Read Luke 3:1-6

Friday

Read Luke 3:1-6

3  It was the fifteenth year of the rule of the Emperor Tiberius; Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip was ruler of the territory of Iturea and Trachonitis; Lysanias was ruler of Abilene, ²and Annas and Caiaphas were high priests. At that time the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert. ³So John went throughout the whole territory of the River Jordan, preaching, “Turn away from your sins and be baptized, and God will forgive your sins.” ⁴As it is written in the book of the prophet Isaiah:

“Someone is shouting in the desert:

‘Get the road ready for the Lord;

make a straight path for him to travel!

⁵Every valley must be filled up,

every hill and mountain levelled off.

The winding roads must be made straight,

and the rough paths made smooth.

⁶The whole human race will see God’s salvation!’ ”

Think

Verses 4-6 are a prophecy that Isaiah made about the return of the exiles in Babylon to their home in Jerusalem.  Even though the people were home - they were not home yet.  God had bigger plans - as John announces the coming of Jesus we learn about God coming to live with his people.

Pray

As we prepare for Christmas, get our roads ready for you - fill up the valleys, lower the hills and mountains, straighten the crooked paths - make my rough places smooth as I open my heart to receive you, my king, again.