The Straight Way

Daily Reading: John 1

Scripture Focus: Make straight the way of the Lord. (John 1.23)

Devotional Thought: John the Baptist was the one whom God sent to “prepare the way for the Lord” (Matthew 3.3).  As he did that, he told his listeners to “make straight the way for the Lord” (v. 23).  What does a straight way look like?

• Simple.  Many have sought to make the way to God complicated.  Being complicated, then, it can be a mystery.  Being a mystery means that I have a secret, and you need to do it my way.  Jesus came to reveal God’s way.

• Open.  I remember many years ago when I “introduced” Lana, my wife, to the long straight stretches of road in northwestern Ohio.  On one drive home on U.S. Route 6, I asked Lana, “How far do you think that stoplight is up there?”  I think she guessed something less than a mile.  Being from WV, she hadn’t seen too many stoplights from a distance of longer than that!  I think it was 4 miles.  "Wow!  How can we see so far away?"  "Because the way is open."

• Level.  "The ground at the foot of the cross is level."  No one is more important than another.  All come to God through the blood of Jesus.  Rich and poor, old and young, powerful and powerless – all walk the same path to God.

• True.  Jesus said that we would know the truth and the truth would set us free.  Jesus travels along the highway of truth, all truth – scientific, historic, psychological, sociological, economic, and spiritual - and all truth leads to him.

• Direct. “It’s me!  It’s me!  It’s me, O Lord, standin’ in the need of prayer!”  No need for an intermediary.  We need to do business directly with Jesus!

Make a straight way for the Lord into your heart!

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for the straight way.  Help me to travel that way by faith.  Walk with me along the path, O Lord, to guide me and correct me.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 32.8-11

8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.

9 Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you.

10 Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the LORD.

11 Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!