.
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
The LORD shows us what it looks like for the Spirit to rest on someone. Jesus demonstrates wisdom, understanding, counsel, strength, knowledge, and fear of the LORD in his own life. He in turn imparts the gift to us through the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and fire. This is the only origin of the fruit he asks of us. We cannot find this fruit in the peeks or valleys apart from him. We can only receive it when his highway of access to us is made smooth.
May the God of endurance and encouragement
grant you to think in harmony with one another,
in keeping with Christ Jesus,
that with one accord you may with one voice
glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
LORD, soften and level the ground of our hearts. Fertilize this ground again with your Spirit and fire that we may bear the truly amazing fruit we are meant to bear.
There shall be no harm or ruin on all my holy mountain;
for the earth shall be filled with knowledge of the LORD,
as water covers the sea.
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