Daily Devotion for September 11, 2006

Walkin’ the Walk

 

"John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, "I am the voice of one calling in the desert, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.' John 1:23

 

As Christians we all are servants of God. One of our jobs as servants is to point those who do not know Jesus towards Him and salvation. It can be a thankless job and we can become targets for slings and arrows from believers and non-believers alike. But through all of this, we must continue to be true to our beliefs and our faith. We must be content to do what God wants us to do and let Jesus Christ be honored for it. By doing this, God will do great things through us.

 

 John the Baptist was a fearless and uncompromising messenger, touting the arrival of Jesus. He called himself, in the words of the Old Testament prophet Isaiah: A voice of one calling: "In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness
 a highway for our God (Isaiah 40:3).” He felt inadequate to be Jesus’ slave: “He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie (John 1:27).” Here was a man with a true intimate connection to God; a man that understood how the relationship was supposed to work.

 

 Ask yourself this question: Am I truly humble in the eyes of God concerning my area of service, or am I doing this for my own personal gain? I asked myself that question and I don’t know that I liked the answer. Serving God feels good and right and I get a great blessing from it. It is very easy for me to sit at my computer and write this devotion or to talk about Jesus with my Christian friends because I am in the safe haven and friendly surroundings of my faith. Being in that so-called ‘safe haven,’ I sometimes forget that it is not about me and I am not the one responsible for the work getting done. It is God and God alone. When was the last time that you stepped out in faith and ventured into your own ‘wilderness,’ to make straight the highway for our God?

 

 We don’t have to wear odd clothes or eat strange foods like John the Baptist did, but wouldn’t it be great if we could all have the same conviction and fire in our lives that he had? God does not guarantee an easy or safe life to those who serve him: in the end, John the Baptist was beheaded at the request of Herod’s wife. God has a purpose for each one of us. Let him know that you are willing to follow him and trust him completely.

 

Prayer
God, I want to draw closer to you. I am ready to follow you; to go where you want me to go and do what you want me to do. Through all of this, help me to remember that it is not about me. I give you glory and praise, Father, in all situations. Amen.

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