How can we "build up the road" in our spiritual lives today? Scripture snapshot “ ‘Build up, build up, prepare the road! Remove the obstacles out of the way of My people!’ ” (Isaiah 57:14) Setting the scene • Isaiah spoke to a nation weighed down by idolatry yet still loved by God. • The command to “build up” is repeated for emphasis, showing divine urgency. • The goal: clear a straight, safe path so God’s people can return to vibrant fellowship with Him. Why building up the road matters • A well-kept road keeps us from stumbling (Proverbs 4:26; Hebrews 12:13). • It signals that God’s presence is welcomed and expected (Isaiah 40:3). • It turns spiritual traffic jams into highways of grace, blessing family, church, and community. Typical obstacles that need removing • Unconfessed sin — hidden potholes that damage spiritual suspension (1 John 1:9). • Compromise in doctrine — gravel that skids us off course (2 Timothy 1:13-14). • Bitter or careless speech — road debris that punctures fellowship (Ephesians 4:29). • Neglect of Scripture and prayer — erosion that slowly collapses the shoulder (Psalm 119:105). • Busyness without worship — rush-hour congestion that leaves no space for God (Luke 10:41-42). Five practical ways to build up the road today 1. Examine and clear the path • Set aside regular time for honest self-inspection under the light of God’s Word (Psalm 139:23-24). • Quickly sweep away sin with confession and repentance (1 John 1:9). 2. Level the surface with obedient action • Turn truth into habits: forgive, give, serve, and testify (James 1:22). • Obedience flattens pride-filled bumps and fills potholes of neglect. 3. Reinforce the roadway with sound doctrine • Anchor belief in the full authority of Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16-17). • Study passages in context, letting clear texts clarify the difficult ones. 4. Pave with love and grace • Cultivate speech that edifies (Ephesians 4:29). • Seek reconciliation quickly; love is the asphalt that holds every stone together (1 Peter 4:8). 5. Post clear markers and maintain regularly • Set spiritual disciplines on the calendar—worship, Sabbath rest, fellowship, communion. • Stay alert for small cracks before they widen: accountability partners, pastoral counsel, continual prayer (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Encouraging promise When the road is built up and obstacles removed, “the redeemed of the LORD will return and enter Zion with singing” (Isaiah 35:10). A clear path lets God’s people walk in joy, and His glory travels that same highway straight into our daily lives. |
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