{"id":14565,"date":"2026-09-22T07:48:28","date_gmt":"2026-09-22T11:48:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/?post_type=oyb&#038;p=14565"},"modified":"2026-09-22T07:48:28","modified_gmt":"2026-09-22T11:48:28","slug":"prepare-the-way","status":"publish","type":"oyb","link":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/oyb\/prepare-the-way","title":{"rendered":"PREPARE THE WAY"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cA voice cries: \u2018In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.\u2019\u201d (Isaiah 40:3 ESV).<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Isaiah spoke to God\u2019s people with a message of comfort and coming deliverance. Their future exile would not last forever. The LORD Himself would come to lead His people home, pictured like a king traveling on a great highway through the wilderness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The imagery was much like road construction today. Valleys had to be filled, mountains cut down, crooked routes straightened, and rough ground smoothed so the king\u2019s road would be ready. Isaiah declared that no obstacle would stand in the way of God\u2019s saving purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This prophecy looked beyond Israel\u2019s return from Babylonian captivity. Centuries later, all four Gospels identified John the Baptist as this \u201cvoice\u201d crying in the wilderness. When asked who he was, John answered, \u201cI am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, \u2018Make straight the way of the Lord.\u2019\u201d (John 1:23) John prepared the way for Jesus by calling people to repentance. Isaiah had said, \u201cPrepare the way of the LORD,\u201d and John prepared the way for Christ. The implication was profound: the LORD whose coming Isaiah announced had come to His people in Jesus!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yet Isaiah\u2019s vision also looked ahead to the day when \u201cthe glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together\u201d (Isa. 40:5). The King who came once in humility will come again in glory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">John fulfilled a unique prophetic role, but we too can share in the mission of preparing people for the coming King. Jesus has come, died for our sins, risen from the grave, and promised to return.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So we can prepare the way first in our own hearts. We repent of pride, asking the Lord to straighten what has become crooked, and remove whatever hinders obedience to Christ. Then we can prepare the way in the lives of others by proclaiming the gospel, living holy lives, loving our neighbors, and pointing people to Jesus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We do not know the day of His return, but we can be certain of His coming. Therefore, let us use our voices to proclaim the coming of the Lord.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The King is coming. Prepare the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>PRAYER<\/strong>: Dear Father, prepare our hearts for the return of Your Son. Make us faithful witnesses who proclaim His gospel, live for His glory, and help others see the way to Jesus clearly. Keep us watchful, holy, and ready for our coming King. In Jesus\u2019 name, amen.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u201cA voice cries: \u2018In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.\u2019\u201d (Isaiah 40:3 ESV). Isaiah spoke to God\u2019s people with a message of comfort and coming deliverance. Their future exile would not last forever. The LORD Himself would come to lead His people home, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","meta":{"audio":"https:\/\/garycombsorg.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Sep-22-2026-at-7_42_39AM-enhanced-v2.mp3"},"categories":[],"tags":[],"scripture-book":[1290],"scripture-chapter":[1373],"oyb_day":[1792],"class_list":["post-14565","oyb","type-oyb","status-publish","hentry","scripture-book-isaiah","scripture-chapter-1373","oyb_day-september-22"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/oyb\/14565","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/oyb"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/oyb"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14565"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14565"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14565"},{"taxonomy":"scripture-book","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/scripture-book?post=14565"},{"taxonomy":"scripture-chapter","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/scripture-chapter?post=14565"},{"taxonomy":"oyb_day","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/oyb_day?post=14565"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}