Make straight paths for the Lord – with Jesus?

Every day we're reading, listening to or watching part of the Bible together and sharing thoughts with you. Today it’s Bern Leckie:

What did I like about today's passage?

I’m still loving feeling this close to Jesus and his work again. From Luke’s point of view, it must have seemed so obvious that Jesus was special and so frustrating that not everyone he met understood what God was doing through him.

One thing I’m noticing is that many of those who embraced Jesus did so after he made their life clearer in purpose or dealt with a major problem like illness which was impeding their life. Following Jesus may have come with challenges, but why not follow someone who can deal with life’s difficulties like this?

This made me wonder about the prophet Isaiah’s word to “Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.” I’ve always read this like it meant to roll out a red carpet, moving stuff around to get ready for a royal visit, with John having a special role in pointing clearly to Jesus. He certainly lives up to this role.

But why does God need a straight path? Can’t he deal with a bit of rocky terrain? What if the prophecy is also about the paths we need, the removal of obstacles and straightening up which needs to happen in our lives if we are not just going to see Jesus but walk with him?

And what if we are not alone in making these paths, sorting ourselves out? I’m looking at things in the prophecy we would struggle to do – filling in a valley, levelling a mountain – and then looking again at the people who went with Jesus because he moved the immovable things in their lives. Is there more to this call to get ready for God’s salvation, and more to expect from a life following Jesus on a path he is showing us how to clear?

What did it show me about Father God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit?

God is bringing long-promised salvation through Jesus. This is not just about our final destination after death, but very much about the path we take through life. Jesus can clear obstacles and deal with opposition from every force which wants us to walk away from a life led by God and empowered by his presence. Jesus’ invitation to join him in our lifetimes can lead to incredible changes for us and our neighbours, including freedom and sight where we might have been held back and blind to what God can do with us.

What am I going to do differently as a result?

I’m reminded of Psalm 27, its writer’s awareness of a need for salvation and desire for “a straight path” as he asked God, “Teach me your way…” I need to reflect on what God might want to lead me and my family into. What have we written off as impossible or simply not seen? There is stuff he is doing, I’m sure, that we should to credit him more clearly too.

Who am I going to share this with?

Not sure. Over the summer, our pattern of praying with others has changed, but someone!