Are we ready to prepare the way for Him ?

"Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him." Luke 3:4

Are we ready to prepare the way for the Lord as John the Baptist did?
John echoes the words of Isaiah the prophet "Prepare the way for the
Lord, make straight paths for him. Every valley shall be filled in,
every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become
straight, the rough ways smooth. And all people will see God's
salvation."

John explains clearly (Luke 3: 10-18) what we should do as he explained it to the crowd.

Are our paths straight? When we deal with others, do we have a
straight approach. John doubts, for he says "make straight paths". Let's
make straight dealings. Are our heart and mind a fruitful valley? John
doubts, for he says "every valley shall be filled in". Our heart and
mind should not be a barren valley. Let's fill out hearts with love and
compassion so that it will be fruitful. Are we like mountains and hills
with keeping our head above all others. John knows it, for he says
"every mountain and hill made low". Let's bow our heads before others.
Are we like crooked roads, or rough ways? John thinks so, for he says
"crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth". Let's get
out of the crooked roads and rough ways. Let's be straight forward so
that everyone around us can mingle with us without fear.

John does not say to 'make the way', but he says to 'prepare the way'.
The way between Him and us is already created by God. We have only to prepare it, so that He can come to us.

If we prepare the way for the lord, what is the benefit? "..all
people will see God's salvation". As John emphasizes, the benefit is not
only for us, but for all the people.

Let's prepare the way for the lord in this new year. Let that be our new
year resolution so that all people will see God's salvation.

Are we ready to be laid in the manger ?

“And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger;” (Luke 2:7)

Are we ready to be laid in the manger ?

Before taking a decision, let’s see what is a manger and what is the importance of being laid in that. Manger is a trough or box of carved stone or wood construction used to hold food for animals. The word comes from the French manger (meaning "to eat"), from Latin manducare (meaning "to chew" or “to drink”).

As Luke 2:7 says, baby Jesus was laid in the manger. It’s clear from the above definitions that, what ever laid in the manger is meant for eating, chewing or drinking. Was it a coincidence that Jesus later on gave his body and blood to the mankind to eat and drink ? I think it’s a great message from God to remind us the theory of share and care in each Christmas. Jesus sacrificed himself to save the sinners, otherwise He became the food for the humans to save them. Luke 22 and 1 Corinthians 11 says “eat, this is my body, which is broken for you..this cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.”There are a lot of people around us who are without food, shelter, clothes, and many other necessities. Are we ready to be laid in the manger so that the needy can share our food, shelter, clothes etc. Jesus sacrificed himself; are we ready to sacrifice at least a part of our luxuries to fulfill the necessities of the needy, or we continue to be a ‘dog in a manger’ ?

Dear brothers and sisters, try to be laid in the manger by God in this Christmas, so that we will be a help to the needy in the New Year. Wish you all a blessed New Year with the spirit of Christmas. I am sure we are ready to be laid in the manger by God.

Are we ready to help in carrying the cross ?

Jesus was carrying the heavy cross. Simon was forced to carry this cross. Matthew 27:32 says "As they went out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. They compelled this man to carry His cross."

Let's analyze the persons who carry the cross in the present day family, and whether some one else has to carry it to reduce the burden.

Are we ready to help our husbands when they carry the cross ?  Being the head of the family, husband may be the one who carry the cross. Husbands are supposed to work very hard for the benefit of the family. He is the one who meet all the necessities of the family, sometimes he even allow luxuries for the family members. He may forget about his well being for the benefit of the family. He may not spend for luxuries, so that that money can be used for the necessities or luxuries of wife or children. Dear wives, are you ready to lend a helping hand ? Or let him to carry the cross alone, as it's his responsibility ?

Are we ready to help our wives when they carry the cross? Now a days, the number of working wives are increasing. Most of them may be struggling to earn. They may be working late when they are supposed to spend the time with the family. Are we a type of an husband who relaxes at home after sending our wife for earning. Don't we have a responsibility as the husband to help her to carry the cross, so that her burden will be lesser ?

Are we ready to help our children to when they carry the cross ? Our children may have different issues. It may be in their studies, or it may be something else. Are we leaving them to solve the issues on their own ? Dear parents, don't we have a responsibility to help them solve their problems ? They may be working to earn money for their education. Being the parent, are we ready to lend a helping hand ?

Are we ready to help your parents when they carry the cross ? Our parents will be working very hard to earn for our living and education. They may not be living in luxury or some times even without the necessities of life. They are struggling to give us a better living. Being a son or daughter, are we ready to lend a helping hand ?

We should not be helping to carry the cross by force as Simon did. We should have the willingness to lend a helping hand to others who are carrying the 'cross'. At least to carry a part of that cross so as to give a relief to the person carrying it.

Are we ready to be the unleavened bread ?

Pessaha reminds us of the greatest sharing showed by our lord. Jesus took the unleavened bread, cut it and gave to the disciples. Here two points are worth analyzing; the unleavened bread, and the sharing of the same with others.

What are the characteristics of the unleavened bread ? It's made of flour, water, and salt. No other ingredients. Nothing is added to it to make it more tasty or luxurious. It's made in the hot mud oven.  It's the bread of the common man.

Are we ready to be an unleavened bread so that God can share you for others ? To be an unleavened bread, one should be pure in their deeds. We should not keep hatred in our minds. We should be straight forward.  We should be acceptable to the needy and poor. As the bread was made by putting in the hot mud oven, we should purify ourselves in the flame of love and compassion. As this bread is the food of the common man, we should be accessible to the common man. In other words, the needy or the poor should have access to us. They should get a feeling that we are a 'daily bread' which they can count on.

If we are the unleavened bread, then God will make use of us to share with others. He will use our qualities to help these sections of the society. As He cut the bread into pieces and gave to others, we have to share our attributes with others; our abilities to be used for the benefit of the society; our wealth to be shared with the poor. Are we ready to be the unleavened bread so that He can use to share for the needy ?

Let's submit ourselves to God to purify us to change as an unleavened bread so that He can share with others.

Are we ready to be a donkey ?

First Hosanna started with Jesus sending his disciples to bring a donkey to ride on. The Biblical message or implications of Hosanna is not included in this analysis as it's known to everyone. But I am trying to analyze the Hosanna in the present day life. Even though there were objects like donkey, carpet, flowers involved in the first Hosanna, the selection of donkey is the major one. Son of God could have ride on a chariot or a horse. But He selected a donkey. Do this selection of donkey have any relevance in today's life ?

Donkey is considered to be an animal which carries whatever his master put on him. It never complaints. Anyone can ride it. It bows it's head to take whatever is expected it to do.

Are we ready to be a donkey so that the son of God can ride on us ? To become a donkey, we have to bow our head before others; we should reject our stubborn nature; we should be willing to accept others. When we do these, others will call us as a donkey. People will tell each other, this guy is a donkey. But we have the answer, which Jesus told his disciples, "my lord and god have need of me to ride on". By bringing the baby donkey, none had used before, Jesus is aiming at us brothers and sisters who have not yet have the mentality to accept others or bow before others. For becoming a donkey, we have the clear answer, "my lord and god have need of me to ride on".

What will we gain by becoming a donkey to ride the son of god? People around us will lay red carpets on the way we walk, to accept and welcome us, and they will shower the flowers of love and blessings on us; because son of god is riding on us. They will say Hosanna to us, because we lowered our self as a donkey to become a peace maker.

Let's decide whether we are ready or not to lower our self as a donkey. Let's decide whether we allow the son of God to ride on us. Let's decide whether we walk on the red carpets of peace. Let's decide whether we need flowers of blessings to be showered on us. If the answer to these decisions are yes, then lower our self as a donkey. Then the son of God will ride on us.