Friday, February 6, 2009

Today's Passage: Matthew 3

For years now, Joy has been talking about turning a corner of our backyard into a garden. She likes the idea of growing her own produce (and really likes the idea of saving money). I, on the other hand, don't like the idea of building a garden in the slightest. I've tried to dig in our backyard before, and like most of the soil around here, it does not take long before you hit clay or rock. I don't mind the idea of a garden growing (or eating fresh strawberries), but the idea of preparing the soil for the harvest seems like more work than the reward.

John the Baptist had the job of preparing the soil for harvest...and it doesn't sound like it was an easy job. He wore clothes made of camel hair, which can't be very comfortable. He ate locusts, which can't be very tasty. He lived in the desert, which can't be very nice at all. Not only that, but a part of his job was to confront the powerful leaders of the day with the truth, which was not the safest thing to do. Yet he did all this and more with a passion for preparing hearts for the coming truth and salvation of Jesus Christ.

Sometimes preparing the soil seems like too much work. It's hard to live as salt and light in a world of darkness. It's hard to talk to people about the Christian walk when they don't understand or might ridicule our beliefs. It's hard to step out in faith and share the love of Christ. Many times, we don't even get to see an immediate result...and we may never be the ones to see the harvest. But for every growing plant, someone prepared the soil...and for every life changed by Christ, someone steps out in faith and makes the soil more and more receptive for the Word of God to take seed.

Where are you preparing the way? Where is your desert, where you are calling "Prepare the way for the Lord?" Who is God laying on your heart today to pray that His love might change their life forever?