When Luke first (crash) landed on Degobah he wasn’t ready. He wasn’t ready for the process that would take him from a glorified farm boy into the last Jedi. He was rash, impatient and almost unworthy of Yoda’s time. In order for Luke to really change he had to do some preparation work.
In order for us to really change we need to do some preparation work.
Yesterday I was reading Mark 1 and was struck by this passage:
“I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way”
“a voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.’”
John the Baptist was sent to prepare the way for Jesus. The nation of Israel wasn’t ready for Jesus. Centuries of waiting for the Messiah had left them unprepared for that Messiah. John the Baptist was sent to “make straight paths for him”, to ready and cultivate the hearts of the people.
This passage left me with the question: what are you doing to make straight paths for Jesus in your life?
Unfortunately, when it comes to Jesus’ work in our lives, we’re a lot like Luke when he first landed on Degobah.
Our hearts aren’t ready.
Our minds are in the wrong place.
We’re focused on the wrong things.
In short, we’re not ready. Our lives haven’t been prepared for what Jesus wants to do in our lives.
We need to make straight paths for Jesus.
Jesus wants to work in our lives; he wants to transform us from farm boys and girls into something greater. We don’t change ourselves; Jesus is and always has been the one who changes people. We can, however, make straight paths in our lives. We can cultivate our lives and prepare ourselves for Jesus’ redeeming and transforming work.
That work will look different for each of us and may include prayer, reading the Bible, fasting or any other number of spiritual disciplines. In the end, though, it’s not what we do that matters as long as we’re making straight paths. We need to recognize Jesus’ desire to work in our lives and do everything we can to help him in that desire.
Especially if that means running with a Muppet in a backpack.
How do you make straight paths for Jesus in your life?
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