“John will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous – to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” [Luke 1:14-17]
John was expected. He was to be Isaiah’s voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. [Isaiah 40:3] John’s role was not to preach the gospel or to reap a harvest, but to engage with those around him so they were ready for Jesus when He arrived. He was to prepare the way. And he did it very effectively. Most of us are called to do a similar thing; to direct people to Jesus, the One who would be their Lord and Saviour. Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, convicts people in their hearts.
He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God
Prayer:
My greatest calling, Lord Jesus, is to prepare the way for You. Fill me with the Holy Spirit, as John was filled, that I might make ready whoever You lead me to, prepared for Your Lordship in their lives. All to Your glory, Amen.