Wednesday; September 27

When the Old Testament prophet Isaiah looked into the future of his nation he saw someone who was going to have a huge impact on believers.  In the midst of his prophecy to the Jews he promised, “A voice is calling, ‘Clear the way for the Lord in the wilderness; make smooth in the desert a highway for our God.’” (Isaiah 40:2)  Several centuries later, John the Baptist would claim this responsibility when he said, “I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.” (John 1:23) 
John the Baptist would play a couple of roles, serving as a herald for Jesus as well as a conscience for the people of God.  John was willing to hold his people accountable for their apostasy but he also offered hope that something new and better was on the horizon.  He preached a message intent on cleaning up the way people were living and pointing toward Someone who would change the world – both physically and spiritually.
What would happen if we, as Christians, took a page out of John’s life?  It is easy to criticize the evil in the world, but there needs to be another message – hope.  Criticism isn’t the same thing as evangelism because evangelism does more than just identify the problems, it points to a solution. 
The other day I heard a song that reminds us that it is better to hold out a hand than point a finger.  Does our world need a voice crying out today?  Let’s make sure to balance our analysis with an answer.
Think About It!

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