18 DECEMBER

PREPARE THE WAY (2)

“The crooked places shall be made straight and the rough ways smooth.” (Luke 3:5b)

The world is filled with evil. By their own will, men choose the glamour of satanic ways and without realising it, Satan holds them in captivity and they move deeper and deeper into the crookedness of sin. Many choose to be armed robbers, murderers, rapists, oppressors, and the likes. They choose to be violent, ungodly, wicked, reprobate, corrupt, immoral, and filled with hatred and bitterness.  Their consciences are seared and they walk in crooked ways, without any feelings of guilt.

Thanks be to God who has given man the way out. Christ took upon Him the sins of man, so that whosoever receives Him as Saviour and Lord receives a new life and the power of the Holy Spirit who straightens the crooked places and smoothens the rough ways.

The Holy Spirit changes the heart of man which Jeremiah describes as “desperately wicked”, guiding him in the paths of righteousness and truth. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). The rough ways of man in his natural state that make men behave like animals, with contentions, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, murders and drunkenness are made smooth, quiet and peaceable. The barriers to faith and growth in the spirit are broken down, so that man functions in his purpose as he is changed from glory to glory through the work of the Holy Spirit. Alleluia!

ACTION: Decide to be sensitive and submit to the power of Holy Spirit in you to straighten your crooked ways and smoothen all your rough edges.

PRAYER: Do as you have said, Oh Lord; let the crooked and rough ways in my life be straightened out, in Jesus’ name.