Bible Reading: Isaiah 40:3
Today's Bible verse is a prophecy. Prophecies are God's messages for us about things that will happen in the future.
The prophecy in today's verse was written in about 740-700 BC. This prophecy talked about a person who was to be born in the future who would have the job of preparing people for the coming of Jesus Christ.
Now we know that this prophecy was talking about John the Baptist. It describes John as "one calling: 'In the desert prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God."
John was one "calling." He didn't whisper. He didn't simply speak. He called. To call means to speak bravely, boldly, loudly, forcefully, and energetically.
John bravely spoke about Jesus' coming. John boldly announced Jesus' approach. John loudly proclaimed that God was sending a Savior. John forcefully and energetically warned people to get ready for Jesus, the Messiah's arrival.
John was a simple man who wore clothes made of camel's hair and ate locusts and wild honey, yet John was confident and eager to deliver God's message to the people around him. John wasn't afraid to talk about Jesus. John was excited and wanted to share his anticipation of Jesus' pending arrival and salvation with anyone and everyone who would listen.
I hope you are as brave, bold, and energetic as John. I also hope you are eagerly telling the people around you about Jesus.
"This is he [John] who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: "A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'" Matthew 3:3
Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to bravely and boldly tell people about Jesus, just like John the Baptist. In Jesus' name. Amen.