Advent…Prepare the Way

In the early church, the book of Acts most often refers to the Gospel of Jesus as the “Way”, and the apostles described themselves as followers of “the Way.” John the Baptist was called the forerunner, of whom it was prophesied, “This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:

“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.’” -Matthew 3:3

And what is this “Way” that John prepared? That One that generations upon generations would chose to follow: Jesus Christ, the King of Kings. He who would bring a new message, a new “Way” to live: bringing the Kingdom of God to us, here on earth. I think it can be easy for Christians to lose sight of the “Way” and stray from the true Gospel message. Divine Love came down one blessed night, humbled Himself from His place of ruling and reigning in Heaven, to live a life of sacrifice and human suffering, all to give us a better “Way” of living.

Jesus spent the entirety of His ministry teaching and preaching the Kingdom of God, a new way to think and behave. A “Way” of life that would look very different from the world we had once known, and it all began by receiving the gift of salvation. A gift that could not be earned, a gift that was not based on behavior, but purchased through the death and resurrection of the only “Way” to be reconciled to the Father. I would encourage you to meditate on this life-transforming, eternity-enduring gift, for the “Way” Christ has made for you, to truly live in abundance, joy and gratitude. And not just someday when you go to Heaven, but today.

Every advent I read the Gospel of Matthew. I urge you to do the same and notice how often Jesus teaches about this new Kingdom that is being established. Notice how different it is from what the world claims to be real or true. Even the religious leaders of biblical times struggled to grasp this new “Way” of living. One of the most important Kingdom realities is that only the hungry will hear and see the “Way”. And only those who endure the tests and trials of this world will stay on the narrow path that leads to a victorious life of Kingdom health, wealth and destiny.

So, I invite you to spend some time with the Holy Spirit today and ask Him to reveal to you, from a new or fresh perspective, how to align with the Kingdom of God and truly prepare your heart to receive the “Way”, this blessed season, in remembrance of the moment when everything changed. When the Kingdom of Heaven became an ever-present gift to receive and experience, here on the earth…and on into eternity. O Come, O Come Immanuel, God with us.