19.1.25 Luke 3:1-6

19 January

Prepare

Father God, here I am, I open myself to you. Please reveal yourself to me today, grab my attention by your spirit. Amplify your word and supernaturally highlight the places you want me to find you. Take these moments, pockets of my day and help me grow in new levels of faith. 

Take a moment to be still. 

Read – Luke 3:1-6

 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar—when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene— during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness.

He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet:

“A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. And all people will see God’s salvation.’ “

Reflect

Many great fairy tale’s begin with “once upon a time”, but here Luke is giving us a timeline and a picture of what the times were like then.

Tiberius was an emperor known for his cruelty and severity. Pontius Pilate was also renowned for his brutal massacres of the Jewish people in Judea, and his insensitivity towards the Jews.

The rulers from the family of Herod the Great (Herod, Philip, and Lysanias) were known for their corruption and cruelty. Annas and Caiaphas were two corrupt high priests reminding us that the Jewish leaders were more interested in power politics than in serving God.

Enter the word of God through John – we can almost hear the sigh of relief! John’s great message was that things can be set right! The Messiah is here to do things that are too big for man: filling valleys, levelling mountains, setting crooked roads straight and rough roads smooth.

The Jews at that time thought that the problem was mainly “them” – that is, the Romans who politically oppressed them.

John made them see that when you got right down to it, the problem was really with  me, not  them.

 I  have to get right with God.

Jesus came to bring us life. And it starts first with us as individually.  

Be 

Thank you Father God that you chose to come to be with us.

Thank you Jesus that you made a way back to the Father.

Holy Spirit come and reveal in me where I need to turn my actions and heart back towards their Father.    

Become 

Using Psalm 139:23-24 as a prayer, talk to God and use this time for confession and returning to him.  

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.

See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Do

Imagine you are in a safe place, surrounded by the love of God.

Ask God to help you see yourself as he sees you.

Remember he sees you absolutely and with love. 

Practice:

Prayerfully consider an accountability relationship where you cannot hide.

Tell the truth about who you are and ask the person to pray for you and encourage you in Godly habits.