Luke 3:1-6 (NRSV)
Read Luke 3:1-6 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 3In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, Verse 2during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. Verse 3He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, Verse 4as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, "The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Verse 5Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; Verse 6and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.'"
Devotion
With all the power-players of the ancient world considered, as we saw yesterday God chose a humble prophet named John to call out to those on the margins—those in the wilderness. John prepares the way for Jesus with a promise that the hard obstacles will be made easier. We read, “Every valley shall be filled, / and every mountain and hill shall be made low. / and the crooked shall be made straight, / and the rough ways made smooth.” During Advent, how can we prepare the way for ourselves and others by removing obstacles? Where can you join in the work God is already doing to make the way smoother?
Prayer
Divine Love, prepare the way in our lives by making the rough ways smooth. Help us to join in your work to make the way easier for others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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