[message_box]”The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Make straight the way of the Lord.’“[/message_box]
Read // John 1:6-8, John1:19-28
John’s mission is our mission. When we choose to follow Christ and proclaim his love and truth, just like John, we are to “bear witness of the light, that all through [us] might believe.” We too, wait for Christ to be among us so we are to “make straight the way of the Lord.” He is the word and He has made us His voice. This is a tremendous responsibility that is asked of us. In it God provides the very best way to fulfill His commandment to love one another as ourselves. What better way is there to love your neighbor than to be the voice of their eternal salvation? Although daunting, this responsibility is also a blessing we are allowed to give to one another.
This passage seems to lack one crucial aspect: how do we carry this out? How do we bear witness and cry out? John displays the most important piece–be humble. Point away from yourself and toward Jesus, toward His cross. John was asked, “Who are you?”, “What do you say about yourself?”.
He answers with,
“I am not the Christ”
“I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Make straight the way of the Lord.'”.
“It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.”
John denies his importance. His focus is not on himself but on his Christ. This is the first and most important action of your mission and relationship with your Christ. Love and truth can only be found and expressed through humbleness.
Do // Challenge yourself to answer questions like:
1. Where are you not willing to be humbled?
2. Where do your self-protecting fears lie?
3. Are you willing to be humiliated for the Lord?
“Humility is not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less.” -C.S. Lewis
by Scott Cameron